An NHS hospital in the UK has come under criticism twice in the same week because of concerns over its hygiene standards. On Wednesday this week, the family of an elderly woman have complained about the level of care she received in Luton and Dunstable Hospital, after she was found lying in her own faeces and dehydrated. An E.coli outbreak in 2008 where two babies died is also the source of further criticism for the healthcare centre, as some parents are now suing the NHS hospital. A report says that the infection was probably caused by a lack of cleaning, including staff not washing their hands properly. A spokesman for the hospital has told the ‘Daily Mail’ that in some emergency situations a choice has to be made whether to follow hand washing regulations or to use the extra few seconds to help an ill youngster. It is these sorts of case studies however that might encourage some people to take out a quote for private medical insurance.


Cleanliness in NHS hospitals has long been one of the most common reasons why people have opted for private health insurance in order to gain access to private hospitals where the incidences of superbugs and hospital acquired infections are lower. Although measures have been taken in the past few years to significantly reduce the numbers of people getting infections like MRSA, some people may still like to have the added peace of mind that a private medical insurance policy provides. This does not only apply to hygiene levels either. We never know when we are likely to fall ill, but if we do, it is reassuring to know that you will be able to be treated in the shortest time possible and in a hospital that is the most convenient to you. This can all be gained by taking out private medical insurance as a way of having access to private healthcare with an affordable premium.

The Liberal Democrats have become increasingly popular in the UK, especially since the MP’s expenses scandal last year and has gained percentage points in recent polls in the run up to the general election. In the increasing likelihood of a hung parliament next month, Nick Clegg and his party will have a vital contribution to the running of the future government and their policies have come to the forefront of attention. In the final part of Freedom Healthnet’s election special, we look at the UK’s third party’s ideas for the NHS and the impact they could have on the private health insurance industry if their influence in Parliament grows.


The NHS budget could be under threat if the Lib Dem’s get their way. The party’s manifesto does not guarantee the future of the health services funding in a bid to cut the expenditure of the government. All political parties will be looking to save money where they can to help pay off the huge debt the country is now in, and Nick Clegg is planning to source some of this from the health budget. The Department of Health could be cut in half to make some of these efficiency savings. Some people may be worried that this could mean the quality of care could suffer as a result of this, and may take out a quote for private medical insurance to give themselves extra peace of mind.


Other proposed savings would come from a reorganisation of the structure of the NHS. Strategic health authorities would be scrapped, and giving the power to plan health services to elected local health boards. The Lib Dem’s answer for the controversial provision of out of hours GP care would be to give a greater role back to GPs in providing the service. It would mean some local doctors would have to be involved. This could be in response to concerns that some agency GPs have not been providing a high level of care, as seen high profile cases recently where patients have died and may have meant some people have opted for private health insurance to have affordable access to private doctors.

As various election campaigns get into full swing across the country with only weeks left until polling day on May 6th, Freedom Healthnet continues its special look at the party’s proposals for healthcare provisions. The NHS is a long standing and vital issue for the vying politicians and their plans for its future not only have an effect upon the state of free healthcare itself, but also for the private sector. Today, we look at the Conservative party’s manifesto and the impacts it could have if they win the general election.


GP opening hours is a continuing issue, despite the reform brought about in 2004 and it has not escaped the Conservatives plans for the NHS. Similarly to Labour, they promise access to GP care twelve hours a day, seven days a week for every person in the UK. But Cameron’s plans say that GPs themselves would be responsible for deciding how the services will be provided which means that contracts will have to be negotiated again. Six years ago, GPs opted out of out of hours care in favour of a pay cut and meant that doctors were brought in to cover the service. The Chairman of BMA Council, Dr Hamish Meldrum told the BBC: "The idea of being able to see a GP from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week is bound to be popular, and patients deserve good access to GP services, but this shouldn't come at the expense of the quality of a patient's overall care, which is at risk if services become fragmented.” If the level of care does drop, people could be tempted to get a quote for private medical insurance.


Other healthcare proposals from the Tories include ruling out the planned closure of some Accident and Emergency and maternity departments in certain hospitals. While this seems to be a popular policy, critics have said that some of these closures are needed and without them patient safety and quality of their healthcare could be at risk. Private health insurance could then become a more attractive option for increasing numbers of people if they wish to gain affordable access to private hospitals where some of the highest quality healthcare in the UK is on offer.

The rising numbers of people suffering from obesity in the UK could lead to an increase in the number of people getting a quote for private medical insurance. That’s according to the website quoteboffin.co.uk, who believe that the pressure of obesity related illnesses on the NHS will cause waiting lists to grow and persuade more people to find an alternative to staying in lengthy queues. A spokesperson for quoteboffin.co.uk said, “With rising levels of obesity adding months, if not years, to already overcrowded waiting lists it’s no wonder that more consumers will begin turning their attention to private health cover in order to guarantee prompt and professional medical treatment.
Waiting lists can be especially frustrating for those who have strived to live a healthy lifestyle but could still find themselves at the end of a very long queue. Health insurance removes the unknown by guaranteeing peace of mind and first class medical care in equal measure.”


Obesity is already costing the health service £2.6 billion a year to treat the many illnesses that can come about as a result of being overweight, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Despite government campaigns to try and reduce the number of people affected by the condition, experts still predict that the proportion of the population who are classed as obese will continue to rise by as much as 10 percent every decade. The budget for the NHS is already somewhat restrictive and this could be stretched even further into the future, especially if the government cannot keep up with the increased funding that it has provided over the past few years. It is these sorts of figures that could encourage a person to look into private medical insurance as an affordable way of gaining access to private healthcare if the quality of treatment or the waiting times suffer as a result.

People may become reliant on private health insurance to gain access to homeopathy services if the latest recommendations for the government are carried out. A report from the science and technology parliamentary committee has advised that homeopathy should no longer be funded by the NHS. The government has recognised that there is no evidence that these sorts of treatments work and have been criticised for having no view on the ethics of providing placebo type healthcare. Despite these criticisms, alternative treatments like homeopathy have become increasingly popular in recent years and those people who feel that they have benefitted from it in the past may start to look for quotes for private medical insurance as a more affordable way of having the care if it the NHS stop providing it.


Not all private health insurance policies will pay for alternative treatments like acupuncture, chiropractic care, podiatry or indeed homeopathy. Freedom Healthnet will pay up to £1,000 a year for up to six visits to any of these on all level of cover if the policy holder opts to include outpatient care and subject to approval of claim. Physiotherapy is also included among these treatments and is rarely covered in a private health insurance policy. Waiting lists for physiotherapy on the NHS have reported to be quite lengthy in some areas of the UK and people who wish to bypass those queues via private healthcare may have to pay for the treatment themselves if their current health insurance policy does not include it. It is these people that should consider comparing the level of cover on a number of different types of policies across a wide range of providers before they commit to private health insurance that does not fulfil all their specific requirements and needs.

National waiting lists make no difference to the number of people who take out private medical insurance. That’s according to one study that investigated into the many factors that could encourage a person to seek private healthcare. Gavin Wallis, in his 2003 ‘The Determinants of Demand for Private Medical Insurance: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey’ found that it was regional waiting times that actually confirmed people’s worries about being treated in an NHS facility. Despite the huge press coverage given to the latest waiting time statistics in the national press, it seems that people responded to those results that were much more relevant to themselves. Wallis also found that a drop in waiting times meant that people were less inclined to take out private health insurance, but the most recent national statistics on this stating that the majority of waiting lists are now under the 18 week target could now not be as significant as the government may hope if regional results are not as successful.


Locality was also an important factor in a different area of a person’s decision to purchase private medical insurance or not. The availability of private medical facilities to a person’s home was found to be more important than even the number of private healthcare centres in a certain region. The benefit of having private health insurance, particularly one which has no hospital lists like the policies offered by Freedom Healthnet, is that the most convenient hospital can be chosen. This could even be the facility closest to a person’s work, or a family member who can offer some care after an operation for example.

