Your Private Healthcare Insurance Blog

Dental Insurance Change Causes Protest

2012-01-18T02:37:00.000-08:00

An issue over a change of dental insurance supplier hascaused a number of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association to protestoutside the council chambers building this week.

The issue was with Business Administrator Jack Kelly, whochanged the dental insurance provider without consulting the police union.

The resolution was tabled by the council and ViolaRichardson claimed that they had not been given sufficient notice of thechanges and there had been a lack of information about exactly what the newcoverage would involve.

The decision to change provider was apparently made afterthe current insurer proposed a 4% increase on the current rate. The alternativeprovider was able to offer the same coverage for the same price they werecurrently paying.

Members on the Jersey City POBA claimed that Kelly had alsoendangered the city by understaffing the emergency services alongsidecontinually violating contracts they had with the union.

The president of the Jersey City POBA claimed that Kelly hadprovided them with absolutely no information about the new policy that was inplace. He also said that while the previous contract had now expired the employeescould still be covered by the policy.

American's Don't Shop Around For Health Insurance

2012-01-11T04:17:00.000-08:00

Germans Abandoning Private Health Insurance

2012-01-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

Premium increases of up to 50% have many Germansreconsidering their private health insurance policies, with many consideringswitching to a national health plan.

The news magazine Der Spiegel reported that many healthinsurance companies increased the price of their policies at the start of 2012,and that is the primary motivation for people to switch.

The AOK, Germany’s biggest public health insuranceorganisation with around 24 million members, has reported an increase inenquiries. Several other public insurers have seen a similar increase.

Germany has laws governing medical insurance, and people areonly allowed to switch between private and public policies in exceptionalcircumstances.

People who have lost their job are allowed to change frompublic to private, as can those whose salary level falls below €45,900. Those moving from self-employed work to a full-timejob with a similar pay are also granted permission to change.

Another public health organisation, Barmer GEK, hasreported that around 27,600 people have made the switch to public healthinsurance from private in 2011. This is a 9% rise on the figure reported in2010.

Number of Irish PMI Policy Holders Set To Fall

2012-01-06T02:56:00.000-08:00

As the pressure continues to grow on family budgets almost100,000 people in Ireland are expected to be forced to give up their private health insurance policies in the coming year.

New laws due to be introduced this year mean insurers willbe billed every time a person visits accident and emergency at a publichospital, which Health Minister James Reilly has confessed will increase theprice of premiums.

People are already electing to give up their private cover,and with insurers certain to pass on their increased costs to policy holdersthe number is expecting to rise rapidly.

Largely as a direct consequence of the price hikes around50,000 people gave up their policies in the first 9 months of last year. Whenthe final 3 months is calculated they expect around 75,000 for the entire year.

These figures look set to increase next year, with over100,000 expected to give up their policies by the end of 2012.

The majority of those are thought to be younger, healthierpeople which means insurers are left to deal with a higher average claim cost.This in turn increases the pressure on premiums, raising the prices and causinga cyclical effect.

There are now thought to be 2.17 million people in thecountry with private medical insurance, down 123,000 since the beginning of therecession.

Health News - private hospital satisfaction

2011-12-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

Private hospitals achieve good patient ratings reports Health Insurance magazine this week, with the encouraging figures coming from the latest Dr Foster hospital guide. While the data only relates to patients who were in receipt of knee and hip replacements, this goes some way to illustrating the wider patient sentiment regarding private hospitals. Dr Foster's website decribes its service in the following way: "Dr Foster produces authoritative and independent guides to health services in the public and private sectors. Dr Foster's aim is not only to inform, but also to act as a catalyst for change."

Health sites like Dr Foster - plus all the new diagnostic and treatment apps available, and on top of that, the many health blogs available - mean that it is very much a changed landscape these days. And with the more information available to the public, it means that the public's reactions, responses and manner of consumption are likely to become more sophisticated as time progresses and more information becomes available.

Miracle cancer drug...

2011-12-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

Interesting news report over at Gizmodo concerning a "miracle drug" that has kept cancer at bay for 70 year old American, Don Wright.

Don has run 60 marathons in 41 US states since being diagnosed with myeloma (a form of cancer affecting white blood cells) eight years ago.

