Health insurance - continuation after leaving employer
Discussion
I'm hoping that someone here will have been through this already and can point me in the right direction...
I am about to leave my current employment and probably won't be working again for a while. Whilst employed I have "enjoyed" comprehensive medical cover for myself and my family (wife + 2 young kids). For many years my employer provided a BUPA policy; in the last 4 or so years it was PruHealth/Vitality which seemed hugely overcomplicated frankly. We're all pretty healthy, no major claims or ongoing conditions etc. Probably as vanilla as it's possible to be. I'd like to have a similar level of cover in place going forward. Obviously I'll have to pay for this myself which is fine.
What's the best/easiest way to understand the options I have in this situation? I have asked PruHealth what they can do. They are coming back to me with what they called a "continuation quote".
I have spam email from brokers(?) offering to get comparable quotes from the various providers. Is this a good route to go, or do I need to go through the pain of contacting all of the major providers directly myself asking for quotes?
Having worked for many years in financial services I am somewhat sceptical about "brokers"... Are there companies who will provide advice on cover for a fee (from me) as opposed to some sort of embedded commission from the provider?
Any help/thoughts/observations gratefully received. Thank you in advance.
I am about to leave my current employment and probably won't be working again for a while. Whilst employed I have "enjoyed" comprehensive medical cover for myself and my family (wife + 2 young kids). For many years my employer provided a BUPA policy; in the last 4 or so years it was PruHealth/Vitality which seemed hugely overcomplicated frankly. We're all pretty healthy, no major claims or ongoing conditions etc. Probably as vanilla as it's possible to be. I'd like to have a similar level of cover in place going forward. Obviously I'll have to pay for this myself which is fine.
What's the best/easiest way to understand the options I have in this situation? I have asked PruHealth what they can do. They are coming back to me with what they called a "continuation quote".
I have spam email from brokers(?) offering to get comparable quotes from the various providers. Is this a good route to go, or do I need to go through the pain of contacting all of the major providers directly myself asking for quotes?
Having worked for many years in financial services I am somewhat sceptical about "brokers"... Are there companies who will provide advice on cover for a fee (from me) as opposed to some sort of embedded commission from the provider?
Any help/thoughts/observations gratefully received. Thank you in advance.
I purchased health insurance earlier this year. Somebody on here recommended http://www.drewberryinsurance.co.uk/?utm_source=FO...
Found them helpful and was the same price if I had gone to Vitality direct.
Found them helpful and was the same price if I had gone to Vitality direct.
Why bother? I've had loads of dealings with multiple relatives with the NHS recently and it has been brilliant, the odd fault here and there, but understandable, I'm not sure I could have got better if I went private, maybe the waiting times would be a bit less. Yeah thinking about it for non urgent stuff I did have to wait a bit for appointments with consultants/clinics.
Instead put some money aside and go private if needed and pay ad hoc, that's what I would do.
Instead put some money aside and go private if needed and pay ad hoc, that's what I would do.
TMM sums things up nicely: the NHS is usually good when things need doing urgently, but hopeless for non urgent stuff, eg good if you have a heart attack but no good if you have piles!
Wife and I had this dilemma when I retired and I decided to maintain the previously company paid private medical cover. Wife has had three hip ops since then so I am pretty sure we're "winning" on the premiums v. benefits costs issue.
My view is it's a matter of priorities and available resources. I guess the older you are the more likely private cover will appeal, although I can see the opposite being more accurate!
R.
Wife and I had this dilemma when I retired and I decided to maintain the previously company paid private medical cover. Wife has had three hip ops since then so I am pretty sure we're "winning" on the premiums v. benefits costs issue.
My view is it's a matter of priorities and available resources. I guess the older you are the more likely private cover will appeal, although I can see the opposite being more accurate!
R.
Yeah good post above I agree, non urgent issues on the NHS can be a pain, particularly as they can escalate and grind you down over time
For example a friend had non specific back ache, the NHS weren't too helpful and offered Physio with a waiting list. He was pretty annoyed, I told him he spends all day sat down and does no exercise at all and he should take up gentle exercise and pay for his own physio. I guess insurance would be beneficial to get physio asap, TBH I'd rather just choose my own and pay. Sometimes with non urgent medical issues you can correct with lifestyle changes and not rely on the NHS, but that's another debate!
Another friend is in the US, but a UK citizen , his horror stories of the USA system scare me. He got diagnosed with cancer and needed urgent treatment, even with insurance in the USA he couldn't get it quick enough and was being fobbed off , he paid £300 a month in insurance . He came here on holiday and had the urgent treatment within a week on the NHS and then detailed follow up treatment.
Not sure how relevant the above is to the op though!
For example a friend had non specific back ache, the NHS weren't too helpful and offered Physio with a waiting list. He was pretty annoyed, I told him he spends all day sat down and does no exercise at all and he should take up gentle exercise and pay for his own physio. I guess insurance would be beneficial to get physio asap, TBH I'd rather just choose my own and pay. Sometimes with non urgent medical issues you can correct with lifestyle changes and not rely on the NHS, but that's another debate!
Another friend is in the US, but a UK citizen , his horror stories of the USA system scare me. He got diagnosed with cancer and needed urgent treatment, even with insurance in the USA he couldn't get it quick enough and was being fobbed off , he paid £300 a month in insurance . He came here on holiday and had the urgent treatment within a week on the NHS and then detailed follow up treatment.
Not sure how relevant the above is to the op though!
As a buyer of such schemes on behalf of companies I can tell you that the private costs for cancer treatment do run into the 10s of 1000's. I think I have had 2 maybe 3 cases in the last 5 years. The employees have all been impressed with the speed of treatment, the schedule and regularity of follow up, and the non-fuss approach. This all helps to minimise stress in what is already a panicked situation.
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