The numbers of people who may take out private medical insurance could significantly increase over the next few years if the patterns noted by one study are correct. Gavin Wallis, in his 2003 report ‘The Determinants of Demand for Private Medical Insurance: Evidence from the British Household Panel Survey’ found that when government spending on public health care increased around the turn of the new millennium, the number of people who had a private medical insurance policy reduced. As the NHS budget looks increasingly likely to be cut over the coming years, it might seem logical then that the number of people who have private health cover could increase. This could be because they may be concerned that the level of care on offer could become limited or they may wish to be covered in case they wish to top up their NHS treatment.


The amount of government spending on healthcare is described as having a ‘lag’ effect on the number of people taking out private medical insurance. This is because of the effect of funding on the length of time people have to wait for treatment and there is evidence to suggest that the longer the waiting lists for NHS care, the more likely people are to opt for private health cover. Waiting times are one of the main reasons why people take a quote for private medical insurance as private hospitals can provide a much quicker referral to see a consultant and for any operation that they may recommend. When people become ill, the majority wish to recover in the shortest time possible and so if budget cuts are made to the NHS in the near future and waiting times increase, a quote for private health insurance could become an attractive option for an even larger proportion of the population in the UK.

Complaints from patients about NHS GPs have rocketed in the past year. Nearly 40,000 people weren’t happy with the service in the last 12 months, which is an increase of 12 percent. The rise in the number of complaints has coincided with the controversial change in out of hours care brought about back in 2004 which has come under fire a number of times since. The changes meant that Primary Care Trusts are now in control of the provision of GP health services in the evenings and at weekends rather than GPs themselves and gave physicians the choice to opt out of working the extra hours in favour of a £6,000 pay cut. The majority chose the wage drop and the NHS has been criticised since for mistakes made by out of hours doctors. This large number of complaints may signal a rise in the number of people taking out quotes for private medical insurance to gain access to private healthcare services.


The figures, which have been released by the NHS Information centre, show that the category which received the largest amount of complaints was clinical care. Almost 15,000 cases were reported where such instances as failure to refer a patient correctly to a consultant occurred. It is this sort of experience that may encourage people to look for an alternative to NHS treatment such as private health care to help avoid these errors. Private hospitals are much less busy and under less pressure than their NHS counterparts which reduces the chance that mistakes will be made and a higher quality of care to be possible. Private health insurance is a more affordable way of catering for private treatment, rather than forking out for the often large one off bills.

Private health insurance policy holders may not be making the most of their cover by continuing to use the NHS. GP’s may now be encouraged to offer their patients a private referral because those who are privately covered are said to be taking up places in NHS clinics that could otherwise be used to treat those people who do not wish or cannot afford to pay for their care. At the moment, doctors may not always realise that their patients have private medical insurance or are willing to pay for their treatment and automatically refer them to NHS specialists. It may also be that they are not too sure of the procedure to refer patients to private hospitals. The independent sector are now trying to persuade GP’s to help ease the pressure on the NHS by encouraging patients to investigate all options.


More people may be willing to pay for their healthcare than some GPs may initially think. Some people may not have even considered that there might be an alternative than being patient in an NHS waiting list for an appointment with a specialist or for an operation. Paying directly for the cost of private treatment might be an option for some people, but for the majority of people this often costly option is not a choice if they do not have savings or wish to spend them on healthcare. Cash plan private medical insurance is a cost effective way of having access to private health care but with monthly premiums that are much less noticeable than an often large one off payment.

Consumer superbrands have the power to attract consumers to the private medical insurance market, a research paper by PA Consulting has identified. Companies such as Boots and Virgin can attract clients to their stores and offer healthcare to NHS funded patients, private patients covered by health insurance and self-pay patients.

This trend, currently offered in the US has led to an influx of “retail health clinics” offering simple medical treatments for walk-in patients.

This has already started in the UK. Earlier in the year supermarket Sainsbury’s opened a GP practice in one of its stores near Manchester. Virgin also plans to open its first primary care centre this year with a further 5 over the course of next year. GP services will be the central to what it offers. Boots is also looking to expand its walk-in centre in Poole, Dorset, and could also expand its other 150 walk-in centres.

Virgin, a company successful in diversification has recruited Netcare’s former Chief Executive Officer Mark Adams to run its new venture in healthcare provision. Netcare is the parent company of BMI Healthcare – Britain’s largest private hospital chain.

Other retailers have also expanded their product range by offering financial products. Tesco together with insurer AXA PPP Healthcare and Sainsbury’s have offered private medical insurance policies, although the results have been mixed.

The best ways to prevent cancer are similar to those to prevent obesity and heart disease.A third of cancers are caused by smoking, a third by poor food and a lack of exercise and the other third by a mixture of other causes including genetic predisposition.

A six year research analysing cancer risks show how to reduce this risk (excluding smoking). Some are unsurprising, including physical activity, limiting intake of red meat and limiting alcoholic drinks. More surprisingly, it also highlighted that being a little overweight is also a risk. One of best things people can do to avoid cancer is to maintain a body mass index (BMI) of 21 to 23. Previous BMI guidelines have advised healthy levels to be between 18.5 and 24.9. Therefore to reduce cancer risk you must avoid getting fat at all.

It seems it is agreed that for cancer prevention is better than cure. Dealing with cancer in America costs $100 billion per year, therefore there is a big emphasis on prevention and early detection. Two large insurance companies offering corporate health insurance, income and disability insurance to their employees are reducing their premiums for those members who agree to answering a detailed questionnaire about their way of life and undergo a series of tests. Its conclusions can detect a person who is at risk to a type of cancer due to biochemistry and/or lifestyle and suggest advice or tests for prevention or early detection.

The aim to extend the scheme to lower income groups in America who do not have private medical insurance.

Source: The Economist
To avoid the Big C, stay small

The recession has caused many of us to think more carefully about the state of our health, according to a recent survey. The ‘Britain Under Pressure’ research, carried out for financial services group Friends Provident, found that up to 10 million of us are now feeling more fit and well because of this new found attitude. Nearly six in ten people said they would like to do more to take care of their health, with the majority of those doing this by changing their diets by swapping junk food and takeaways for healthier alternatives and starting to grow their own fruit and vegetables. For those people who have become increasingly aware of their health and wellbeing, private medical insurance could now be an attractive option.


Scare stories about the NHS, including people’s experiences of dirty wards and general unhygienic conditions, catching hospital acquired infections like MRSA and long waiting lists, may be the sort of thing that goes over the head of some people with a ‘it’ll never happen to me’ mindset. This change in attitude over the past year may be the sort of thing that opens some people’s eyes to the possibility of experiencing some of these troubles that the NHS has had in the past. Private medical insurance can be an affordable way to gain access to private hospitals where these sorts of issues haven’t been experienced certainly to the extent of the NHS. From just £10.88 a month, this could be just the same cost that buying extra fruit and vegetables is adding on to your shopping bill, perhaps less.

Patients in the UK are not the only ones who are being tempted to take out a private medical insurance policy. The doctors who treat them in NHS hospitals are also opting for private health cover. Nearly half of NHS consultants (41 percent) decided to upgrade their medical care according to a survey carried out by Bupa. Critics have said that they are displaying no confidence in the quality of the NHS but the British Medical Association has defended the consultants’ decision. The BMA’s Consultants’ Committee’s Deputy Chairman said, “Consultants may also like the anonymity of private care. One of the problems of being treated in the NHS is that Consultants might find themselves in a bed next to one of their patients”.


