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It was a 'drop the toast' moment. There I was, breakfasting on wholemeal toast with lime marmalade, and I chanced upon this story in the Guardian.
I didn't really drop my toast, reader. That was just hyperbole to make the first sentence dynamic and whatnot. My jaw did drop slightly though at the news that there has been "a record slump in demand" for private medical insurance. Like, wha'…? I mean, I thought it was obvious that now's the time to be purchasing your medical insurance, not 86ing it.
But all is not as bad as it first might appear on looking at the figures. Analaysts laing & Buisson's spokesman states that the fall is slight given the depth of the recession, and that the market is merely "subdued". Good call.
There were always going to be winners and losers in the recession – I think we and our employers need to be constantly and keenly aware of the imperative that our health must not be one of the latter.
So, to employ a couple of my fave clichés: it's not so much a case of "Nurse! The screens!" as "Keep taking the tablets"…

Pills

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Whats Does The Future Have Instore For Medical Insurance?

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Now that the general election has finally finished and the debates are finally of our TV screens (even though they were good for comedy value half the time) I'm just wondering now what will happen in the medical area of our country?
Gordon Brown who recently resigned as Primeminister stated that the NHS was the best form of health insurance the citizens of the UK needed but now that David Cameron and Nick Clegg are in charge will they back his views or insist on people taking out private health insurance?
With so many things bound to change I think this could be one at the top of the list. Whats your views on the issue and do you think with these two in charge will our country go forward from the mess were in just now or is it going to get worse?

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Your insurance policy

With the economic downturn showing no real signs of easing for us 'ordinary' consumers (unemployment still on the rise), those of us lucky enough to have a job are really having to prioritise and shop around for the best deals on everything we buy.The downturn over the last few years has affected our society in a myriad of ways (some of which we probably are not aware of yet) – and one of these has undoubtedly been in health – the NHS has been stretched to its limits as more people fall ill from stress related illnesses, this has made it even more difficult to get an appointment with a specialist if you fall ill.Therefore, even though our finances are somewhat under pressure, there are still many people who wish to have the security of private medical insurance behind them, for soem assurance if something should happen. Most consumer experts will encourage you to shop around for your health insurance quote. This can be done effectively online, there are numerous health insurance comparison sites, however, sometimes it may be wise to go direct to the company themselves. Most of the biggest health insurers should be able to give you a free no obligation quote.Good luck with getting your quote, if you have any experiences which may be useful please feel free to let us know.

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UK Health Care System WorksOnce again we here in the UK seem to be blessed by the NHS and the different ranges of private medical insurance options available. Although we think our system is not perfect, in hindsight when you look at other countries in the world – it is clear we do OK here in the UK.
Some of the richest countries in the world are struggling to come up with a healthcare system that actually works for the population of the country, and not just for the well off. America more than most. The healthcare system in the US seems to be all about dollars instead of being about its citizens, rich or poor.
You could pay your medical insurance for 30 years in America and still end up bankrupt. Loop holes and conditions, oh it sounds like a night mare. We keep hearing about the heathcare system in America but they are not the only ones with problems.
In fact these problems seem to be getting repeated around the globe with most countries that rely on private medical insurance companies, and guess who runs most of the companies?? Westernized insurance companies are at the heart of most of these countries.
They are not blame for the system but they are always about if there is a system worth exploiting. These scenarios make me believe that the health care system in the United Kingdom is one of the best in the world. It maybe cost a fortune but I would rather live in a world where all walks of life get access to the healthcare they need.
The NHS does its job, the private healthcare companies are there for people who have a little extra money and would like to protect their families by giving them quicker access to medical treatment if and when needed.  

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The micro-blogging website Twitter crashed last week due to the sheer volume of report recieved for the trending topic #welovetheNHS. Trending topics are user generated subject tags, the most popular of which which appear on the search pages of the Twitter website.
The #welovetheNHS tag was set up as a reaction to percieved falsehoods that American Right-Wing thinktank The GOP had been spreading about the UK healthcare system. The tag recieved so much attention that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah felt compelled to respond.

#welovethenhs on Twitter

The UK health system has been under attack, with many failing to understand that here in the UK we have a choice.. You can use the NHS for free or opt to pay for private medical insurance if you can afford it.


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Health Insurance policy

For those of us here in the UK there are essentially 4 health insurance policy types (with various internal policy groupings within) – although not everyone is aware what the different types of cover actually are. We thought that we'd give it a stab and try and come up with some concise explinations for each.
Comprehensive Health Insurance Cover
These policies are designed to pay out for the widest range of medical needs possible at any time.  Advances in medical technology have meant that comprehensive cover has become a very expensive option. There are methods which can be utilised to reduce the costs of comprehensive cover. If you agree to large excesses some health insurance providers will reduce premiums if you agree to omit certain conditions from your policy cover.
Co-Payment Policies
The next  level down from comprehensive policies is co-payment, or shared responsibility cover.  With this type of policy the customer agrees to pay a percentage of any claim. As with Comprehensive cover, premiums can be reduced by agreeing to exempt claims for outpatient treatment or any therapies.
Cash Plans
Cash plans are the cheapest form of cover – but they are the least comprehensive. They work by paying out a lump sum, (up to a limit), for visits to a hospital, dentist, optician or physiotherapist. Cash Plans can cost as little as £100 a year and they will pay you a cash sum for every night you spend in hospital, whether you are recieving Private of NHS treatment.
Self-Pay
Heart surgery or a knee replacement operation could cost well into five-figures, so if you’re planning to pay for your private healthcare directly, it’s worth putting some money away each month into a savings plan.
We hope that this has cleared up some of the questions that you may have on health insurance policies. If there is anything that you feel we could add then please let us be aware!

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