Health Information : Insurance

Conservative Drugs Access

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:35:00 +0000

In the run up to the general elections all the main parties are letting us know what they intend to do about the National Health Service should they get elected. One issue which has been of concern for both medical insurance companies and the NHS is how much can feasibly be spent on cancer treatments.

The conservatives state that they intend to raise £200m for cancer drugs by increasing the threshold for employers national insurance contributions. The extra money would make more drugs available for cancer.

According to a recent report by an independent health think-tank, The Kings Fund, the UK has widespread differences in how cancer is treated across different health trusts. The conservatives plan to change this by implementing a policy which will not deny patients any drug which has been licensed since 2005. Currently the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decide which treatments are available depending on their cost effectiveness. Currently even if NICE have sanctioned a drug a health trust may deny its use if it considers the treatment too expensive.

The cost of drug treatments is a concern not just to governments but also to companies that supply health insurance for cancer. Some companies only cover drugs that are passed by NICE and compared to the rest of Europe the UK uses only 60% of drug treatments available for cancer.

NICE has its critics who say that many drugs that are used to prolong life may be expensive but that to deny patients treatment that may prolong their lives is inhumane. Despite its critics the Kings Fund report says that NICE is one the NHS success stories. NICE is there to assess cost effectiveness. Some of the more expensive drugs it has declined only prolonged life by a couple of months.

International Health Insurance Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:17:00 +0000

The rising costs of international medical insurance may lead to a service which is completely unaffordable according to the medical director of Bupa International, Dr Sneh Khemka.

International medical insurance covers expatriates or people who holiday or travel extensively abroad but according to Dr Khemka rising costs are proving problematic:

'This is something the entire healthcare community needs to address, but we are in a prime position to facilitate a strategy. We have to contain costs. Otherwise, private care will become uninsurable. The golden goose gets shot.'

There are several ways in which the issue can be addressed:

• Encouraging good health. This is something that private medical insurance companies are all doing in an attempt to help keep health cover down.
• Looking at corruption. Over time there have been many cases of medical insurance companies being charged more than they should have by unscrupulous health providers.
• Getting doctors to look at the treatments they are prescribing which in some cases can be replaces adequately by alternative, cheaper treatments. According to Dr Khemka, who spoke to The Telegraph: 'There are lots of treatments and doctors will continue to try them because they like to do something, and they make money out of it.'
• Choosing the best hospitals and sending more patients there, thereby driving down costs by the scale of economy.
• Keeping policyholders informed. Dr Khemka said: 'This is where we are trying to win customers over. Rather than using treatments willy-nilly, we are trying to get the right treatment, which will help the patient, and save cost.'

NHS Report

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:25:00 +0000

According to a new report from the health think-tank The Kings Fund, the NHS has made 'considerable progress' during 13 years of Labour Government rule. There were several areas of praise

NICE
The Kings Fund praised National Institute of for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for being a 'big step forward in delivering evidence-based and consistent guidance to the NHS.'

Infections
The report also described as 'successful' the reduction in hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and C.Difficile whose incidences were down by 34% and 35% respectively since 2007/08.

Waiting times
The reduction of NHS waiting times was also praised. Most people have to wait less than 18 weeks now from when they are given a GP referral.

Improvements
The report cited that the quality of surgery had improved and referred in particular to cardiac surgery.

Cancer
There have been improvements in the access to cost effective cancer drugs.

Criticism
The report said that there was a wide ranging disparity of provision and care across the country and also in comparison to other European countries. They made particular reference to cancer care where there was a big difference in the kinds of treatments given.

They also criticised the mental health services which they felt had failed to improve the quality of life of those with mental illness.

Mental Health Action Week

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:18:00 +0000

This week is Mental Health Action Week where The Mental Health Foundation is trying to raise awareness of what can be done to promote good mental health. Health insurance companies vary greatly in their offerings for mental health. Some offer no psychiatric cover at all whereas others offer limited amounts.

The problem for medical insurance companies is that mental health problems are more common that the general public realise. According to the statistics one third of patients visits GPs in relation to mental health concerns, in particular for mild depression and anxiety related complaints. What this means for us is that most companies cannot offer psychiatric cover because too many people would use it and this would force up the price of premiums accross the board.

Who Offers Psychiatric Cover?

Pruhealth offers cover in both their midrange and comprehensive policies up to £7,000 and £20,000 respectively for inpatient psychiatry in any one year and £750 in inpatient care.
Standard Life offers psychiatric cover in their comprehensive policy with an excess of £250
CS Healthcare offer cover up to £1000 in any one year with an excess of 15% of treatment cost
Aviva offer cover in their comprehensive policy of up to £1,000 a year for inpatient care and £500 for outpatient psychiatric care with the psychiatry element as an optional extra
Bupa offer 28 days of outpatient care and up to £1,000 of outpatient care per anum
The National Friendly Society offer up to 28 days of outpatient cover
The Permanent Health Company offer up to 28 days of outpatient cover and up to £1,00o per year in outpatient cover.