This statement makes up one of the underlying reasons why some of the millions of people in the UK have private medical insurance to give them affordable access to private healthcare. It is not always that the NHS provides a substandard level of care; it is that private healthcare has that little extra something. Whether that means that you can be seen in a shorter time, whether you are guaranteed a private room to yourself or whether your visitors can have access to free parking, private hospitals offer a little luxury that may be more appreciated at that time when you are not feeling your best. Feeling more comfortable in your surroundings may even help you to recover more quickly than you might have done otherwise.

The number of people going through privately funded medical treatment has fallen by 4 percent over the past decade – but it’s not because of any drop in the number of people with private health insurance. Research carried out by Laing and Buisson found that since Labour came to power in 1997, the privately funded share of scheduled surgery has decreased from 14.6 percent to 10.6 percent. But it is the people who opt to pay directly for their treatment – “self-payers” – who have started to consider the NHS for their healthcare needs rather than people with health insurance, particularly since the recession has kicked in since 2007. Laing and Buisson’s Chief Executive, William Laing, told the Guardian, "This remarkable reduction in the privately funded share of elective surgery is not because private healthcare is in decline. It is true that an improved NHS service coupled with recession has taken a heavy toll on demand from 'self-payers' without medical insurance cover. But private medical insurance remains robust.”


The NHS has become a more attractive option for those people that suddenly found themselves unable to afford to pay for private healthcare. The massive cash injections from the government have meant that NHS funded operations in private hospitals have grown enormously. In fact the NHS now makes up 16 percent of all operations in private hospitals, compared to six percent in 1997. For those people that still wish to have access to private health care however, having a private health insurance policy is a much more affordable way than self-paying.

Concerns have been raised this month over the quality of NHS out of hours care, following the death of a 70 year old man. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has been carrying out an investigation and has raised its worries over the level of monitoring of these services. Out of hours care passed to agencies in many primary care trusts across the country after the change of GP’s contracts in 2004, which meant that they could opt out of working in the evenings and at weekends if they wished. Patients, like David Gray, have suffered as a result. In this particular case, Mr Gray was given ten times the normal dose of the painkiller diamorphine. The CQC has now called for increased monitoring of these out of hours services, saying that the current situation is a “nationwide problem.” Concerns about NHS services are just one reason why some people decide to take out a quote for private medical insurance.


The case of this elderly man is not the only one to hit the headlines. A 41-year-old woman also died back in 2005 from organ failure after being seen by a total of eight doctors over just four days. An inquiry was carried out then into Penny Campbell’s death and found similar problems with out of hours services. Although these high profile cases only cover two areas of the country, the CQC has been investigating five areas which are covered by the Take Care Now programme – primary care trusts in Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, Worcestershire, South West Essex and Cambridgeshire. The CQC’s chief executive, Cynthia Bower told The Times, “Although we are still in the early stages of our inquiries, we believe this may point towards a national problem. We are, therefore, encouraging PCTs across the country to scrutinise in more detail the out-of-hours services they commission.” Some people believe these services should become GP’s responsibility once more but until that happens, private health insurance might be one way to access private clinics to ensure a high quality of care. Take Care Now has welcomed the CQC’s findings and is continuing to work with them.

As President Obama heats up the debate in America about whether to introduce free healthcare for all, debates have started to arise here in the UK about our very own healthcare system. The NHS has always been criticised over one reason or another, whether this is over long waiting lists, hospital cleanliness or access to revolutionary, but expensive treatment. It is only really now though that politicians and speakers have begun to consider whether the future of the British healthcare system lies within the NHS. Some people abroad, in countries where thousands of people have to go without basic treatment because they simply cannot afford it, dream of a free healthcare service and in this case it might seem that we take the NHS for granted. But others, who favour private healthcare as a more favourable option look upon the NHS as one reason why a free healthcare system should not be introduced in the United States. British MP Hannan even joined in the criticism of a 60 year old service that has encouraged some people to choose to pay for their healthcare anyway, often through private health insurance.


The main advantage it seems to the British healthcare system is that people can have the best of both worlds. The NHS is excellent for emergency treatment, especially after incidents like road traffic accidents. For less unpredictable healthcare needs, private hospitals are a good way for people to upgrade their care if they feel they want to. Private health insurance is just one way that private healthcare can be accessed, but can make it much more affordable to a lot of people. Cash plan private health insurance in particular, is a much more cost effective way having that extra security and peace of mind, and has meant that private health care is no longer something that is considered a luxury and confined to the rich. David Cameron has said that he wants to open up the NHS debate even further, and with an election arising in the coming year, the next few months could be vital for the future of the NHS.

In these current times value for money is very important and this applies to health care as much as anything else. But according to the Daily Mail private healthcare establishments may be billing health insurance clients up to 50% more than their private clients.

Taking out private health insurance with Freedom Healthnet Ltd ensures that you are protected from this kind of unfairness because Freedom pays the cash direct to you and you approach hospitals as an independent private patient.

On the 2nd May the Daily Mail reported that a client received a bill from the Nuffield Hospital in Chichester where an MRI scan was charged at £477. Three weeks later another bill arrived for the same MRI scan for £720. The patient was asked to ignore the previous bill 'as we were unaware patient was insured.' This enormous 50% increase was drawn to the attention of the patient's insurer Western Provident Association (WPA).

Julian Stainton chief executive of WPA said,

'It beggars belief that in these times when the public demand openness, one of this country's leading charities is taking advantage of patients at their most vulnerable, charging insured patients in excess of 50% more than self-pay patients.

It is nothing more than bedside robbery for a private hospital to charge on the basis of "how much can we get away with?"'

Anthony Scrivener QC, an authority on consumer law said 'The provider is not entitled to demand to know whether you have medical insurance. It is entitled to be sure that you have the resources to pay for the treatment - usually making a credit card available will suffice.

In law every patient is a self-pay patient, irrespective of their ability to recover charges from a relative or an insurance company.'

For Freedom Healthnet clients this is not an issue. If you become ill Freedom pays the money for your inpatient treatment straight into your bank account and you have the choice to do exactly what you want with it. You can approach your preferred medical establishment and ask for discounts for your healthcare treatments as an individual private patient and then keep the change to spend on other things. Alternatively you can go abroad to be looked after or even go via the NHS and keep the cash for yourself. The choice is yours.

So, with Freedom you have the wonderful security of a private health insurance plan but you save money on two fronts:

-you get cheap health insurance because Freedom Healthnet Ltd pass on their reduced admin costs to you
- you are in control of the money you get and can therefore get better deals from the private health care providers.

Private health insurance has traditionally been seen as a luxury, particularly for those with a lower income. The introduction of cash plan medical insurance policies made the privilege available to a large number of people who couldn’t afford access to convenient and high quality healthcare in previous years. But with money becoming tight for everyone and sacrifices being made, there was speculation about whether private medical insurance might no longer be seen as a priority. This doesn’t appear to have happened though, with people preferring to find ways of saving money on their private health insurance policy, rather than cancelling it altogether.

There are many ways in which people can cut costs on their private medical insurance – firstly by switching to a cash plan provider like Freedom Healthnet. This type of policy offers a much more competitive rate than traditional levels of cover and yet still has many benefits to offer, including the choice as to whether a person would like to receive their treatment in a private health clinic, in a healthcare centre abroad, or whether they would prefer to get help towards any costs incurred as a result of NHS treatment. 

Mike Dalby, director of Health-on-Line says, “We are seeing evidence that health insurance customers are taking a longer term view on their private medical insurance and now consider it a necessity when it comes to protecting the welfare of their families." People have been put off completely ending their policies for a number of reasons. Firstly, someone could lose cover for a medical condition that has developed in the time they have had a private medical insurance policy. They could also lose money in the long term by no longer being subject to their no claims discount which may have built up over many years. Overall, it could make better sense to keep up a health policy, but to look for providers who offer great value.

Cash plan private medical insurance providers like Freedom Healthnet are helping to address criticisms that have been levelled at other health insurance companies.

