HEALTH HEALTH INSURANCE
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route. It might be quicker to get an ultrasound privately but we’ll see.” Another mum warned that she
had tried to claim for speech therapy and, “I had a bizarre conversation when it was obvious that the insurance company rep did not know the difference between speech therapy and elocution lessons!” But most were generally positive
about private cover. “My child is on my policy at work and we’ve used it a lot as she had refl ux,” said a third mother. “While inpatient care at my local NHS hospital is excellent, I’ve always had issues with the outpatients, from parking to the hospital always running about an hour late for very quick appointments. If I’m honest, what I get at the private hospital is convenience. It’s easy to park, they run on time and the appointments are longer, so they never feel rushed and you can have a proper conversation.” Ronjit Bose
adds that, “Health cover is similar to private education. Of course there is a free alternative out there, but you get a much greater sense of control and freedom this way.” Private policies can also
Private
policies can
off er the therapies that the NHS simply cannot aff ord
offer the therapies that the NHS simply cannot afford. Standard Life offer chiropractice, acupuncture, plus a helpline staffed 24 hours a day by a GP. The helpline proved a boon to Ronjit when his two-year-old fell ill at 4am and he and his wife couldn’t decide on whether she needed to go to A&E. “Thankfully the GP was able to reassure us and guide us through what we needed to do for her recovery. It gave us a great sense of comfort and relief.” One example of how well a private
health care policy can work is with a condition such as endometriosis. “We had a 13-year-old girl who had
58 FIRST ELEVEN SUMMER 2010
suffered numerous investigations on the NHS without a diagnosis being reached,” says Alison Thornberry. “Once she was covered by us, we sent her to a gynaecologist. Young girls are vulnerable enough – and going to a private doctor was much easier for her.” Endometriosis was subsequently discovered, and the policy paid for three operations. The policy doesn’t cover the cost of the contraceptive pill that she was put on to alleviate the symptoms, but every time it becomes an acute case, she will be
entitled to surgery. It’s not just physical health problems
that may require help. Many young teens are suffering from stress, and some are turning to alcohol or drugs to help them through adolescence. Alison’s nephew was one of them.
“I learned from him that he needed someone to talk to. So the policy covers access to a 24-hour stress helpline – for parents or children who want to talk to a professional about anything.” As with every private policy, you
need to see a GP for referral fi rst. With Childsure, the process permits referral from a GP direct to a therapist rather than always going via a consultant as other companies demand. There are annual limits to
everything, but private health care tends to be more generous than the NHS with physiotherapy, for example. Also, dental cover regularly includes accidental damage as well as routine. So if your junior prop knocks a tooth out, and you’re insured, they won’t just get patched up as they would on the NHS. A health care policy will likely allow your child to come away with a nice new implant, getting them back on the rugby pitch in no time. %
KEEPING PREMIUMS UNDER CONTROL
1 How much is your excess? If the policy payout doesn’t kick in too low, you’ll make instant savings. 2 Only use what you need Don’t take out extra cover for travel, for example, if that’s already covered under a different, existing policy. 3.Use the insurer’s guided hospital list This will enable you to use only an insurer’s preferred establishments.
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PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO, KAMEEL.
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