Who Does not Offer Psychiatric Cover?
Budget policies hardly never include psychiatric cover however Health-on-line do offer a psychiatric add on option on their policies.

Self Help Steps
According to the Mental Health Foundation there are many steps that we can take to help us stay mentally well and reduce the likelihood that we will need medical intervention:

1. Talk about your feelings
2. Keep active
3. Eat well
4. Drink sensibly
5. Keep in touch
6. Ask for help
7. Take a break
8. Do something you are good at
9. Accept who you are
10. Care for others

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:36:00 +0000

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowel Cancer UK is trying to increase awareness in an attempt to help people understand that bowel cancer is a serious condition that can in part be prevented by leading a healthier life. Its the same message that government bodies and health insurance companies are trying to promote.

According to the campaign someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes in the UK. The symptoms of the disease are:

• A change in your normal bowel habit lasting four weeks or more
• Blood in your stools (poo) and/or bleeding from the bottom
• Unexplained unexplained weight loss and/or extreme tiredness
• A lump or pain in your abdomen (belly)

Reducing Risk
Living a healthier life helps to prevent many cancers and diseases. Like Bowel Cancer UK, most medical insurance companies are promoting healthy lifestyles in an attempt to improve the nation's health. Comprehensive insurance for cancer is expensive because treatments and drugs have improved so much over the last ten years. Some factors that can help you reduce the risk of bowel cancer are:

• Get to know your bowel pattern, so that you know what's normal for you
• Exercise regularly to help maintain a balanced weight
• Drink lots of water
• Eat a high fibre diet made up of at least five portions a day of fruit and vegetables
• Limit your consumption of red and processed meat to a maximum of one portion (approximately 80g) per day
• Do not drink more than the recommended alcohol limits of 14 units per week for women and 21 for men
• Increase unsaturated fats and avoid saturated fats
• Don't smoke
• Take part in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes when they roll out in your area and you are invited to do so
• Have a bowel screening if their is a history of bowel cancer in your family

Being Treated Privately

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:54:00 +0000

The latest figures from the NHS show that they have not quite hit their targets for single sex wards in hospitals. Being comfortable when you are in hospital is something which greatly helps aid recovery and the private single rooms given to health insurance patients are part of that whole package of care.

Like most things that are in the public arena at the moment in the UK this has been turned into a political argument. The Department of Health gave NHS trusts £100m in January in order to speed the final process along although it initially pledged in 2001 to abolish mixed sex wards by the end of 2002.

However, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley believes that the way forward is more single rooms. He said:

'Too many of their reforms are on piecemeal issues like curtains, screens and signs anyway. Patients needs to be given the dignity they deserve. That's why we've set out plans for a massive overhaul of hospital buildings so that every patient who wants one can be given a single room when they go into hospital for planned care.'

Single rooms that were usually the prerogative of private health hospitals are now on the increase in the NHS. Initially the conservatives promised an increase of 45,000 single NHS rooms but this does not appear in their manifesto. With the UK in financial debt it is unlikely that the NHS will see the increases in the level of spending that it has had over the last few years.

In the health insurance arena single rooms are still a priority, allowing for private consultations, treatment and recuperation. However occasionally some patients that are treated privately in NHS hospitals may have to stay in wards. If single rooms are a priority for you then check the details of which hospitals are covered by your medical insurance policy and what type of accommodation they offer.

New Exeter Friendly Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:14:00 +0000

Exeter Friendly has launched a new health insurance product with a catchy and relaxed name: "Health and Stuff." Its clear and easily understood policy document is excellent and should enable prospective customers to easily understand what they are purchasing.

The new offerings are designed with an awareness of the cost conscious nature of the current economy. Richard Wyatt-Haines, sales and marketing director at Exeter Friendly, said:

'Our research shows that the needs and demands of customers can vary hugely according to their stage of life. With Heath & Stuff, we have built a plan which reflects this, allowing customers to buy their plan according to what is important to them and what they can afford. From there on it's simple. No hidden limits, no small print.'

"Health and Stuff" has several levels of cover: £2,500, £5,000, £10,000 or £20,000. Claimants have to pay the first 10% of any treatment. Cover includes: Cancer cover, in-patient and day-case hospital charges, CTI/MRI/PET scans; out-patient surgery specialists fees, specialist fees diagnostic tests, consultant fees, diagnostic tests, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry, private ambulance, home nursing, parental accommodation, 24-hour GP helpline.

Unusually the cover provided enables parents to stay with their sick children up to the age of 18. Most policies only provide this cover when children are 12 or below.