Recently there have been complaints that some private health insurance providers make their policies unclear and confusing for their customers, and that companies offering this unique type of private health insurance do not offer enough information on the levels of benefits that are available. Freedom Healthnet has a wide range of information sources, including leaflets and an easy to follow and simple website, where existing and prospective customers can find all the information they need.

Concern has been expressed that the range of benefits offered by private health insurance policies is being reduced in order to offer access to services such as optical and dental treatments. Freedom Healthnet has decided not to offer these treatments to ensure that their policy holders have access to the widest range of treatments and benefits available, and especially to make sure that both inpatient and outpatient care can be provided.

One marketing director, Stephen Duff, told Health Insurance and Protection Magazine, “People’s expectations might be diminished when they find out that hospital benefits are not covered.” Freedom Healthnet’s customers will not suffer this disappointment because most hospital treatments are included, up to the cost of £30,000, even on the most basic of policies. He also added that customers should get all the benefits and exclusions explained to them, which Freedom clearly spells out in a leaflet which is also available on its website.

Around ten per cent of the NHS’s budget will be wasted this year, because of simple errors. The figures, which have been approximated on behalf of the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA), reveal that the amount the health service will spend on compensation to poorly treated patients will have increased by nearly a third compared to last year. One health insurance company, Health-on-line has even predicted it to be the reason why they have seen an increase in quotes for private medical cover. The company’s director Mike Dalby says, "It’s difficult to be certain but we have seen an increase in health insurance enquiries over recent months and we’re beginning to wonder whether this is due in part to the public’s increasing frustration with misdirected NHS funds."

It has been argued that the significant amount the NHS wastes as a result of their mistakes could easily be prevented with more care and attention, and the money could be much better used in other areas to improve facilities and overall patient service. Waiting lists are often a major concern, and one of the reasons that people look into taking out a private medical insurance policy in order to be treated in a much quicker time. Mike Dalby adds, "Many people will question why this compensation has to be paid in the first place. Is it down to the fact that the NHS is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain standards of cleanliness, or that the increased pressure on the health system is leading to more mistakes being made? It will only have a detrimental effect on the public’s confidence in the NHS and could be the reason for increased interest in private health insurance".

A brand new private medical practice is set to open in the Midlands, meaning that private medical insurance customers will have an even wider choice when it comes to deciding where to have their treatment. The centre will be run by The Independent General Practice (IGP), which already has three other successful clinics in Swansea, Cardiff and Newport. It will offer a range of services to patients, including general health check ups, vaccinations, and occupational healthcare, as well as GP facilities. 

The new surgery, which will be found at the Health Harmonie Centre in Edgbaston, will just be one of many private healthcare centres that are available more widely to Freedom Healthnet policy holders. In comparison to other private health insurance companies, Freedom does not have limited hospital lists of which you are expected to choose from. With the exception of some London clinics, Freedom customers are pretty much restriction-free when it comes to where they would like to receive their treatment. 

The Edgbaston healthcare centre will be based around the successful format of the IGP’s other facilities in Wales and will be headed by local practitioner Dr. Swallow. He told Wales Online, “The rapid growth of the IGP model has not gone unnoticed in professional circles and I’m pleased to have become a part of a practice which affords such a comprehensive range of both medical and cosmetic treatments.” People who live in the Midlands may find themselves enquiring into a quote for a private medical insurance policy to allow them to have an easier access to the top quality services the new centre will provide.

Despite much improvement recently in cleaning up Britain’s hospitals, only five out of fifty one acute health trusts passed a hygiene spot check by the country’s health watchdog. The Healthcare Commission undertook the inspections as part of one of the biggest investigations into cleanliness standards in recent years, and found that the majority were not meeting the required standards for NHS institutions set in the government’s Health Act in 2006. 

The Act was designed to improve the conditions which had led to a large number of superbug outbreaks such as Clostridium Difficile and MRSA, but it seems that while significant changes have been made, and most of the complaints are for minor breaches of the guidelines, many NHS trusts could still do a lot more to improve their services. More NHS patients may decide to get a quote for private medical insurance, especially as improvements don’t seem to have been as effective as first thought. It may seem a more reassuring option for some people to take advantage of a private health insurance policy, and gain access to top quality private hospitals, which are renowned for their low rate of superbugs and high levels of standards. 

Overall, the Healthcare Commission found that around 29% of all NHS Trusts across England hadn’t met one of the three main objectives of the hygiene code. But it is particularly worrying, especially for patients, that such a high number of acute clinics should be failing to keep clean in all aspects and areas. Acute clinics offer a wide range of services, including specialist care, emergency treatment and complex and lifesaving surgery, at a time when cleanliness could be more vital than ever. More peace of mind for patients is needed, and they may find themselves turning to private medical insurance to provide this psychological reassurance. Liberal Democrat Health spokesman Norman Lamb told the BBC, "Considering the horrifying death toll from superbugs, it is very disturbing that adequate systems are still not in place in very many of our acute hospitals." 

Cash plan private medical insurance policies have a reputation for being the most competitive in the market. Freedom’s policies in particular, can be, on average, half the price of similar levels of cover offered by its rivals in the health insurance market. But have you ever wondered how it is possible to offer such a good level of cover, with benefits starting from £30,000 worth of treatment on the most basic of policies, for significantly less than other health insurance companies?

Freedom maintains its low premiums by paying cash directly to you instead of the hospital. If you can go to a private healthcare centre with a cash lump sum they will more often than not offer the treatment at a lower price than they would to someone who has a traditional private medical insurance policy where the company pays directly to the hospital for the cost of the healthcare. This allows Freedom to pass on the savings to you as customers with much lower monthly premiums.

Freedom as a company has not spent as much on marketing and advertising as its counterparts in the private health insurance market. Television advertising can be very costly to a company and Freedom has decided to stick with more cost effective forms of marketing like print advertising to allow it to pass on the savings again to its customers. Some people might argue that Freedom is not as well known as, for example, BUPA for this reason, but Freedom's customers can be satisfied by the fact that they have a robust private medical insurance policy, but for sufficiently less money.

When taking out any sort of insurance policy – whether it is for your car or private health cover – it is always best to shop around to find the best deal for you, especially as money has become increasingly tight. The easiest way to do this is by taking out an online quote with a personalised quote coming back to you in a very short amount of time. You could potentially halve the amount you pay for a private health insurance policy, even just by looking at a different type of health insurance.

Cash plan health insurance policies are different to traditional private health cover plans because they pay you a cash lump sum, rather than paying directly to a health care clinic for the cost of your treatment. This not only allows you to have access to top quality hospitals with short waiting lists and the best facilities in the country, but also gives you the option to stay on the NHS if you wish and use the money to help with the costs incurred as a result of your illness. This is becoming increasingly important as many people are struggling to continue paying their hefty bills when they are forced to take time off work.

Cash plan insurance policies like those offered by Freedom are on average the most competitive in price. They can be half the price of the rest of the policies offered in the private health insurance market. So not only can you take advantage of the exclusive benefits of this unique health insurance policy, but you can save money at the same time, giving you more to spend elsewhere.

Private medical insurance has long been perceived by many to be a luxury. With much of the UK’s population cutting back on ‘wants’ and concentrating on their ‘needs’, private health cover could be made less of a priority, but this doesn’t have to be the case. There are a few ways in which you can save money on a quote for health insurance.


