private medical insurance

Top-up ban on NHS drugs lifted

Rebecca Atkinson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:39:38 +0000

Patients in England and Wales who choose to top-up their healthcare by paying for drugs privately will no longer be denied NHS care, the government has confirmed.

The health secretary Alan Johnson said that denying patients NHS treatment if they paid for drugs privately was both unfair and led to essential treatments being unduly denied.

How far would you travel for your health’s sake?

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:52:57 +0100

Would you be prepared to pack your bags and jump on a plane to seek out the medical treatment you or your family needed? Frustrated with the limitations of the NHS and the expense of private healthcare, 70,000 people travelled overseas to receive medical treatment in 2007, according to government figures, and this is expected to rise to almost 200,000 by the end of the decade.

Dental patients feel the pain of pricing inconsistencies

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:33:01 +0100

Before 1990, going to the dentist was something you did without really thinking about it. You just made an appointment with the old family tooth snatcher, opened your mouth and said “ah”.

How can I find affordable dental treatment?

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:19:40 +0100

I've always been lucky enough to have access to an NHS dentist, but it has now closed. The problem is that all the other dentists local to me are private and there are no NHS lists. As I earn just £15,000 and live in London, I can't afford to spend hundreds on dental treatment, especially crown replacements, which I will need within the next year.

read more

Guide to home, health and car insurance

Rebecca Atkinson — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:32:36 +0100

Home Insurance

There are two types of insurance that you’ll need to fully protect your home.

The first, building insurance, covers your house from any accidental damage that requires building work to be carried out. This damage could be caused by anything from a fire or vandalism to subsidence or a flood. Homeowners with mortgages are required by banks and building societies to take out buildings insurance.

When buying buildings insurance, the ‘sum insured’ is not the market value of your home but rather the amount it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch. It is also the total amount of money an insurer will ever pay out.

read more

Budgeting for healthcare

Chris Thomas — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:27:08 +0000

Everyday health costs soon add up. Those six-monthly visits to the dentist can soon burn a hole in your wallet, while getting new glasses or lenses is also an expensive burden many of us have to bear on a regular basis.

read more

Plan for pay as you go healthcare

Chris Thomas — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:13:52 +0000

If you want to go private but don't want to pay health insurance premiums each month then you can always pay for one-off treatments. Many people who choose to 'self-pay' do so because they have a medical condition that requires urgent treatment, which means insurance is a no-go.

You can pay for private treatment in the same way you would for anything else, using cash, cheque or credit card – usually on or before admission to hospital. But with treatment costs high it may not be quite so easy to lay your hands on the money you need without planning ahead.

Many people are shocked at just how pricey medical treatment is.

read more

It's never too late for PMI

Rebecca Atkinson — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:49:54 +0000

As we get older, we are more likely to need medical treatment, so it's little surprise that medical insurance is particularly popular among the over-50s. However, cover comes at a price. As older policyholders are more likely to make a claim than their younger, healthier counterparts, insurers have to protect themselves agaisnt this increased risk by raising premiums.

Luckily, there are more ways than ever before to help older policyholders get good value cover. Many people in this age group have already experienced the benefits of private medical insurance (PMI) through a company scheme and when they come to retire are reluctant to rely on the NHS for care.

read more

PMI: It's a family affair

Rebecca Atkinson — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:38:48 +0000

Juggling family life with work and other responsibilities is challenging enough at the best of times, but when you or one of your brood is ill, it just adds to the pressure.

If your husband, wife or child needs hospital treatment it affects the whole family and can be a worrying time. Uncertainty over waiting lists on the NHS can add to this worry and mean you have to take time off work or arrange childcare at short notice when confirmation of the appointment or operation finally comes through.

read more

PMI and the benefits of youth

Rebecca Atkinson — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:24:18 +0000

If you are young and healthy it can be hard to see the benefits of taking out PMI - especially if money's tight. You may still be paying off a student loan and have other big outgoings such as rent and credit card bills. You may also be struggling to save up a deposit for your first property and have little money left over for health cover.

read more