A surprising number of children are using alternative medicines. Twelve per cent of young people are experimenting with unconventional treatments, according to research carried out in the USA, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are huge amounts of alternative treatments available, ranging from herbal supplements such as Echinacea, to slightly more unusual therapies, like acupuncture. Alternative therapies, often seen as less invasive than mainstream medicine, are covered more often nowadays by private medical insurance policies like those offered by Freedom.  This means that more children could have access to these popular treatments, if their parents were to obtain a quote for private medical cover.

Thirty eight per cent of adults were also found to have tried alternative treatments in the past year, and children were five times as likely to have tried the therapies, if their parents had also experimented. Alternative and complementary procedures and pills can be used to treat a wide range of illnesses and health problems, the most popular among children being back or neck pain, colds, anxiety or stress, other muscle and skeletal problems and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While some people have expressed their concerns about the proven safety and effectiveness of such treatments, such as the use of St John’s Wort to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity which has been shown to have no effect on the conditions, the popularity of such procedures cannot be ignored. Children can have access to these alternative medicines through a family health insurance policy or individual child private medical cover if they so wish. The survey also showed that the treatments were also popular among teenagers, who could also be included in family health insurance or on a low cost student health insurance policy. 

Travelling abroad for private medical care is becoming increasingly popular, with over one million people worldwide now opting to make the most of state of the art facilities overseas. With the freedom of cash plan medical insurance policies, patients can receive their treatment wherever they like, whether via their local hospital, or in brand new clinics in places such as Thailand, Hong Kong or across Europe. Despite the many benefits of making a trip across the border, the prospect of being in a strange country at a time when you may need reassurance can be daunting and a number of questions may spring to mind.

How safe is it?
There are risks attached to any kind of medical treatment, whether carried out in UK, or abroad, but you could visit some of the world’s best clinics, by taking advantage of just one of the benefits of private medical insurance and going abroad. There are bodies that accredit health centres so it is worth investigating the checks they carry out, before stepping on a plane, but with success rates as high as 98.5 percent in some areas of Asia, for complicated cardiac procedures, there should be no need to worry.

Does quality drop alongside cost?
It’s true that the cost of private medical care abroad is much cheaper, however this does not necessarily affect the quality of treatment. Lower wages for doctors, more modest living standards and less expensive costs of private health care are the dominant factors.

What happens if complications arise?
Normally, patients will stay in the country for long enough that staff can ensure that the treatment was successful and that any follow up care and therapies are being undertaken correctly. This means it is very unlikely that complications will occur in the first place. However, on the off chance that something unexpected should happen, a private medical insurance policy should help to cover any further care whether you chose to have it at home or in the original clinic.

More patients are turning to private medical care to avoid waiting times.

Recently it seems that the NHS may be suffering from financial difficulties and with an average waiting time of 49 days according to figures in 2007, it is no wonder that many people are deciding to receive their treatment at a private healthcare centre. But for those patients who cannot afford to use their savings to pay for the vital operation they cannot wait for, health insurance policies seem to be a perfect alternative. There are many different levels of cover, allowing people to choose how much they want to spend to ensure that they have top quality medical treatment. A cheap essential health cover plan could cover up to £30,000 worth of medical costs, or if someone would like to really put their minds at ease, policies are available which provide in-patient and out-patient cover as well as other treatments such as alternative therapies, psychiatric care and rehabilitation.

There are many advantages to getting a medical insurance quotation and taking out a private policy. Not only does the patient avoid huge waiting lists, which in 2007 could still see some people waiting for up to six months to receive medical care, but they very often get their own hospital room rather than sharing a ward. Some policies may also allow them to choose when they have an operation to fit in with their schedule and they could even have their treatment abroad if they wish. It is worth bearing in mind that not all conditions are covered by medical insurance policies, such as chronic conditions, pre-existing medical conditions and any self inflicted illnesses like alcohol and drug abuse, but it is always worth looking after your health and making sure that the best facilities are available.

Child health is constantly in the news and the importance of looking after the health and diet of your little ones. On staffnurse.com a news article reported on a goverment study which has indicated that although children are eating more healthy diets and greater amounts of fruit and vegetables but, at the same time, they are still getting fatter. With a staggering 16% of children in the UK now obese it is a striking statistic that reminds us of the silent damage parents can do to their child's health without realising it.

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