First, you should make sure that you have chosen the level of cover that is most relevant to you and your family’s lifestyle. There is no point paying for a policy which has a maximum level of benefits to offer like Freedom’s Diamond Plus Comprehensive cover, when you may not be taking full advantage of it. When money is tight, a more basic policy such as Freedom Gold Medical Insurance could still provide you with the peace of mind that a more extensive level of cover with another insurer could provide, but at a fraction of the cost.*


There are other options, if you would still like to enjoy the wide range of treatments that can be made available from a good private health insurance policy. By increasing your initial excess fee you will also be able to lower your premiums. Sometimes your quote will be decreased with a no claims discount, if you haven’t claimed on your policy as of yet . If you decide to take up a healthy lifestyle, by giving up smoking for example, this can also make a difference, as well other options, such as narrowing the hospital choice open to you, and also, electing for a longer waiting time.

*Get an instant online quote and call 0800 999 2013 for comparison quotes with other providers, quoting BLOG as reference.

So, how could health insurance from Freedom help you with NHS Top Ups?
Mrs A from London is diagnosed with breast cancer. She has private medical insurance with Freedom Healthnet and contacts the claims department. Upon confirmation of her condition by her consultant and approval of her claim, she receives a payment of £4,500*, tax-free. Mrs A decides to have her surgery on the NHS and keeps the money. She decides she wants to top up her NHS treatment by paying for a specific drug and uses the money paid to her by Freedom to fund this.

Get an instant online health insurance quote and instant get cover from Freedom Medical Insurance.

*Please note: amounts are approximate

Diabetes is very common in the UK. It’s one of those “it’ll never happen to me conditions” but with new research linking diabetes to slow child development, there is even more reason why you should have regular check ups, available with some policies as a benefit of private health insurance. The study by Laval University’s School of Psychology in Canada has found that women who develop diabetes during pregnancy are twice as likely to have a child with language development problems, particularly with vocabulary and grammatical skills. The leading researcher, Ginette Dionne, told science journal ‘Pediatrics’, “As mothers are having their children at a later age and the incidence of obesity in the population is on the rise, the rate of gestational diabetes is clearly increasing.”

There is no better time then to take out a private medical insurance policy, giving you access to in-depth health check ups that could pick up on such a condition. The symptoms of diabetes can often go unmissed and are not thought unusual – for example needing to visit the toilet more regularly and feeling more thirsty. This means that many cases of diabetes are not caught and can develop into a more serious version of the condition. If caught in time, some types can be treated purely by a change in diet, avoiding the use of insulin injections altogether; a thought that is daunting for many people.

Breaking the Mould - Why Not Try Health Insurance?

Research into the health insurance market has revealed that certain characteristics make a person more likely to be covered by a private medical insurance policy than others. The study, carried out by Besley, Hall and Preston, found that the typical policy holder is approximately middle aged, reasonably wealthy and a supporter of the Conservative party. But with cash plan medical insurance policies dropping traditional premiums by a significant amount, more people across the UK population should consider taking out a quote.

Many different factors were taken into account in the study including age, gender, occupational status, educational level and area of residence. The research found noticeable differences across the age spectrum. In 2001, only 2.7 per cent of the UK’s 16 to 24 year olds had private medical insurance in comparison to nearly eight per cent of 55 to 64 year olds – over triple the amount. Very competitive student health insurance is available for as little as £9.87 per month so this trend could easily change. Men are almost three times as likely to buy a health insurance policy than women, and double the amount of men than women are covered by employee health insurance as revealed in a study of BHPS statistics between 1996 and 2002. Despite this, women made up three quarters of those family members covered by an extended policy.

Other studies found that over four in ten of the richest members of society had private health cover compared to only 3.7 per cent of the poorest people. Education also made a difference. Those who had been through further education such as university were more likely to be policy-holders than those who had left school at sixteen. The percentage of the population with PMI also varied across the UK, with one in five of people in the south-east of the country having some sort of cover compared with only 6 per cent living in the north-east.

Behind the Scenes – How Your Risk is Calculated

Quotes for private health insurance are so easy and simple to get these days. Fill in a quick form on the internet and a figure is sent back to you almost instantly. But have you ever wondered how private medical insurance companies arrive at a certain sum?

How much you pay for private health cover depends on risk factors. These obviously vary from person to person and result in a very personalised quote for every individual. Age is the main variant which affects the cost of your private health insurance policy. When a person is younger they are less likely to suffer from serious illnesses or need time in hospital for a procedure like a hip replacement, meaning that their premiums are much lower. This is the best time to take out medical insurance, because not only will you be paying less, but there is also the possibility that having had access to the sort of provision of care that creates more peace of mind, and that often has shorter waiting lists and more choice, may have reduced some of the risks you could otherwise have been exposed to.

Age is not the only risk factor. Your quote will also be based upon gender, occupational status and whether or not you smoke. Men and women differ in the types of conditions they are prone to and this is reflected in the price of your policy. Some areas of work are also more likely to cause injury than others, for example, manual labour occupations would pose more of a danger than a secretarial position. The area of the UK in which you live can also provide variance on your health insurance quote because of issues such as the size of the local population, the waiting times at your nearby NHS facilities, the ratio of people to NHS services and the cost of private healthcare in your area.

Many GPs are not meeting their waiting time targets, according to an NHS watchdog. In its recent report, the Healthcare Commission found that over two thirds of all practices could not offer an appointment within 48 hours – the guideline that was set as part of new contracts for doctors in 2004. In the previous year, eight out of ten surgeries met the target. Primary care trusts across the country have now been instructed to launch a review in their areas to avoid losing their patients to private medical insurance.

Despite claims from both the government and doctors that the information was misleading as it was based on patient surveys as well as anonymous calls to surgeries, Gary Needle from the Healthcare Commission told the BBC, “If it was only a 10% difference then you might say patients were not understanding the exact question put to them, but you can't explain away this scale of difference in that way. Patients are not getting sufficient access."

Health insurance policies allow patients to use world class private facilities, where waiting times are not an issue. It is a priority for many people to be able to have access to a doctor when they need it, not when an appointment is available. The problem may be irrelevant by the time they get to see a GP, and many people will be put off going altogether, possibly making the illness worse in the long run. With early detection of many conditions vital to a person's recovery, it is likely that these statistics will encourage people to get a quote for private medical insurance where they will be seen and treated efficiently, and in a place and time convenient to them.

In the UK, the government is working hard to try to reduce the number of Road Traffic Accidents that occur each year. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics show that there were around 247,780 accidents in 2007, 4 per cent fewer than in 2006. ‘Looked but failed to see’ (LBFTS) accidents contribute to around 35 per cent of all reported accidents, and four out of the five most frequently reported factors involve driver or rider error or reaction. Younger and older drivers are most likely to be involved in accidents than drivers aged 25-69. Younger male drivers are more likely to have factors related to speed and behaviour, whereas older drivers are more likely to have factors related to vision and judgement. There is much psychological and perceptual research taking place that aims to reduce these sorts of incidents, but the fact remains that when they do take place, having private health insurance cover can really help to smooth the way to recovery.

Accident and emergency treatment via the NHS will almost certainly return you to a good level of health, but with access to private health care, waiting lists can be avoided for treatment, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture are available if required. Private medical insurance could also cover costs incurred by staying in an NHS hospital, for example, if parents are forced into an overnight stay if their child becomes ill. This is a common feature of cash plan health insurance, whereby customers have the option as to whether they would like to receive their treatment in an NHS hospital, private clinic or a centre overseas. Policy holders may also have access to telephone helplines to give advice to road traffic accident victims after their traumatic experience.

When is the best time to take out a health insurance policy? That is one of the many questions that often go through the mind of someone who is enquiring into a quote for private health cover but now one expert thinks she has the answer. Vanessa Bourne, a spokeswoman for the Patients Association, thinks the earlier the better. Many young people, particularly students, believe that a private health insurance is irrelevant while they are less likely to suffer from severe health conditions, but Ms. Bourne says, "Our advice would be that if you want private coverage, get it early in life when it should be cheaper, and try and keep it if you change jobs." She also described how the “meter starts again” every time somebody embarks on a new policy and each time the cost of premiums can be increased by factors such as age and health changes.