They are currently offering two discounts:

10% discount if your body mass index between of 18 to 25
10% discount if you have not smoked for the last 12 months

The Exeter Friendly distinguishes itself by having a very clear policy document which warns prospective claimants that some of the more expensive treatments may not be covered by their annual limits. They detail the costs of common procedures so that consumers can see exactly what they can expect with each of the levels of cover. In fact the whole policy document is clear and leaves consumers fully aware of what is and isn't covered.

The Health and Stuff policy is likely to be a pioneer in clear and understandable policy documents which enable consumers to see exactly what they are and are not going to get when they sign on the dotted line. Well done Exeter Friendly Society!

New AA Health Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:01:00 +0000

Many more consumers will exposed to the benefits of health insurance as AXA PPP healthcare have teamed with the AA to offer their customers three levels of medical cover. The Automobile Association will also be offering the products to non-members.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said:

'This is a logical expansion of our health and life related products which include life insurance and critical illness cover.

'The AA has built a trusted reputation amongst its 15 million members for helping to ensure the health of their cars.

'Looking after the health of our members and their families is an obvious step and we've launched into private medical insurance with one of the leading providers in this market.

'Private health care, once the province of the well off, is now available to anyone and we think that this cover will be widely welcomed. We expect to expand the range of services later this year with, for example, health screening cover. We already offer Accident Healthcare which provides medical treatment in the event of a car accident.'

Currently new customers are being offered one month free private medical insurance and customers who have had AA membership for a year or more are being offered two free months of health cover.

Health Tourism for Freedom Healthnet

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Lots of people in the UK will now be preparing and looking forward to their summer holiday. Some of these travellers will be combining their trip with a visit to a hospital to have surgery. Health tourism is a booming industry for many countries across the world.

Freedom Healthnet provide an alternative type of health insurance which enables their customers to receive a cash lump sum should they need inpatient care. The advantage of getting cash is that customers can choose where, how, when and even 'if' they have their treatment in a private health establishment.

Some customers prefer to have their treatment with the NHS and then use their lump sum in some other way.

An alternative to being treated in the UK is to go abroad. Health tourism is on the increase. In over 50 countries, including Columbia, Cuba, Brunei, India, South Africa and Tunisia, health tourism is seen as a national industry.

Medical tourism is still considered risky by the general population but attitudes are changing. Standardisation of care is an issue across the globe but various bodies work towards promoting foreign medical establishments that have been accredited. In the UK the Trent International Accreditation Scheme is well known.

Differences in standards across the globe has been recognised by the World Health Organisation who launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety in 2004.

The advantage of getting treatment abroad is that the costs are often considerably less and people often combine surgery with a convalescence holiday. Medically speaking this is considered to be good practise as long haul flights increase the risk of post operative complications.

University Health Insurance Fraud Course

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:16:00 +0000

As consumers we want affordable medical insurance that covers us when we are in need. For health insurance companies it has become an uphill struggle to provide this. Health care is becoming more expensive and consumers are not prepared to spend as they once were. One way in which they can save money is to route out fraud.

Fraud has been on the increase in the health cover market and ultimately consumers bare the brunt of the deficit. This year the Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group (HICFG) will be launching the first university-accredited qualification in healthcare fraud investigation. The qualification will cover the standard fraud investigation modules but will also include additional elements that are relevant to health.

The development of this course is as a result of the HICFG opening its doors to cash plan providers. HICFG chairman Dr Simon Peck says:

'I am delighted to announce this development. We believe there is significant cross-over between the problems experienced by cash plan providers and those we see in private medical insurance and this is a great opportunity to pool our resources in a way which will benefit all of us.'

Saving on Company PMI

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:03:00 +0000

Just as the country is coming out of recession many companies are struggling with cash flow problems. This in turn can lead to reviews cuts in pay and perks. One way to keep health insurance for your staff is to review the provisions you have in place.

According to Hewitt Associates, an HR consulting company, reviewing health cover should be an annual thing as it can help to reduce costs. Colin Bullen, head of health and risk benefits from Hewitt said:

'Companies are losing out by not reassessing their current contracts. Shrinking budgets, coupled with the effects of the recession, have presented an opportunity to review and reset priorities. In many instances, benefit providers have become extremely competitive on price and are willing to adjust their rates to attract and retain business - a situation that is unlikely to last indefinitely. Savings are realistically achievable if companies act now.

'By seizing this opportunity, more advantageous terms for the next two to three years may be on the table; meaning that companies can lock in significant savings without damaging employee morale.'

In other words, private health insurance companies need your corporate business and they might be willing to negotiate on your current terms. That's great news for business and great news for your employees who won't have to miss out on medical insurance cover. Bullen warned against reducing cover. He said:

'Blanket benefit cuts do not lead to enduring business advantages. We are urging companies to start 2010 by acting with an eye to the longer term. A well-structured benefits policy that is valued by employees typically results in more engaged employees and is proven to boost workforce motivation. Rather than just taking an axe to current benefit structures to control costs, employers should reshape their benefits to meet member needs and demand the best value for money from their providers.'

