Private healthcare may seem like a dream come true for some patients. The long waiting times and the poor quality make the private sector more appealing. But, it can cause some nasty shocks if you don’t familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions. This article describes some of the things you need to be aware of before buying private health insurance.
#1 It Doesn’t Cover Everything:
A common misconception is that people think they’re going to be covered for every illness and situation. This isn’t true. Not everything will be covered under your policy and if it does, you have to pay much higher fees. Some patients pay for private healthcare and then find themselves back with the NHS when they refuse to treat them.
#2 There are So Many Options to Choose From:
You have such a large number of premiums and packages available to you that cover different things. Some are more suitable for you and your situation whereas others aren’t. It can be difficult to find out which one is actually the most suitable for you and your family. You can check out the different policies and which one is the best for you on Gocompare.
#3 You Always Need to Pay:
Just because you didn’t use your private health insurance for the last 24 months if you stop paying you to lose all of your rights. You always need to pay the monthly fee whether you use it or not. Imagine the situation where someone has paid for insurance all their life and have never used it. The one month they forget, they need it and can’t use it.
Another point is that the cost of coverage isn’t consistent. Fees go up with inflation or other unexpected costs that are then passed on to you. The cost of treatment can rise up to 10% each year and this is then included in your monthly premium.
#4 You’re Not as Flexible as You Think:
Different policies have different levels of flexibility. This means that you may not be able to choose the location and use the facilities you want. It’s possible to increase the level of flexibility, but you’ll have to pay more money.
#5 You May Not be Prioritised:
One of the main selling features of health insurance is that you can see the doctor and consultant faster than with the NHS. This doesn’t mean that they’ll prioritise you. If the consultant is busy or has other people that they consider to be more important, you still have to wait for them.
You may also face long waiting times if it turns out your private hospital isn’t equipped to deal with the illness. Not every hospital or clinic are experts in every single injury and treatment.
The Takeaway Message:
Private health insurance may seem amazing when you compare it to the NHS. But, you should always make sure that you read the small print and take your time before committing to a particular package. Don’t end up paying for something that won’t cover you.