By taking out a student medical insurance policy, it is possible to get access to a wide range of top quality medical services, such as general health checks and treatment at a convenient time and place, whether these services are required at home while at university. In the long term, it can mean a better state of health than for someone who does not have access to these facilities, and could lower insurance premiums later in life. Many students may be put off taking out private health cover, because of a lack of funding, but with policies starting from only £9.99 a month, private health insurance for students can be very affordable, and money well spent.

Over 100,000 operations have been cancelled in the past year by the National Health Service, nearly double the number initially reported by the government. The Department of Health stated that 57,000 patients had to have their procedures rescheduled but this only includes those that were informed with less than 24 hours' notice. Many people even suffered from more than one cancellation. It is no wonder then that the number of people taking out a cash plan private medical insurance policy rose by at least three per cent in last year, meaning the total number of people benefitting from health cover reached almost three million in the UK.

Operation cancellations can be deeply troubling for patients, particularly those who are nervously anticipating their stay in hospital. Mark Martin from Health On-Line said, "Often these procedures are of a major or complex nature and one cancellation, let alone multiple cancellations, only adds to the anxieties and stress experienced by the patient and their family. Private medical insurance can go some way towards alleviating these stresses by allowing the patient to choose when and where their procedure is undertaken." Cash plan private medical insurance policies like those from Freedom Healthnet do just this.

Among the many choices available to you are: a private clinic that is in a suitable location, whether it is close to home, or further away, if you don’t mind a longer journey. If you would like to travel out of the country, you can also opt to receive your treatment abroad, or if you want to visit your local NHS hospital, your private medical insurance policy can supplement any costs incurred. Either way, you can avoid long waiting lists and have your operation without the fear that it will be cancelled.

Four in ten workers in the UK think their employers should provide them with private healthcare through a corporate health insurance policy. These figures come from the latest study by BUPA, which found private health cover came second only to pensions, in a list of employee concerns regarding their job.  Having a comfortable retirement fund was a top priority for just marginally more people at forty nine per cent, halving the difference between the two benefits from the previous year. Health is clearly becoming increasingly important for employees, with gym membership and wellness assessments also resulting high in the research. As well as this, businesses are now being encouraged by the Government to provide support for their staff as advised in the Department for Work and Pensions’ 'Review of the Health of the Working Population.' It seems that there is not a better time to get a quote for corporate medical insurance.

For three in four of all employees who would like to see private medical insurance among their job benefits, cleanliness of hospitals is the main worry. This is closely followed by wanting to avoid waiting lists, in particular for specialist treatment. Bupa’s Ann Greenwood told The Fair Investment Company, "The rising popularity of workplace health benefits, particularly PMI, reflects changing attitudes to personal healthcare. People are now keen to have more control of their healthcare options rather than leaving them to chance." 

Freedom Healthnet’s corporate health insurance policies offer such a degree of control. Employees can receive treatment in a time and place convenient to them, whether it be closer to work or home. They can be cared for in a top quality private clinic, visit their local NHS hospital or travel abroad if they wish. It’s not only workers that will benefit from a better state of health, but companies could save a significant amount of money by losing fewer days each year to sickness. In 2005, British companies lost £13 billion simply as a result of sickness. 

The amount of British pets covered by a private health insurance policy is nearly double that of their owners. According to a new study by Tesco Finance, 23 per cent of domestic animals in the UK have health cover in comparison to only 12.2 per cent of their human counterparts. It is well known that Britain is a nation of animal lovers, and there are many benefits of having an insurance policy that protects our furry friends. Ewan Mc Neil, former president of the society of practicing veterinary surgeons told yourmoneyhaven.com, “I'm not surprised that pet insurance is becoming so popular - people will do everything they can to ensure the best for their pets.” But despite this, should we be looking after number one?

With the credit crunch, money is much tighter and a decision may have to be made as to whether it’s yourself or the dog that gets the private health cover. It is true that vet bills can be an unnecessary and costly expense for pet owners, however having access to top quality health care for yourself could end up being ruled out if your animal wins the battle for the health insurance policy. Patients may be subject to long NHS waiting lists and a limited choice of facilities and appointment times because they cannot afford the fees for private treatment, but this could easily be avoided with the small cost of a cash plan private health insurance policy like those offered by Freedom Healthnet. If a dilemma arises, pet owners may have to consider the cost of a vet bill in comparison to private health care for themselves.

Figures released recently have revealed that seven in ten of all NHS trusts have been forced to ask for help from pest control experts at least fifty times in a two year period. Among the vermin found in hospitals were rats, flies, cockroaches, bedbugs and fleas, according to a report from the Conservative party. Not only were the pests discovered in wards, but there were reports of infestations in operating theatres. The worst offender was Nottingham University NHS Trust who had a total of 1,070 occurrences between January 2006 and March 2008. In the most shocking incidents, maggots were found in a pair of slippers, a swarm of flies was plaguing a children’s ward and rats were found in a maternity unit. In the light of these findings, it is no surprise that an increasing number of people are opting for private medical insurance, offering access to clean and efficient facilities.

 

The Conservative Party and patients alike have expressed their concerns over the matter. The shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley told the BBC, “Labour have said over and over that they will improve cleanliness in our hospitals, but these figures clearly show that they are failing.” The Health Protection Agency has argued that such infestations are unlikely to directly affect patients, but a spokesman from the Patients Association did not agree and said, “Such findings are truly revolting. If these hospitals were restaurants they would be closed down and out of business." 

 

Seven million people in the UK have already invested in a private medical insurance policy - with concerns over the cleanliness of NHS hospitals frequently given as a reason for making this decision. With a cash plan medical insurance policy, customers are given the choice as to where they receive their treatment, so they can ensure that the clinic they end up in has excellent standards, before they embark on receiving health care.

Private medical insurance has a significant impact in helping employers attract new recruits

In a survey of 211 employers with a workforce of 675,000 people 68% of employers have highlighted private health insurance to be a useful in recruitment. Furthermore 63% agreed it improved employee motivation.

With a cost to employers of over £1 billion each year, four in ten companies now provide their whole workforce with private healthcare policies.

80% of employers believe the schemes have helped their employees returning to work more quickly after absence. Two thirds of these employers said the schemes improved performance of their staff who were suffering from a disease, illness or injury.

Corporate private medical insurance costs on average £506 per person per year. However, 61% of employers provide limited benefits to permanent employees and line managers and extend greater cover to directors and senior managers.

Source: Personnel Today

Nearly 300,000 teenage girls in the UK will receive a vaccine against the virus which causes killer disease cervical cancer this autumn. The Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, made the announcement this month, which means that girls in their final year at school will join 12 and 13 year old girls across the country taking part in the scheme in September. The vaccine protects against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus which is thought to cause around 7 in 10 of all cervical cancer cases. The disease kills around 1,000 women every year, and the government hopes that 400 lives will be saved with the introduction of the immunisation scheme. However, some people have expressed concerns however that routine smear tests will eventually be phased out.

Currently, the NHS offers smear tests to women over the age of twenty-five, every three to five years, in order to diagnose any abnormal cells developing in the cervix, but some people are worried that women will get complacent about their visits, and that doctors will not offer the test as regularly. This is concerning, especially as around a third of all cases of the cancer are not related to the virus at all. With some private medical insurance policies, women have access to full medical health checks. Alternatively, women can opt to pay for a private smear test via a private doctor and then claim on their health insurance policies to fund treatment, if needed. Even if smear tests are eventually scaled down, ther are options for those who wish to put their minds at rest.

Routine testing as it currently stands has failed some women in the UK, even before any reduction in services. At just twenty four years old, Katie Hilliard from West Sussex, has been given two years to live after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer. Katie was refused a smear test on the NHS twice because she was ‘too young’. Doctors and specialists are hoping that the immunisation programme may help to lessen the numbers of cases like Katie's.