Mental Health Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:38:00 +0000

In the US private medical insurance is very necessary. Without it medical costs are extremely high. Despite their reliance on this system of health care the government has only just passed a law demands that health insurance providers give equal weight to mental health issues as well as physical ones.

Of course health insurance in the US is very different from what it is in the UK. They rely on it to keep their citizens healthy. Only 15% of US citizens do not have health insurance. Those that don't are not provided with very good alternatives.

Because there is no comprehensive, free health care like we have in the UK with the NHs, their insurance policies have to cover more. They cover substance abuse and addiction, for example, whereas UK policies do not. The new laws are designed to extend the level of mental health cover.

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said about the new laws:

'Today's rules will bring needed relief to families faced with meeting the cost of obtaining mental health and substance abuse services. The benefits will give these Americans access to greatly needed medical treatment, which will better allow them to participate fully in society.'

In the UK health is not covered as standard on all policies. Psychiatric cover is provided only in the more expensive and top-of-the-range policies and even then with restrictions. Even then addiction issues, like drug and alcohol abuse, are never covered.

The problem is that mental health issues are quite prevalent in society. For example, at any one time it is thought that one in ten adults is suffering from depression. This means that it is an expensive thing for insurance companies to cover. It is also an area which is still surrounded by subjectivity, unlike physical health which has more known 'symptoms' used to diagnose it.

Of course if you take out a policy when you have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition then you will not be covered for this condition anyway. However if your policy covers mental health and you develop a condition you will be covered but each policy has its own limits of cover.

Bupa, for example, stipulate:

'Subject to your cover under your benefits, we may, at our discretion, pay for eligible treatment of a psychiatric condition ......'

The words 'at our discretion' suggest the arbritary nature of this kind of cover. This clause could mean that an insurance company has the ability to deny psychiatric cover to a client. 'Our discretion' is not a concrete term that can be contested.

Of course psychiatric treatment is available on the NHS but the resources are very stretched. Paying for treatment privately is expensive particularly when you consider the long term prognosis of many mental health conditions.

Cancer Lottery

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:39:00 +0000

National Health Primary Care Trusts (PCT) are responsible for healthcare in their area. They individually control funding and this is the reason why NHS healthcare across the UK is very uneven. This is a contributory factor to why some people like to take out health insurance: they have a high standard of care no matter where they live.

PCTs are responsible for spending around 80% of the national health service budget. They work within the overiding rules of the Department of Health and there are 152 care trusts in England.

Cancer sufferers seem to be particularly vulnerable to the 'postcode lottery' as the situation has been coined in the media. According to the National Colorectal Cancer Audit 60% of patients have a major resection (where parts of the bowel are removed) but there are variations across the country from 20% to 80%.

Survival rates vary too. In Kensington and Chelsea patients have a 43.7% survival rate for lung cancer and only a 15.4% rate in Herefordshire. Breast cancer patient one year survival rates are 89.3% in Tower Hamlets and a 99% in Torbay.

In the private health arena there is a more standardised level of care. Bupa the private health insurance provider, for example, include Avastin in their range of allowed drugs but some NHS trusts do not. Avastin is a chemotherapy treatment used for metastatic or secondary cancer and it costs around £60,000 a year per patient. The drug does not cure cancer but it prolongs life.

If you are considering private medical insurance you may be deterred when you hear that the NHS is improving. This is true, there have been improvements in the NHS over the last five years. However the improvements are not standardised across the country. It still depends on where you live and which hospital you go to.

Health insurance for cancer is available from many private medical insurance providers although there is currently a great deal of debate in the industry about the high costs of cancer treatment and what the industry plans to do about cover for this illness in the long term.

Insurance Fraud

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:16:00 +0000

Insurance fraud is not only a nuisance for the health insurance companies involved but also for consumers. The costs of fraud has to be paid for and its the average person who takes the brunt of it.

According to report from the National Fraud Authority (NFA) published last week insurance fraud costs the UK more than £30 billion a year with the insurance industry taking a £2bn loss.

Nick Starling, director of the Association of British Insurers, who regulate the health insurance industry said:

'Fraud costs every family in the UK. In these tough economic times, the last thing people need is to be paying for fraudulent activity. Dishonest insurance claims alone cost around £2 billion year, which adds on average an extra £44 a year to every household’s general insurance budget. The insurance industry’s zero tolerance policy towards fraud means we are making it harder than ever for cheats to succeed, and detecting more of the fraud that is committed.

'Today’s report shows that such a policy is needed by all agencies involved in tackling fraud, to protect potential victims better and reduce the financial cost to honest UK households.'

