Private Health Insurance

[TooNice]

Does anyone use them, and how did you pick your policies?

Long story short, I am enticed by the Pruhealth's 'affordable gym' offer (used to be free, but not quite anymore, especially in London). I worked out that while I will end up paying more in the 1st year than if I pick various offers or the Uni gym, I would get a better deal in the long term.

To be eligible for this deal, I can just pick the cheapest coverage, that is, only be covered by hospital outside London (even though I am living in London), and have an excess of £1000 (yuck). It's what a lot of people at MoneySavingExpert are doing.

However, I am starting to think why not pay a couple of quid more in the first year to get a more comprehensive coverage. Basically I am thinking of getting a health insurance that's actually worth having while I am at it (I don't think that £1000 excess and having to go outside London when I am living in London makes a whole load of sense). Unless they change their policies, my insurance premium from 2nd year onward should be only a few quid whether I go for the cheapest coverage or the most expensive one, assuming I collect enough Vitality points to hit Platinum status in the first year and make no claim. Meaning that my primary financial burden would be during the first year (where it would be barely cheaper than the student price of a posh gym).

Still, I've never bought any insurance of any kind (other than the free one that comes with the mobile phone which I cancelled before the free period was over), so I am really not sure how a lot of things work. Basically, I not sure what exactly would be a 'good deal'. Pruhealth has 3 plans - I've read them, but I don't know how much each plan is 'worth'. For instance, the cost of the Essential Plan at £1000 is very similar to the Core Plan with £0 excess but I wouldn't know which one is more useful.

They also have a bunch of hospitals (PDF) to choose from. Surprisingly (I think), only three hospital are listed in their Premier range. What's the likelihood that those would offer something other hospital don't (in case anyone knows their hospital, the premier hospitals are: The Cromwell Hospital, Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth and The London Clinic)?

I don't even know how much private treatment typically cost and how much Health Insurance can help. That's how I'd like to keep it, but if an extra £100 in the first year would save me some pain several years don't the line, then maybe it's worth it. Or maybe you think that I should save my pennies and just go for the cheapest I can get because you think that private health insurance isn't worth it or because Pruhealth's pricing/coverage isn't as another.

[SiM]

It might be good to get it through your employer once you start working. Its about £640 per year for me with £100 excess.

If you are still at uni it is best to get cover under your parent's policy.

[TooNice]

That's a good point. Is it common for employers to provide health insurance? How good of a coverage can one expect from them?

[SiM]

I think it is quite common. For me it comes as an optional extra. It is provided by a insurance company who has made a deal to do all the employees who want it I guess... The coverage looks very good but I have not compared it to other policies

[staffsMike]

Our Bupa cover (courtesy of my dads company) covers us for about 3 major surgeries (each) a year, with a little left over

Never had to use it myself but the hospital rooms are awesome, really clean and comfortable with nice views out of the windows etc.. I actually don't mind visiting that hospital.. and I hate hospitals lol

[SiM]

The room in the hospital I used last time was like a hotel

[TooNice]

I think it would cost me about £300 for a basic somewhat usable coverage, all the way to £600 for an all singing/dancing coverage in the first year, and another £50 give or take per year if I do not make any claims. Would any of you know how this compares to cost of private treatments?