Boots, Virgin and Sainsbury’s are just a few of the private companies that have already been awarded contracts within the National Health Service for their involvement with large independent treatment centres. The latest company to join them is USA based UnitedHealth who will now become the main advisor to the NHS on primary care trust spending, after they agreed a deal with NHS bosses this week. Many people have expressed concerns over the increasing amount of privatisation in the health service, but with claims that the NHS is reaching retiring age as it turns 60 this month, it may be inevitable that privatised health care is the way forward in the 21^st century. Seven million people already have a private health insurance policy in the UK and it seems that this number will continue to increase.

The deal with UnitedHealth is the second of its kind to be agreed by the Department of Health just this year, after BUPA’s contract in Hillingdon earlier in 2008. UnitedHealth already run doctors services in both Derbyshire and Camden and are looking to expand further across the UK to allow more patients to benefit from a private style of health care. John Parkes, chief executive of Northamptonshire Teaching PCT told GP website, ‘Pulse’, that the knowledge of a private company will benefit their services. ‘FESC (Framework for procuring External Support for Commissioners) is about bringing in the expertise of a leading global organisation to improve our capacity and capability and we’re delighted to have chosen UnitedHealth UK to work in partnership with us.’

Read the latest about NHS Top Ups.

Independent nurses' think-tank, Nurses for Reform (NFR), have said this week that they fully support the government’s decision to allow top-up fees in the NHS. Previously, if a patient wished to cash in a private health insurance policy to help pay towards the price of treatment that the NHS refused to pay, they would be given a bill for the full cost of the healthcare. Professor Mike Richards, the Department of Health’s National Cancer Director, has now been given the go ahead by ministers to update the regulations regarding top ups despite Health Secretary Alan Johnson’s recent claim that they would breach the principles of the health service. When it was established in 1948, the NHS promised to provide “all medical, dental and nursing care.” There are now concerns that it may come to an end as more and more people choose to pay to ensure the quality and efficiency of private healthcare.

Over seven million people in the UK are now covered by a private medical insurance policy and that number continues to increase all the time. By allowing patients to contribute, the NHS will now provide access to more expensive and possibly more effective treatment like controversial cancer drugs for example. NFR spokeswoman and Director, Dr Helen Evans said, “Allowing private top-ups for medicines and treatment means that government is finally attempting to catch up with what the public have already come to endorse.”

Private health insurance has come third in a recent questionnaire of the most popular benefits provided for employees. Over two thirds of the 277 organisations that took part in the survey by ‘Employment Today’ now provide health cover for their 1.35 million workers. There are many benefits to health insurance policies for a workplace, in particular, losing less hours to sickness. By having access to immediate and high quality healthcare, a workforce will have a better general health and will be able to get the treatment they need to get them back into action when they fall ill.

Paid time off for dental and medical appointments topped the results of the investigation into the most common benefits, with over 80 percent of businesses providing the service. Seventy percent of employers also supply childcare support, either through th provision of vouchers or an through an allowance. Some of the least popular options were financial help for car parking fees and the congestion charge in the capital.

In a survey carried out by BUPA in March this year, 98 percent of businesses agreed that an important part of their role as an employer was to support the health of their workers. Cash plan private medical insurance policies can provide more relevant and employee focused benefits than other types of private health cover. Employers can cover their routine health responsibilities like sight testing and stress counselling while reaping other benefits from the policy, for example by attracting higher calibre staff and increased choice of facilities. Simon Bailey, head of marketing for employee benefits at Aegon, told Professional Broking, "Employers offering flexible benefits packages see a much higher level of employee satisfaction."

More men in the UK could be getting quotes for private medical insurance as the government advises its doctors not to offer a routine test which could lead to the diagnosis of diseases such as prostate cancer. The illness is the second biggest cause of a cancer related death in men in this country, and the likelihood of developing it can be detected with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test which is currently only available to private health care customers. Some insurers offer the test as part of their "well man" examinations or individuals can pay a nominal amoung privately for peace of mind. But the NHS says that it can be unreliable and men who do not have any symptoms and have a life expectancy of less than 10 years will not get the opportunity to be tested.

The problems discussed by the NHS include the fact that a raised PSA level does not necessarily mean that a man will have prostate cancer, nor will a normal result mean that a man does not have the disease. Despite this, the test can also diagnose other illnesses such as a benign prostate growth or a urine infection. Consultant urologist at London's University College, Mr Neil O'Donoghue, told a website for erectile dysfunction "Ignorance is not always bliss in relation to PSA. It's always better to have information. You don't have to do anything about it."

Men who have private medical insurance cover are benefiting from the choice to use their policies to cover the cost of private health treatment, if applicable, as well as follow up tests and treatment. A third of men found to have a raised PSA level will also have cancer cells present in their prostate, and they will be able to get the care they need before it is too late.

It has long been believed that private health insurance companies have held a certain level of discrimination towards gay individuals and same sex couples when giving a quote for medical cover. Many people have been put off approaching the system because of this, meaning that they could be missing out on the top quality level of care and treatment that they are entitled to. Attitudes towards homosexual couples have changed dramatically in the last few years, not only generally over the whole of society, but with private health insurance in particular.

Previously, insurers could ask in depth, personal questions about the applicant’s health, including direct inquiries into a person’s sexuality and whether they had come into contact with HIV/AID’s. It was also possible for companies to require someone to complete a HIV test before they would consider a level of medical cover for them. Not only did this cause embarrassment and stress, but homosexuals would very often have to pay more for their private medical insurance.

All that changed. On World AID’s Day in 2006, the Association of British Insurers laid down a set of guidelines stating that such personal questions about someone’s sexuality are not to be asked, and companies cannot make assumptions about sexual orientation from occupation, living arrangements or medical history. The organisation’s director of general insurance and health, Nick Starling told financial website thisismoney.co.uk, “The insurance industry is united against discrimination and in support of treating people fairly.” The industry has since seen more equality for gay and same sex couples.



However, it is interesting to note that insurers like Freedom Healthnet have been offering private medical insurance for same sex couples as part of their policies for couples ever since the insurance scheme was created, over four years ago. As with any insurance policy, the usual exclusions apply. With discrimination no longer existing in the system, increasing numbers are feeling more comfortable with the process and deciding to take out the fair and equal private health insurance policy that they deserve.

Could advances in gene technology reduce health insurance costs?

With a huge step in medical research being made in the past two years, DNA testing is now offered to the public by many companies across the country. The new examinations are readily available for around £495 and scan the whole human genome thanks to new computer processors which can now be found at the fingertips of leading researchers. The test, which can identify the likelihood of developing diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis, is said to have increasing importance to medical insurance providers, and may reduce health insurance quotes if a person is less likely to develop a disease.

However some people are concerned that the opposite situation could also occur. A person who is found to have a higher chance of developing such a disease may be subject to a higher premium than they would do normally. Currently, the amount somebody pays for a private health insurance policy depends on factors such as age, sex and health but this could change with the possible integration of genetic information. Despite a possible increase in cost, people who find that they have a high probability of becoming ill may decide that they want to take out a health insurance policy to ensure they get the treatment they need if that day comes. Experts also have concerns about those who are told that they have a low risk of developing a disease as they may become complacent about their health.

Hereditary factors are not the only causes of getting illnesses such as cancer and heart disease meaning that people like Steve Jones, the genetics professor at London’s University College, are sceptical about the uses of such information for health insurance companies. He told the BBC, "The actual power of the individual gene to say anything about your own risk at the moment is actually very small."

Cleanliness in NHS hospitals is the reason two thirds of people buy private medical insurance.