Amazingly, Mr Wright only takes one pill a day (pomalidomide) and has more trouble with his knee than with his illness.

In other cancer news, this week it emerged that patients in Wales could be asked to rate their care
as the government plans a major overhaul of services there. This is part of an overall strategy for cancer care in Wales entitled Together Against Cancer, with improvements intended to be rolled out by 2016. More info from walesonline.

Labour Question Patient Health Risks

2011-12-13T02:47:00.000-08:00

Labour have accused the government of putting patient safetyat risk by implementing the new NHS changes. Risk assessments carried out by local healthtrusts have uncovered concern about the ability for facilities to cope with theincreased workload involved in implementing massive structural changes and costcutting, alongside maintaining the standard of patient care.

This week sees the Health and Social Care Bill enter yetanother committee stage in the House of Lords. The controversial bill couldlead to the abolition of strategic health authorities and primary care trusts,and could allow hospitals to fill budget shortfalls by catering for people withprivate health insurance.

There is widespread concern for the future care of theelderly, children and pregnant women in particular, with all being especiallyvulnerable and likely to suffer most from sub standard care. It is expectedthat the increased workload could lead to higher rates of sickness absence,further jeopardising patient care.

The big issue Labour have at the moment is the disclosure ofthe risk level, however the government claim the risk information has beenpublished twice in 2011 as part of the impact assessment. It looks like thecontroversy over the bill is set to continue for some time, with few partiesagreeing on the best way forward.

Supreme Court To Review Healthcare Reforms

2011-11-28T03:09:00.001-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

The issue of health insurance seems to always be in the newsin America, especially in the last couple of years as a result of the reformswhich were passed last year.

The system is vastly different to the one in the UK, withalmost all Americans required to have a health insurance policy or they will befined through the tax system. The Supreme Court is set to rule next year on therecent reforms to ascertain if they are in line with the US constitution.

It has been a source of constant debate, with the majorityof candidates in the recent presidential debates condemning the new laws, inparticular the penalty aspect.

The conservative argument in favour of the reforms is thatmost responsible adults, in particular those with families, will get a healthinsurance policy. Either they will be covered though a business health insurancepolicy at their job or they will purchase it themselves. The cost of care isfar too expensive for those who do not have insurance therefore the costs areoutweighed by the benefits.

There are some people who will not be able to obtain a policy,perhaps those with high risk factors or pre-existing conditions, because thecost will be too high. Even some healthy individuals may find the cost of apolicy too high. These are the people set to gain the most from healthcarereform, by either getting access to much more affordable health insurance or bybeing exempt from the penalties.

It will be interesting to monitor this situation in thecoming months. It really makes the healthcare system in the UK seems far lesscomplex.

Primary Care Trusts Banning Approved Medication

2011-11-25T03:38:00.001-08:00

Some medications approved by the NHS are being banned bysome health trusts as they are too expensive. Medicines blacklisted includetreatments for asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer and heart disease despitebeing approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

An investigation carried out by GP newspaper found thatround 25% of trusts have banned the use of Nice medications. A freedom ofinformation request found that 33 of the 71 primary care trusts had ablacklist, with 18 of those including medications on the Nice list.

If a doctor deems a drug approved by Nice to be clinicallyappropriate then according to the NHS constitution the patient has the right toreceive it. The care trust lists contains medications which are classed as “notprescribable” or not effective enough.

The Department of Health say there is no excuse for PCT’s tobe denying patients access to medication if their doctor thinks it isnecessary.

Those not wishing to be at the mercy of the NHS have beenlooking at private health insurance, with the sector continuing to performwell. While there is often a cap on the amount companies will spend onmedications they are far more flexible when it comes to prescribing certainmedications.

Online clinic on prostate disease

2011-11-21T04:00:00.001-08:00

Do you know all you should about the risks of prostate disease?

Running from 25th November until 1st December - TalkHealth in conjunction with prostate Action, AXA PPP healthcare, and NHS Choices - are running an online clinic on prostate disease, where a team of experts will be on hand with advice on everything prostate related - from prevention of prostate disease, to managing prostate conditions.

The online clinic is easy to use, so why not head across and find out more about this important subject. Prostate disease is actually a lot more common than many of us realise, so if you'd like information, advice or guidance - head on over. If you're a concerned partner and the man in your life is too shy to discuss the subject - no problem - just log in and find out more on his behalf!

