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Imagine being cared for in a ward surrounded by solely
gay patients. Staffed by gay Receptionists, Porters, Nurses, Doctors and
Surgeons, taking care of your every need whilst you are left to concentrate
on regaining health and fitness. In an ideal world this would be a lovely
thought but, sadly, it is unlikely to happen.
The nearest situation you are likely to find yourself
in would be a private room, in a private hospital, with a gay nurse as
a bonus. At least your loved ones would be able to visit with complete
privacy.
This level of care is generally seen as a luxury with
costs running into thousands of pounds. Current example costs for treatment
are listed below:
- £150-£1250 Wisdom Tooth
- £5000-£7800 Hip Replacement
- £9500-£12500 Heart Bypass
- £1000-£1500 Hernia Treatment
- £1800-£2400 Cataract removal
Self Insurance
These costs do fall within some peoples budget, especially
if they are cash rich and have large amounts of capital. This form of
protection is called self-insurance and can be a more attractive option
than hospital waiting lists. Some private insurance providers will even
allow you to pay to use their facilities without you being a member of
their scheme.
If you do not have ready capital when in need of treatment,
you could always borrow the money and pay it off later. This would be
a strategy of last resort and could prove troublesome, especially if you
needed further care before the liability was paid off.
Private Insurance Cover
There are a growing number of companies offering varying
levels of cover. These can normally be tailored to your individual needs
and pocket. Before you buy insurance you should research exactly what
an individual plan covers.
Common Inclusions
Most plans will have a common list of treatments that
they cover.
- Hospital charges (In and Out patient)
- Specialist fees (In and Out patient)
- Diagnostic Tests (In and Out patient)
- Radiotherapy (In and Out patient)
- Chemotherapy (In and Out patient)
- Psychiatric Treatment (Out patient)
- Physician's fees
- Anaesthetist's fees
- Drugs and dressings
- Theatre charges
- Surgeon's fees
- X-rays and scans
- Nursing care
- Personal meals
Common Exclusions
- Psychiatric Treatment (In patient)
- Diseases, illnesses or injuries, which are pre-existing
before taking the plan
- Incurable long-term illnesses, such as diabetes or
allergies
- Pregnancy & Childbirth
- Cosmetic surgery
- Routine health check
- Dental treatment
- Private G P services
- Aids/HIV
Restricted Hospitals
Restricted policies will offer you all the same healthcare
treatment, but restricting the choice of hospitals. This is designed to
keep costs to a minimum to the policyholder. These policy types are unlikely
to cover private consultations and this would normally be done through
your own GP.
Hospital Cash
Some plans act as a hospital cash plan. This means that
they may offer you the choice of having private treatment or taking cash
if the NHS can perform the procedure quickly. This leaves you in control
by giving you the choice right until treatment is needed.
Fully Comprehensive
Fully comprehensive cover will generally offer extensive
protection - from the first time your GP refers you to a consultant, right
the way through to hospital and after-care treatment. This type of cover
will offer a comprehensive list of hospitals and may offer a choice of
varying standards. Normally the healthcare is the same, but the environments
will be different.
Common Discounts
There are a number of ways you could reduce your premiums.
You should consider paying by monthly direct debit as some schemes offer
a 5% discount on premiums. You could install a policy excess ranging from
£50-£1000. This would allow you to reduce costs and have peace
of mind. Some schemes will allow you to defer benefits for 6 weeks. This
means you would only claim treatment if the NHS could not perform the
procedure within this time scale.
If in doubt about the quality of cover and the type
of cover you should be applying for then seek advice. If you're paying
for private cover then ensure it is going to do the job it is designed
for. 
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