Many people choose to go private in order to avoid NHS waiting lists. According to the King’s Fund, the health industry think tank, around 15% of patients wait more than 18 weeks to receive treatment.
Insurance is there to pay hefty medical bills, but some people balk at the premiums involved, and choose to pay for their consultations, tests, treatment, medication, care and other costs themselves, out of their own pocket. This is often referred to as ‘self-pay’.
However, while the prospect of monthly insurance payments may seem daunting, insurance soon proves its worth in the event of a claim. Many people simply don’t realise quite how much it can cost to have even a modest amount of medical attention.
High cost of treatment
Take cataract surgery, which is by far the most common surgical procedure in the UK, with more than 300,000 procedures performed each year.
The national average cost for cataract removal is around £2,380, but you could be charged over £4,000.
Other common surgeries include hip and knee replacements, with approximately 160,000 procedures carried out each year. These types of procedures can be very costly with a total knee replacement ranging from £8,750 to £15,000, and a hip replacement costing anywhere between £8,000 and £16,000.
There aren’t many of us with that kind of money to spend.
Cancer procedures
Then there’s cancer. Every two minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with the disease, which equates to around 350,000 new cases a year.
For tests or treatment for cancer, the costs are high and can easily mount up. For example, a mammogram can cost from £230, with surgery such as breast lump removal costing around £2,500.
Following surgery you may also require further treatment in the form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy or medication, which could incur further costs.
When you’re unwell the last thing you want to worry about is how long you’ll have to wait to be seen, or how you’re going to pay for the cost of your treatment.
Health Insurance can provide you with that peace of mind in knowing that you won’t have any of these worries and can concentrate on getting your health back on track.
Visit our health insurance page to get a quote.
This guide was produced by InsureMe-on-Line