The UK Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) was set up in 2006 in order to combat UK fraud. John Beadle an NFB board member said:

'Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime and, in the case of ‘crash for cash’ scams, innocent lives can be put risk. The insurance industry is no longer an easy target and takes this criminal activity very seriously. Through working closely with law enforcement agencies, the IFB has been instrumental in over 300 arrests and this drive will continue.

Anyone with Fraud information can call confidentially and for free:

Cheatline on 0800 328 2550

You can also report online at: www.insurancefraudbueau.org/report.

Health Insurance for Cancer Glossary

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Health insurance policies can be complicated and they vary a great deal from one to the other. When it comes to health insurance for cancer there are even more complications. Different policies offer varying degrees of cover. Becoming savy with the terminology of medical insurance policies will help you to choose the best cover for you.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) which regulates the health insurance industry has a set of common definitions which I have replicated here. This is a good starting point but of course is not exhaustive. Each company will have refined definitions of their own.

Acute condition
'A disease, illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment which aims to return you to the state of health you were in immediately before suffering the disease, illness or injury, or which leads to your full recovery.'

Cancer
'A malignant tumour, tissues or cells, characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells and invasion of tissue.'

Chronic condition
‘A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics:

it needs ongoing or long-term monitoring through consultations, examinations, check-ups, and/or tests
it needs ongoing or long-term control or relief of symptoms
it requires your rehabilitation or for you to be specially trained to cope with it
it continues indefinitely
it has no known cure
it comes back or is likely to come back.’

Day patient
'A patient who is admitted to a hospital or day patient unit because they need a period of medically supervised recovery but does not occupy a bed overnight.'

Diagnostic tests
'Investigations, such as x-rays or blood tests, to find or to help to
find the cause of your symptoms.'

Inpatient
'A patient who is admitted to hospital and who occupies a bed overnight or longer, for medical reasons.'

Outpatient
'A patient who attends a hospital, consulting room, or outpatient clinic and is not admitted as a day patient or an inpatient.'

Pre-existing condition
'Any disease, illness or injury for which:

you have received medication, advice or treatment; or
you have experienced symptoms;

Whether the condition has been diagnosed or not in the XX* years before the start of your cover.'

(*this time scale varied between insurers)

Take Vitamin D says Bupa

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:53:00 +0000

According to Bupa, the health insurance company, people should be taking vitamin D supplements during the winter to reduce their chances of getting certain cancers.

According to Bupa research taking supplements of Vitamin D can reduce your risk of cancer by up to 25%. The recommended dosage is at least 1,500 - 2000 international units (IU) a day, which equates to 3-4 high strength capsules (12.5 micrograms/capsule).

Vitamin D can be obtained naturally from sunlight and foods but according to Bupa the British sun during winter is insufficient to provide us with what we need. Taking good doses of the vitamin is thought to reduce the onset of bowel, breast, colon and prostrate cancers.

Bupa’s assistant medical director, Dr Virginia Warren said:

'Natural ways to get enough vitamin D aren’t realistic because our skin cannot make vitamin D from winter sunlight in the UK as it is too weak. In the summer, people are rightly concerned about risks of skin cancer. And nobody wants to eat four tins of mackerel every day to get their vitamin D from oily fish.

'People have to act now to take preventative measures against cancer for their future long-term health. The old-fashioned view was to take a low daily dose of vitamin D for healthy bones. Cancer is today’s biggest killer and we need to protect our bodies from it as much as we can. Taking vitamin D supplements are an effective, inexpensive and easy way of doing that.'

Medical insurance for cancer in the UK is a subject of much debate at the moment. Bupa provides specific cancer cover in their Bupa Select Heart and Cancer policy but there is a great impetus at the moment on the prevention of the disease.

All the major private health insurance companies have been focusing on health prevention over the last few years. Obesity, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking as well as a poor diet are all linked with increased risk of cancer.

10 Disadvantages of Medical Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:35:00 +0000

1. Chronic conditions are not covered
Health insurance is designed to cover you for an acute illness and restore you to the health you enjoyed prior to the illness or injury. Should you be left with chronic symptoms after this they will not be covered by the insurance.

2. Your current health issues will not be covered
Any illness or even symptom of an illness that you had five years prior to taking out a policy will not be covered should you become ill from this. Even symptoms that do not seem related to any illness you have had can be included in this.

3. Health insurance can be complicated to purchase
There are many private health insurance providers and their policies can vary greatly from one another. Even within a company there can be several types of health insurance available with a variety of options to choose from. Because policy documents are legally binding agreements it is very important to read the small print so that you know what your rights are. Getting the help of a financial advisor is recommended when you are choosing a private health insurance policy.

4. Cancer is not well covered on all policies
Cancer cover is very varied. Some companies do not cover cancer at all and others provide fully comprehensive policies that cover palliative care should it be needed. As cancer is a one the main causes of death in the UK this is a factor which you need to consider carefully when looking into health insurance.