More info here - http://experts.axappphealthcare.co.uk/

Gourmet Salt Under Scrutiny

2011-11-17T06:22:00.001-08:00

A study published today from Consensus Action on Salt and Health suggests one in four people mistakenly believe rock and sea salts are healthier than table salt. The report discovered that the amount of sodium chloride found in gourmet salt is almost 100%, which presents exactly the same health risks as regular salt despite the 'natural' claims of the manufacturers.

Many chefs use copious amounts of sea and rock salt on tv, which may have led to people believing that it's ok to use excessive amounts when cooking. There is also a group who feel it's more fashionable to use these products instead of regular table salt and are needlessly spending additional money for essentially the same product.

It has encouraged fresh calls to continue reducing the salt levels in food, particularly processed foods, to help reduce the health risks

US Health Insurance Debate Goes On

2011-11-10T02:37:00.000-08:00

It's interesting watching all the debate about the healthcare reforms in the USA and seeing just how difficult some people find it to get health insurance. Some have to work 7 days a week at different jobs just to get cover for their family, which really makes you appreciate the free NHS care available for everyone in the UK. Health insurance gets you the best quality care, but those not in a position to buy a policy still have access to healthcare.

Strangely, some people seem to see the problem as a lack of effort from other citizens (image from here)

It's not an ideal scenario, so those fortunate enough to have good jobs which provide medical insurance can really consider themselves lucky. The rest will just have to find a way to work within the system for the time being.

Cancer Diagnosis Times Fall

2011-11-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

The NHS has managed to significantly reduce cancer diagnosis timesacross the UK, according to official figures.

At the turn of the millennium it took on average 96 days from thefirst GP visit to diagnose bowel cancer, while now it is only 75 days. Oesophageal cancerdiagnosis times were also reduced from 59 to 48 days. Several other cancersshowed a slight drop, but none as significant as bowel and oesophageal cancers.

Researchers trying tofind the main causes of the improvement have highlighted the nationwide rolloutof guidance in 2005 which helped doctors decide where a patient should bereferred for treatment.

The Department ofHealth has invested £450m to improve its cancer strategy and improve diagnosistimes, aiming to close the gap on the best healthcare systems when it comes tosurvival rates.

Finding The Right Health Insurance Policy

2011-11-07T03:13:00.000-08:00

Doing the proper research is important when searching for ahealth insurance policy. It is a complicated market, but by considering as manyof the important factors as possible you should be able to find the idealcoverage.

First you should consider the level of cover you require. Standard inclusions are usually the cost or any stays in hospital and any fees which may be incurred through visits to consultants. You should also be covered for any surgery required providing it is not for a pre existing condition. Beyond these standard inclusions many policies can be highly customised and there are many options available.

To help you determine exactly what you would like covered by your policy it is a good idea to make a list of the things you would like to incorporate. If you need glasses or contact lenses it might be a good idea to include an optical care component. This could reimburse you for a set percentage of the cost of eye tests, frames or lenses.

For women considering having children in the near future a maternity care component may be a worthwhile investment. Many insurers also offer a dentistry option which will refund some or all of the cost of any dental work you may require. If you can put together a list of things you really want it will be easier to reject any other potential additions to the policy when it is time to purchase.

If you have a particular doctor or specialist you like to visit you should check if they are included in the insurers preferred treatment network. The more expensive policies will allow you to make use of a far wider range of doctors and facilities, but you will certainly pay for the privilege. You should enquire about the treatment network to ensure there are good facilities close to where you live. Should you require longer term care it will be far better to be closer to home than at the other side of the country.

The last thing to consider is how much you can afford to pay. Once you have outlined your needs you need to find one which bests matches them as well as your budget. Many employers will offer a group health insurance plan which could save you money, so it's worth checking to see if your place of work provides this. If you start getting quotes which are too expensive you may need to reconsider which elements are really essential and remove some of those which you do not need.

There is an overwhelming amount of information available at times, so it is important to take your time and make sure you understand everything before committing to a policy. There are services available that will evaluate your needs and find you the best policy available, so if you are lacking time or are not confident about doing your own research it can be worthwhile looking into these services.

