The Liberal Democrat party leader Nick Clegg has joined the many people in the UK who opt for private healthcare for their families. This was a controversial announcement by the politician last month, who admitted paying for his son to see a private specialist to avoid NHS waiting lists. While this is becoming increasingly common in the UK, with the numbers of people who have private health insurance increasing in 2008 despite the country heading into recession, other politicians have criticised Clegg for not supporting the National Health Service. Liberal Democrat policy even allows the public to look for private healthcare if they are not treated on the NHS within a reasonable time. It is this sort of lack of confidence in the NHS, made even more in the public eye through these high profile figures that have encouraged people to take out a quote for private health insurance.


Mr Clegg himself does not have a private health insurance policy, and has paid for individual appointments himself. Self pay is one option if you wish to be treated in an alternative to the NHS but this can be costly and if can eliminate people if they do not have savings and could also lead people to get into debt they would rather avoid. Private medical insurance, particularly cash plan private health cover is an affordable way to gain access to private healthcare and avoiding the NHS waiting lists that are off putting to so many people. Illness is not something that one can predict, so while we may have savings now and could afford to pay for private healthcare, in the future when we need treatment, often as an emergency we may not be able to afford it. This is why private health insurance policies can provide a good peace of mind.