5. Comprehensive cover can be expensive
The most comprehensive policies are the most expensive. Most are also weighted depending on your age, sex and lifestyle. Its important to shop around and get the best deals.

6. There are many exclusions
Health insurance exclusions are great in number. Most are standard and are related to obvious risk factors for example alcoholism or drug use, dangerous occupations or hobbies, HIV. Others are less obvious - some policies will not cover mental health or pregnancy.

7. Mental Health is poorly covered
The statistics show that at any one time one out of ten UK citizens are suffering from a mental health condition at any one time. Some policies cover mental health others do not. Usually it is the top-of-the-range policies which include mental health cover.

8. Health insurance companies can be very stringent in following their rules
The health insurance industry has a reputation for repudiating claims on very minor details. Even though they have tried to remedy this reputation by providing guidelines which means that consumers are treated more fairly you still need to keep on your toes. If you have a claim that is rejected do not give up. Go back over the small print and see if there have been misunderstandings that can be rectified. You are within your legal rights to complain.

9. The NHS is improving
Some believe that the NHS has improved dramatically over last ten years and that therefore the private sector no longer has the pull it once had. The NHS has improved but it still lags far behind in the speed at which it can provide treatment compared to the private sector.

10. There are no official statistics for private health establishments
NHS statistics are published all the time. It enables the public to see what's going on. This does not apply to the private health insurance industry which is notoriously bad at transparency.

10 Advantages of Health Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:48:00 +0000

Taking out private medical insurance gives people peace of mind. Here are some of the benefits it offers.

1) A preliminary consultation is available quickly
Of course there are variations depending on where and by whom you want to be treated. As in all areas there will be consultants and hospitals that are more in demand than others. What is certain is that you won't have to wait anywhere near as long as you do with the NHS

2) A choice over which specialist or hospital treats you
Your GP will refer you to a consultant and hospital of your choice. However you do need to check the details of this with your provider. Different providers offer access to different hospital networks.

3) A single room with gives you greater privacy and confidentiality
Having said this,, some policies include treatment in an NHS facility under private health care terms. Its important to check the details.

4) Spreading your health care costs via the payment of a monthly premium
For people who always go for private health care, medical insurance is a way to budget monthly for unforseen illness or injury.

5) Being in an environment which pays a very great deal of attention to infection control
Bupa studies have found that better cleanliness and infection control is the main reason why people prefer to opt for private health insurance over the NHS.

6) Lower stress levels
High stress levels have been shown to increase recovery times. A patients' stress levels are lowered throughout. Quicker specialist referrals, quicker treatment times and a more private environment are all factors which lower stress and help with recovery.

7) You get back to work quicker
The longer you are out of work the more it affects your rights to sick pay. Being seen quickly enables you to retain your income levels. The financial impact of illhealth is an important factor.

8) Helps your employees get back to work quicker
Losing key employees to ill health affects productivity as well as morale in the workplace.

9) Short waiting time should you need an operation
This is not only a more pleasant result of medical insurance but can also improve your overall health over time. Leaving illness untreated can lead to complications and can worsen your condition which will then make it harder to treat.

10) With some companies you will get 24hr counselling helpline.
Different companies offer varying levels of 'extras' as part of their health insurance policy. This can include reduced rates and gyms as well as online and telephone help.

Health Spending Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:41:00 +0000

The UK Government has large debts which have to be paid for over the next few years. Public spending cuts are inevitable and the NHS is likely to suffer. But what kind of impact will this have on the private health insurance market?

According to the Windmill Report the NHS will have to plan for a 20-30% reduction in spending until 2011. Healthcare and the standards that the public expect are both advancing quickly that in real terms spending needs to rise. The Government aims to increase efficiency in order to make up the difference but according to the Windmill Report the funding gap could range between £21bn - £40bn by 2017.

One of the proposals in the drive towards greater efficiency is the move towards greater private involvement in the NHS. The report states:

'Both the culture of the NHS and input-focused procurement conspire to preclude effective engagement of the independent sector. There is still a great deal of wariness, if not reluctance, over using the expertise of independent sector providers - even when they may have proven solutions to the financial and demand pressures ahead - for example, in managed care, property and estate management, and in the expertise and technology to support care closer to home.'

If the government balance the needs of the NHS well the impact on the private sector could be great.

If the use of private companies increases in the NHS then the private sector will benefit. They will have larger volumes of work and less need to target the individual and business customers.

The economic climate has seen a decline in people taking out health insurance. This has been exacerbated by our perception that the NHS is improving.

This scenario is not so rosy for the health insurance market. As consumers we are less likely to take out medical insurance if we are satisfied with standards and waiting times in the NHS.

If the government cannot achieve their aims then the medical insurance market will benefit. In theory we will become dissatisfied with the NHS and move towards the security of health insurance cover.