NHS Breached Personal Data 806 times in the Last Three Years

2011-11-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

Recent figures from privacy campaign group BigBrother Watch have shown that 806 separate incidents, involving patient medicalrecords being compromised, have taken place at 152 NHS trusts between July 2008and July 2011.

The group had access to the majority of NHSorganisations in the UK and found several breaches of confidentiality including23 incidents where patient information was posted on social networks, 129separate incidents where employees were looking up at the details of colleaguesand relatives; moreover on 57 occasions confidential information was lost orstolen by staff.

Surely these findings are likely to tarnish the NHSreputation and erode patient’s confidence; as Nick Pickles, director of BigBrother Watch, said: “This research highlights how the NHS is simply not doingenough to ensure that confidential information is protected”

US Health Insurance Costs Rising

2011-10-31T04:36:00.000-07:00

Businesses and staff in the US are struggling to meet the increasing cost of health insurance policies, with the cost of yearly family premiums growing at a faster rate than wages.

The country is still dealing with economic issues, however premiums have risen an average of 8% compared to last year which exceeds the wage rise an average employee will have received.

The US system largely relies on employer provision of healthcare but worryingly there is a year on year decrease in the amount of people covered by their employer. Most schemes involve workers contributing towards the policy to allow it to cover their family too, with the average employee contributing 28% of the cost. This is an increase of 131% when compared to 10 years ago.

While no specific reasons have been given for the above inflation increase it has been widely suggested that insurance companies set their premiums in anticipation of the economy improving, which unfortunately has not yet happened.

Healthcare For The Self Employed

2011-10-20T02:40:00.000-07:00

Many businesses large and small provide health insurance to their employees, but those who are self employed will need to arrange a policy themselves to cover any unforeseen illnesses.

One of the real advantages of working for someone else is the knowledge that you and your family can be protected through a company health insurance plan, with many people considering this a key component of their benefits package.

As a result it is important for self employed workers to have fast access to high quality healthcare to allow them to return to work as quickly as possible. Most insurers offer coverage to businesses, so it’s advisable to get a small business health insurance quote to ensure you are covered.

Policies will be available that cover just the individual, their spouse and even their immediate family. The cost of the policy will increase depending on the number of people included, so make sure to find something that suits your budget.

Healthcare at the heart of America Election Race

2011-10-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

Even though the US presidential elections are still one year down the line, the battle to secure the nomination of the Republican Party is on full swing. As expected healthcare policies are very much a hot topic in the recent debates between the candidates.

Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, has taken much flack due the healthcare reforms that he pioneered when he was in charge. These reforms, which aimed to make healthcare universal, are very similar to the individual mandate introduced by Obama that forces individuals to buy a private medical insurance policy.

The following video by front runner Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, is an example of the animadversion that Romney's healthcare policies as a governor of Massachusetts generate accross the certain sections of the Republican Party.

You can watch the video here.

Getting the most from dog insurance

2011-10-11T03:29:00.000-07:00

Our usual focus for this blog is of course on the myriad of topics around health insurance for people – however, as this is an ‘overall’ insurance blog we thought it may be useful to focus on the topic of dog insurance.

Peace of mind for you and your dog

We love dogs, but we are all too aware that their inquisitive nature of man’s best friend can get them into some potentially dangerous situations, which unfortunately can lead to consequences requiring some financial outlay. This is where a dog insurance plan can help to at least give you peace of mind should your dog require help of some kind.

Dog insurance policies - what they include

In line with the rest of the health insurance sector, there are differences between each dog insurance policy offered by the top insurers: including PetPlan, Animal Friends, Buddies and the RSPCA. What we would say is that there are a few key policy strands that you should insure are in place when considering a dog policy, these can be:

Complementary treatment
Help with behavioural problems
Overseas vet fees
Personal liability
Dental care for your dog
Minding services
Kennel fees if there's an emergency
Vets fees in general

Shop around for dog insurance

As insurance experts advise, when considering taking out any sort of policy - its best to shop around. Get a dog insurance quote from a number of sources before making your final decision.

Are there any key elements that we have missed?
What dog policy do you consider to be the best?

Leave us a comment to let us know.............thanks!

