NHS waiting times have been reduced in much parts of the country, the majority who have met or will meet in the coming months an 18 month waiting list target set by the government. It’s a promising step for many patients who are waiting for treatment and generally for most of the population who don’t know when they might need treatment. But despite targets being met, people seem to forget that they can expect to wait four months, which is still a long time when you are ill or in pain. Private medical insurance is still an attractive option then for those people who do not wish to wait for treatment on the NHS.

There are people though who will be willing to wait for NHS treatment and are encouraged by the new figures. But these people need not forget private medical insurance either. Cash plan private medical insurance like the policies offered by Freedom Healthnet give customers a cash lump sum to pay towards the cost of treatment. This can be spent on private health care if they so wish, but if they are happy to be looked after by the NHS they can then use the money to cover any costs incurred as a result of their illness. This is especially vital with the current financial crisis because many people struggle to pay their bills if they end up on the long-term sick from work. It can also be used to top up any treatment received on the NHS though, meaning they can still have access to new and more expensive drugs that they might have received privately.