Improving Hospital Rooms

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Those with private health insurance already enjoy good levels of accommodation when they have to be treated in hospital. Its one of the reasons people take out medical insurance. Recently the NHS have been trying to improve patient accommodation.

Firstly the NHS is trying to eliminate mixed sex wards. The latest proposals aims to get down to only single sex wards by June this year. Although lots of investment has already been made in order to rectify the situation, according to recent inpatient survey one in ten patients is still sleeping in a mixed ward with women and ethnic minorities are most likely to report dissatisfaction with mixed sex wards.

Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary responded to the report by saying: '

Time and again we have heard Labour ministers boast about how they are within touching distance of abolishing mixed sex wards. But sadly, the reality for thousands of patients is that they still have to suffer the indignity of sharing a room with members of the other sex when they are trying to recover in hospital.

'If we are going to get rid of mixed sex wards once and for all we need to focus on building more single rooms in NHS hospitals. But instead Labour have focused on buying thousands of extra curtains. This is simply not good enough.'

Single rooms are the norm in the private health sector but for the NHS this is still a long way off despite the fact that single rooms are more conducive to a full and speedy recovery.

Infection control
One of the benefits of single occupancy rooms is infection control. Single rooms help infections such as MRSA and c'difficile stay under control. Patients have their own ensuite rooms and are less likely to come into contact with the bodily fluids of other patients.

In 2011 Pembury Hospital will be the first NHS's all single room acute hospital. Other hospitals will follow. This is good news for UK citizens.

How does it affect the private sector?
The private medical insurance industry would do well to be concerned. Having single rooms in NHS establishments erodes some of the value of private medical care. Infection rates should go down and patient satisfaction rates should go up. How will this affect private medicine?

The reality is that the NHS is still a very long way from matching the private health sector. However public perception is very important and beliefs, whether they are founded in fact or not, are likely to have an effect on the future of private medicine in this country. How will the private health sector respond to this?

Hellenic Project Update

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Health Insurance News reported that the private health sector has agreed to more transparency by being part of the new Hellenic Project which aims to gather information about the sector from various sources.

It seemed like a very good idea that private and health insurance customers could have information about what the private health sector had to offer compared to the NHS. It would also have been a good way for individual hospitals to have been compared to each other.

Unfortunately for consumers there are currently no plans to publish the results of the project. This is a great shame. Transparency is something that seems particularly important when it comes to health care. Its not like other consumer products. If you buy something and its not good you won't buy it again and you will tell your friends that you didn't like it too. What have you lost? A few pounds and a little inconvenience.

There is a great deal of evidence that suggests that people regularly use customer review sites to make their minds up about purchases but purchasing health care is a different kettle of fish. If you become unwell and something goes wrong with your health care there is a lot more to loose. So, if the statistics are there why can't we see them?

The Hellenic project is a good start and it is possible that consumer group pressure will eventually encourage the industry to reveal all. This can only be beneficial to the consumer who has the right to vote with their pound once they have all the information at their disposal.

New Bupa Select

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Bupa Select is a new health insurance offering for small to medium sized businesses. It became fully available from 1st December and aims to offer flexible cover in these difficult financial times.

Director of business markets for Bupa, Ann Greenwood, said:

'High broker demand told us we needed a policy that was much more flexible and modular rather than simply opting for a ‘one size fits all’ approach with lots of features you pay for but may never use. When we tested BUPA Select in the run-up to the launch, brokers were impressed, particularly with the web-enabled functionality and the flexibility available to build bespoke cover.'

This private medical insurance cover enables companies to build a bespoke cover for their employees by enabling them to add or remove various cover options. The policy is available for companies with between 50 and 250 employees.

According to Bupa they have made all their administrative procedures more efficient and streamlined in order to provide a better customer experience. They are also offering a 30% discount for companies that sign up to the scheme before 31st December 2009.

Some of the main features of the product are:

• £1000 towards out-patient consultations, treatment and diagnostic tests
• £250 towards complementary medicine
• full refund for in-patient and day-patient hospital charges and accommodation in a Bupa Partnership Network hospital.
• Full cancer cover
• up to 45 days of psychiatric treatment
• private ambulance
• £50 NHS cash benefit to cover each night in an NHS hospital
• 24-hour Bupa HealthLine
• Free use of Positive Health

Reduction in Costs:
• Policy excesses of £100, £150 and £200
• reducing out-patient benefit to £750, £500 or £250
• excluding psychiatric treatment

Extra Cover:
• Including cash cover to help with optical, dental and prescription costs.
• increasing benefits for out-patient treatment to £1500
• removing the limit for complementary medicine
• increasing the range of hospitals available

Swine Flu Information

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:35:00 +0000

The H1N1 virus is back and after a slow start the private medical insurance companies are now giving clearer information about their position on cover for swine flu.