Healthy Minds

2011-10-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

Today is World Mental health Day - so if you're on Twitter and want to Tweet it to your followers, the hashtag is #worldmentalhealthday

The day seems to have really taken off on Twitter which should help raise awareness to a great degree, with all manner of celebrities using the hashtag and letting their followers in on this good cause.

There's not so much happening on YouTube, but I did find this video - check it out:

Would you get dental care abroad to save money?

2011-10-07T08:27:00.001-07:00

According to a recent news report, private dental car in the UK is becoming so expensive that a growing number of patients are travelling to Eastern Europe for dental care, where treatment is remains much cheaper.

At the moment an average UK private dental check up bill can cost over a hundred pounds, but many people are now discovering that more expensive treatments can be obtained in countries such as Hungary and Poland. A number of health based travel company's have now been set up to offer packages to deal with the demand, with some claiming to offer flights, accommodation and treatment for less than a standard private dental operation in Britain. According to the operator Dentist Abroad, 70,000 people travelled abroad for treatment, but this figure comes with a warning - as the British dental association reports that 29% of these people had to be treated in the UK for complications after treatment abroad. Anyone considering treatment abroad is urged to check qualifications and the history of their chosen dentist, as regulations may not be as strict as they are in the UK.

However, with great saving to be made on health cash plans, there are ways to get private dental care without running up huge costs or having to arrange holiday days. Would you consider getting dental treatment abroad?

Can green tea stop us piling on the pounds?

2011-10-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

Weight management is an important issue for many of us, and the benefits of being within a healthy weight range extend to everything from reduced risks of diabetes, to a longer lifespan.

And although we all know that eating sensibly and exercising is a good way to maintain the weight, it's sometimes good to know we can have a helping hand. This is where green tea might come in useful - as a recent study has shown that it may help slow weight gain.

The study revealed the effects after overweight mice were given compund epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) - which is commonly found in green tea. The mice, who were also fed a high fat diet, put on weight 45% more slowly than another group of mice being fed the same diet, without the green tea.

And instead of suppressing the appetite (as green tea is often thought to be useful for) - EGCG was shown to slow down the bodies ability to absorb fat, and help burn it more effectively.

Will you be drinking more green tea to help maintain your weight?

Backpain at work: Can your employer help?

2011-09-29T05:36:00.001-07:00

Ever return home from work with a sore back? You're not the only one - and around a quarter of the UK population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.

Many cases of back pain can be brought on by long sitting or standing periods at work, and anything from the wrong safety equipment to the height of your chair or computer screen could contribute to these aches and pains.

But there are some things that employers can do to promote back safety in the workplace, and a number of regulations are in place to ensure these standards are upheld. Here are some of the ways your employer can help promote good backcare in the workplace:

Risk Assesment: All employers should adhere to goverment guidelines perform health and safety risk assesments, which an assesment of back safety in the workplace. Knowing about these can help ensure you know what is and isn't acceptable at work.

Handling goods: There are a number of back pain regulations surrounding the manual handling of goods at work, and a few things employers can do to make things safer for the backs of their staff members, such as putting wheels on heavy crates or implementing lifts for heavy materials. Keeping yourself up to date on these regulations mean that you will know exactly what your workplace should be providing, and enable you to make informed decisions when it comes to looking after your back at work.

Chairs and equipment: All chairs and computer equipment should be appropriately levelled so as not to harm the backs of employees when sitting for long periods of time. This NHS guide offers some more information on the chair and computer adjustments that can be made to reduce back pain.

Access to medical advice: Bigger organisations sometimes give employees the chance to seek medical advice from a company doctor or offer free or affordable business health insurance so you can get checked up if you ever have back pain. Access to this advice will make sure you know what you should and shouldn't be doing at work when your back is sore - and you can also get advice about the ways to strengthen it and keep it healthy out of the office too.

Keeping active: Staying active and not sitting or standing in the same position for too long is recommended to keep backs healthy. Employers should encourage or allow movement around the workplace at regular breaks, so you are never left in the same position for too long.

The Benefits of Telemedicine

2011-09-21T02:51:00.000-07:00

Nowadays almost every person in the UK has access to the internet either at home or at work, yet it is hard to find examples where internet enabled healthcare is applied. According to a report by the NHS Confederation, the NHS is behind the rest of the world when it comes to telemedicine; the underlying part of this problem is the assumption that patients are always in favour of remote consultation.