A new study published by BUPA this week says that cleanliness of NHS hospitals is a major concern for the British public, along with the reputation of individual facilities and lengthy waiting times. People are more likely to want to receive their treatment in a private hospital where the rates of superbugs like MRSA and C Difficile are much smaller, mainly because they care for a reduced number of patients. The research also found that the reputation of the hospital is just as important to the 1,001 people who took part in the survey as the reputation of the consultant carrying out the medical procedure.

Dr Paula Franklin, deputy medical director at BUPA UK Health Insurance, told The Press Association: "Clean hospitals have become so important to the British public that they now represent the biggest reason why people buy health insurance, with two out of three people taking out medical cover because they want to make sure they are treated in a clean hospital.

The survey, which was carried out by research agency TNS by interviewing the public online at the end of March, reported that 80% of people think hospital managers are to blame for the spread of infections, a rate of ten times higher than cleaners. It comes as the government has completed its ‘deep clean’ of NHS hospitals in an attempt to half the number of MRSA cases. Also this week, Patient Choice, an attempt to allow patients to choose where they receive their treatment including private hospitals receiving NHS funding, is launched across the country. But despite this, the research says that people will be unwilling to travel more than 20 miles for medical care. Many more people may decide to get a private medical insurance quote to ensure cleanliness and the choice that is already promised to them.

The cost of private medical insurance has decreased in recent years, meaning that it is now more accessible and affordable to the British public. With increasing numbers of people wishing to take out health insurance policies, and with a wide range of cover available, it can become confusing. Private medical insurance itself goes by many different names, but the terms hospital plan, health plan, health insurance and cash plan all essentially have the same purpose in assisting you with the cost of private healthcare.

Over 3.4 million people in the UK have decided to take out a health insurance policy and this has been for many reasons. Long NHS waiting lists and a lack of choice over when and where someone can receive their treatment are two major causes for concern. A private medical insurance policy gives the freedom and peace of mind in knowing that care is available in the space of a few days if it becomes necessary.

An even higher level of freedom is given if someone decides to take out a cash plan policy, where the insurance provider will pay the customer money towards the cost of treatment rather than paying it directly like regular health insurance. This gives the patient the increased choice of whether to use the money to supplement care from the NHS or whether to use it to pay for private treatment. Cash plans are often a more affordable way of ensuring that the best facilities are available to you in case you need them, but fully comprehensive policies are available which may also cover the cost of alternative treatments such as acupuncture and reflexology, as well as physiotherapy and chiropractic care.

Private Health Insurance, like everything else, is now accessible online 24/7. With increasing numbers of individuals requiring this valuable medical cover, it is vital that health insurance providers give excellent access to clients. Customers want to learn about the different types of health insurance policies available to them: this is vital as they need to decide which policy is right for them and their loved ones. Is a family policy better? An individual one? One for child only? or for a student? Is it a group insurance, like corporate / company health insurance? What type of health insurance is best for me? is a question often asked: budget health insurance, core health insurance? comprehensive health insurance? With outpatient care? With Alternative therapies? Also, when considering private medical insurance, it is important to identify which hospitals your treatment could be in, should you fall ill. Some companies are restricted to one group of hospitals, some via an area. In the case of Freedom Healthnet, upon approval of inpatient claim, funds are transferred directly to the account of the client to allow the client to decide where they would like to be treated: in a UK private hospital, an NHS hospital or a private hospital abroad.
All this information should be clearly displayed on medical insurance company's web sites so that the user can weigh up the benefits of each option and make an informed decision.

It is essential to understand exactly what you are covered for and what medical exclusions are on your policy and some people choose to do this via the company's web site whilst others prefer to talk to an insurance specialist with the company. Health insurance companies are finding, increasingly, that individuals are not only getting an online quote but also they are deciding to buy health insurance online, direct from the provider.
For those looking to compare health insurance / medical insurance prices, an online quick quote facility is excellent to get an overview of the cost of health insurance. With minimal information to input, a 30 second online quote for medical insurance is possible.

Health & Medical Insurance are increasingly being taken up within the UK but, as a quality Health & Medical Insurer, Freedom customer service representatives find that there are some questions that arise repeatedly from our potential clients.

A health insurance policy is a contract that is created between the medical insurer and the client or a group (like a company). Within this contract is the promise by the health insurer to provide specified health insurance at an agreed price - the premium that the client pays. With Freedom policies, the health insurance premium can be paid either in full or in installments, but not all insurance providers operate in this way.

As with any contract, the insurer has to provide information about exclusions and the terms and conditions of insurance. The client (or insuree) provides information about their prior health either at the time of taking out the policy or, as in the case of Freedom Insurance, in the event of a claim. The terms and conditions of the medical insurance policy will probably exclude chronic (long term) existing conditions and specify that conditions reoccurring within a specified time before the policy will not be covered. For instance, if you suffer from recurring condition such as asthma, diabetes or eczema these would not be covered under a health policy. However, an acute condition such as a hernia which had been corrected and the person had been symptom free for a period of time (i.e. 2 years / 5 years, dependent upon the policy) then a different hernia formed, this could be covered. This is why it is so important for people to read the policy carefully and to ask questions of the insurer to ensure that they understand fully what they are and are not covered for.

Upon approval of claim, Health / Medical insurance provides either a direct payment to the claimant or to the hospital. With private health insurance from Freedom, payment is made directly to the client upon approval of inpatient claim, to spend on treatment in the UK or abroad.

The costs and the range of protection provided by health insurance varies from company to company and varies based upon the type of policy taken out, which is why it is important to read what is covered carefully and speak to an advisor from the company for further advice.

Want to know how much health insurance costs? Get an instant online quotation for private health insurance from Freedom and learn how little you have to pay for good quality cover.

A recent investigation from the Healthcare Commission revealed appalling standards of hygiene at three hospitals in Kent, which allowed the killer bug Clostridium Difficile to directly cause the deaths of 90 patients.
Between 2004 and 2006, the bug infected more than 1,100 patients in hospitals run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, contributing to the deaths of 331 of them.
The commission found the standards of service were akin to those in the Third World, including dirty, understaffed wards and beds crammed together. Patients with severe diarrhea were even told to “go in the bed” as nurses were too busy to take them to the lavatory, according to the Independent.
Sadly, this is not an isolated case. In June, 99 NHS Trusts admitted to the Healthcare Commission that they were failing to meet hygiene standards and, according to the News of the World, many hospitals in England have twice as many cases of the killer C Diff bug as the Kent group, reports the News of the World.
The superbug is estimated to kill around 4,000 patients every year, yet some hospitals are able to control the spread. The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals scored the lowest in the ranking for C Diff infection, thanks to their “clean your hands” campaign.
Many people think doctors may be to blame for the increase of superbugs, as they believe hospital staff have dismissed the problem as an inevitable complication of medical care.
Hospital targets may also be the cause of the problem. According to a report by the Government’s chief economist, Professor Barry McCormick, the most crowded hospitals had MRSA rates 42 per cent higher than average.
Proper cleaning however, is not enough to solve the problem of superbugs. C Difficile, for example, is mainly caused by over use of antibiotics. The treatment kills the ‘healthy’ bacteria in the gut, allowing the C Difficile bacteria, which are normally controlled in the body, to spread. Unfortunately increased cases of MRSA have resulted in increased prescriptions of antibiotics.
Last week the health department announced screenings of all patients for MRSA, which will mean those carrying the infection will be isolated on admission, but these measures will not provide the complete solution.
Only when hospitals monitor antibiotics prescriptions, increase hygiene standards and ensure all staff wash their hands between patients, can the problem of superbugs be eliminated.
The occurrence in private hospitals of these super bugs is substantially less than in public hospitals, which is part of the reason that individuals choose to use private hospitals for their medical treatment. Many families are planning for such eventualities by taking out private medical insurance to ensure that they get their treatment promptly and that they are treated in a private hospital to minimise the risk of contracting MRSA or C Difficile, for example.