Health insurance – the right balance

In the United States of America, hundreds of thousands of people go without health insurance because they can’t afford the premiums. In a non-welfare state, that’s a risk, because when they are ill and need treatment, these same people will have to find the money for their medical services from somewhere. Fortunately, the UK has a different approach to healthcare, which means that many problems can be treated properly and quickly using the state healthcare system – the NHS.

Health insurance vs. the NHS

We’re all aware that the NHS has had many problems over the years and that not everyone is a fan. Some people choose to pay to be treated privately at every stage of a medical problem, but for most of us, that’s not an affordable solution. The vast majority of us turn up to our GP when we are ill or injured, use the Accident and Emergency wards at our local hospitals and rely on the NHS for our general care, including regular screening and health checks. So, why are more people turning to private health insurance?

Managing your healthcare

Private health insurance offers benefits to you that the NHS cannot, but at the same time, it doesn’t replace all NHS functions. Private hospitals do not have Emergency units, so you will always need to use the NHS for accidents or severe problems out of GP hours. What health insurance does offer, however, is the option to move your treatment on more quickly if you want to. If you need a minor operation and the waiting list is four weeks, you may not feel it’s necessary to claim on your health insurance. If the waiting list is 18 weeks, however, you might reconsider.

Having a level of health insurance gives you the confidence to know that you and your family can get the treatment they need at a time that suits you best – and you can choose whether that’s with the NHS or through your private healthcare provider.

Right to Health is a leading UK health insurance intermediary, helping individuals and corporations find the best private health insurance cover. With access to the UK’s top health insurance companies, Right to Health has advised thousands of clients and can help you to get great health coverage for a competitive premium. Right to Health is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, which means that you can be confident that the recommendations you are given really are in your best interests. To find out more or to get a review of your current health insurance, call 08000 753 999 or click the Free Online Quote button at the top of the page.

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