Telemedicine is an especially attractive proposition for those patients that live in rural areas, one example of a successful application it is the remote stroke consultation where doctors can use video to talk to their patients as well as viewing their scans from a laptop. This allows them to make swift care decisions on treatment that can be provided at the local’s patient unit. A quick delivery of drugs is essential when it comes to minimizing the effects of a stroke; according to the North Cumbria University hospitals trust, the introduction of this service will mean that 24 more patients in the area will survive a stroke each year.

Healthcare UK - all we hoped it would be?

2011-09-19T04:15:00.000-07:00

Interesting story in the Mirror recently about the child healthcare index and the UK's placing.

Being a G8 country you'd guess (not unreasonably) that we'd be in the top 8 countries worldwide for child healthcare - but no. We're 14th. That's nine places behind Belarus and 11 places behind Ireland.

Story here - what do you think of the UK's index placing of 14th?

Will calorie labeling make healthy eating easier?

2011-09-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

This week McDonalds will start displaying calorie information in all 1,200 of thier UK fast food outlets, as part governments plans to encourage calorie labeling in restaurants - designed to help encourage people to choose a healthier option as they order in restaurants.

The goverment's responsibility deal aims to give people choice, and encourage healthy eating even in the depths of a fast food outlet - notorious for serving meals with an unexpectedly high calorie content. Coffee shops are keen to get on board too, which chains like Starbucks signing up - which the goverment hopes will help encourage more people to choose options like an Americano, with just 17 calories, over a hot chocolate with whipped cream, which can have up to 556 calories.

Some people, however, have questioned the effectiveness of such a scheme - with some claiming that anyone entering a fast food restaurant is surely aware that the calorie content of most of the food is high, meaning that they are unlikely to change their mind upon seeing a healthier option.

But for those who are trying to keep healthy, the move is likely to be welcomed - and at least this way we can be sure that an innocent enough looking coffee or sandwhich won't turn out to be half of our daily calorie intake.

Reflexology heals a facial scar: But can it help you?

2011-09-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

The word reflexology is probably most commonly known for stress reduction, or the healing of aching bones - but a recent Telegraph article has reported on the use of the treatment to reduce a scar on a woman's cheek.

Caroline Boucher was left with a large facial scar after undergoing several surgergies and a skin graft to remove and treat malignant melanoma - but after eight months of weekly reflexology treatments, the scar is now far less prominent.This has the potential to bring new uses to the treatment, which has a mixed reception in the medical world - with some praising and some dismissing the usefullness of reflexology.Often thought of as an alternative therapy, lots of private health insurance providers are now offering reflexology for conditions like frozen shoulder. So what is it? And is it any good?

Reflexology is a treatment which involves massaging hands, feet and ears with specific parts of the hands and fingers - to treat other areas of the body through corresponding 'reflex areas'.The treatment dates back thousands of years, having first been practised (albeit in a slightly different way) in ancient China and Egypt.

This BBC health video on reflexology is quite interesting, and explains the benefits and background of the treatment well. what do you think about reflexology?

9/11 Cancer Link

2011-09-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Fire Department of New York City has carried out some research that proves that the fire fighters who were involved in the rescue efforts of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, have a higher risk of developing cancer.
The findings of this research will be published in the medical journal “the Lancet”. This research argues that the exposure to toxic debris causes an increase in cancer risk as well as developing other ailments such as asthma. Ten years after the infamous attacks the number of members of the fire and police departments who have died from cancer surpasses the death toll of those who perished on the day of the attacks.
Quite shockingly the US government does not recognize this association and as a result does not provide healthcare cover to the cancer patients who risked their lives ten years ago. This situation is likely to spark controversy on the 10th year anniversary of the attacks.

Small Businesses Are Overpaying For Health Insurance

2011-08-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

An article in American Economic Review has discovered that the majority of small businesses are over paying for small business health insurance.

The over payments are linked to the trouble some small businesses have comparing numerous quotes for health insurance, which increases the average paid by around 29%. Small businesses show a trend of switching policies frequently, something which can be costly. The suggestion is that policies offering similar coverage are being sold at a wide variety of prices, suggesting there is some obstacle to competition which would see most similar products sold at similar prices.