All the medical insurance companies direct you to the government helpline and offer guidelines on how to treat and prevent the virus.

Aviva says that they have 'robust plans in place to help ensure that we can continue to support our customers in the event of a pandemic.' They state that swine flu is not treated on either their International Private Healthcare or UK Private Healthcare products.

CS Healthcare Say that their first priority is to offer their members up to date and accurate information and advise customers to call their GP or NHS Direct if they have any concerns.

Bupa state that they do provide cover for swine flu but that

'The details of the cover will depend on your scheme and is subject to the standard terms of your scheme.'

They also direct people to their Bupa health and information service which is manned by fully qualified nurses. The also make it clear that they do not cover preventative medicine which includes the tamiflu vaccination.

The Association of British Insureres (ABI) are very quiet on the topic of swine flu and health insurance and although they do offer a lot of information about travel insurance and the H1N1 virus.

Overall there has been very little information offered by the health insurance companies over their position on swine flu. This is quite dissappointing considering the natural concern shown by the British public.

Luckily, so far the intensity of the virus has not been as serious as some sources predicted. There is no data available for the number of complications of swine flu that health insurance companies have had to deal with.

Accountability for the Private Health Sector

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:20:00 +0000

The private health sector has often been criticised for its lack of transparency. Since May the Hellenic project has been redressing this balance.

The NHS has to be accountable and the public have the right to see the statistics that they publish. Previously private organisations were only accountable to their shareholders. However, with more and more NHS patients choosing to have treatment in private hospitals as part of their NHS treatment plans it makes sense that the NHS want to see more transparency from the private health sector. More than 300,000 patients a year are being treated privately via the NHS.

The Hellenic project collects anonymous clinical and non-clinical data. Anonymous data is not ideal. Whereas in the NHS individual trusts and hospitals have their data exposed for comparison this does not yet apply to the private sector. It is however, a step forward.

The data collected comes from patients and hospitals as well as third party agencies such as the Health Protection Agency and the Care Quality Commission.

The information collected includes: mortality rates, MRSA and C.diff rates, and surgical site infections for knee and hip operations and day case rates.

Sally Taber, director of the Independent Health Advisory Services (IHAS), said:

'The Hellenic Project presents an exciting opportunity. For the first time independent sector providers will be able to accurately measure clinical quality at a national level, both within the sector and against the NHS. With the advent of patient choice, patients are increasingly able to tell us where healthcare is succeeding and where it is failing and the information we gather should help us fully assess that.'

The project is being run as a partnership between Dr Foster, the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services and the NHS Partners Network.

Currently there does not appear to be any readily available information about the Hellenic project. The Dr Foster website does have information about the whereabouts of private hospitals but that is all.

Infection Rate Differences

noreply@blogger.com (Insurance News) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:08:00 +0000

There are significant differences between infection rates in the NHS and that of the private sector. This is one of the main reasons why people choose to take out private health insurance rather than rely totally on the NHS. But why are there such differences?

The statistics are very telling. You are twelve times less likely to get a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) in a private hospital than in an NHS hospital. A recent report from Dr Foster which looked into the safety of patients in the NHS found that 5,024 people with low risk problems died in UK hospitals during 2009.

The NHS has done a lot to improve infection rates and much has been accomplished in the last three years. For example the Health Protection Agency reported that the rates of MRSA have fallen from 839 cases between April and June 2008 to 509 cases for the same period in 2009.

Despite improvements, public perceptions about NHS infection rates are still poor. Additionally the comparative figures show significant differences between the NHS and private sector rates.

One of the infection prevention measures used by private hospitals is the pre-screening of patients for infections. This ideas has been adopted by the NHS but the recent Dr Foster report found that one in five hospitals did not use this technique.

There are different levels of care in the NHS across the UK with some Trusts having very poor levels of infection control. This is one big difference between the NHS and private health institutions. Private hospitals tend to have very standardised levels of infection control across their networks.

Dr Andy Jones, group medical director of Nuffield Health claims that Nuffield hospital only had 6 cases of C-Diff (clostridium difficile) and one case of MRSA in 2008. During this time they performed 365,000 operations.

So why are there such differences? According to Spire Healthcare’s clinical director Dr JJ de Gorter it is about commitment and attention to detail. He said:

'The simple truth is that is achieved through blood sweat and tears. There are no reasons to suggest why working in private sector, would automatically mean that rates would be better. It’s attention to detail, a commitment and an obsession with infection control.

We respond to the market and consumers tells us that it’s important. We over-invest. Is it proportional to the actual harm caused? Potentially not. Is it proportionate to the patient’s perception? Yes it is.'

This shows the importance of consumer confidence. Feeling that everything possible is being done is very important to feeling safe and comfortable.

So, for the meantime the NHS has a long way to go not just before their HAI rates are more under control but also before the public have confidence in their abilities.