The massive variations in coverage offered by the insurance providers, alongside the different prices, makes the choice difficult for small businesses to find the best deal. The excessive policy switching also makes it difficult for insurers to price up the plans as it's not clear how long the customer will stick with them. These factors combine to create a volatile and ultimately costly marketplace where small businesses are the real losers.

Huge Increase in Travel Insurance Claims

2011-08-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

The amount claimed from travel insurance policies has increased almost 400% in the last few years, with insurers claiming the increase in older people indulging in exotic foreign holidays and those taking a 'gap year for grown ups' are responsible. The outgoings for overseas illness had increased to £275m in 2010, up from just £74m in 2004.

With travellers over 65 three times as likely to claim as those under 35, and those over 85 8 times more likely, the increased average age of travellers is being held responsible for the increase in claims. With UK travellers venturing beyond the EU the European Health Insurance Card fails to bear the brunt of the cost of care, leaving insurers with the bill.

Given the nature of the industry it's hard to imagine this increase in outgoings won't be mirrored by an increase in profits. The underwriters in the industry are more than aware of the risks in insuring older travellers and will no doubt have their figures correct. The advice to travellers is to make sure not to just select the cheapest health insurance quote, but to ensure you pick one which covers all your needs should you require to claim.

Source

Healthy news, healthy views ...

2011-08-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Being a cheery lot here at Your Private Healthcare Insurance Blog, we're not ones to dwell on some of the - what shall we term them? - challenging economic headwinds that blow from time to time.

There are many ways in which we can all stay physically and financially healthy - insurance being one of these - but of course it pays to be mindful to the whole panoply of health assistance out there.

Some examples of this kind of thing would include keeping up to date with the health pages of the broadsheet newspapers - always worth a read, and they don't just report on developments within the healthcare and medicine industries - there's also a wealth of advice in there too about how to keep yourself in good shape - I think the Telegraph even has an expatriate health section - which shows just how comprehensive the info available at your fingertips is these days.

Of course it's always a good idea to put health ideas into practise - whether it's reviewing your health finances or just taking up an interest in healthy eating and cooking.

In fact, some days it's probably best to go straight to the health pages - oh, okay, maybe the football pages too. And the crossword. And not forgetting the TV listings too...

Health benefits at work: what do staff want?

2011-08-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

Most workplaces offer at least some employee benefits, which can be a great way to raise morale levels and increase staff loyalty.

The perks offered can vary from things such as discount childcare, to free parking - but according to a recent article in The Guardian, many employees are becoming increasingly worried about the financial impact of poor health and periods of absence.

The article reports that 1/3 of workers are worried about falling ill and not getting paid, while 11% of staff have taken at least six months off already throughout 2011.

So in light of these recent figures, should more employers be offering business medical insurance and income protection for times of illness?

Medical insurance is generally accepted as a valuable staff benefit, which in turn is useful to the employer too – as bmi can offer things such as Saturday appointments, and reduced waiting lists, which may help reduce sickness absence. And if staff know that their employer is dedicated to keeping them healthy and helping them get back to work quicker after a period of illness, it is possible that, coupled with income protection, private medical insurance could be a preferred benefit over discounted childcare and car parking.

What do you think? Would you like your workplace to provide medical insurance?

National Health Insurance For South Africa

2011-08-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the South African government announced the approval of a national health insurance plan to replace the outdated and weak public facilities currently available. The pilot scheme should begin next year, with a full national roll-out estimated to take around 14 years.

The finance minister Pravin Gordhan advised the new scheme would be funded through tax revenue, additional mandatory contributions from employers and and there is the possibility of combining with the private sector to offer plans for treatments and services not covered by the main scheme.

The country's current quality healthcare is almost entirely provided by the private sector, which is only available to around 16% of the current population. The remainder of the 50 million population rely on public hospitals, which are overburdened and under staffed under the current system. The legislation will be drawn up in the coming days.

New urine Test for Cancer

2011-08-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

Recent research has discovered a new urine test which can screen men for prostate cancer.

Currently doctors use blood tests as a way to look for elevated levels of a protein called serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), however this protein can exhibit a high level for other reasons than cancer. As a result there are currently many misdiagnoses and plenty of unnecessary biopsies.

The results of the recent study displayed a very strong correlation with urine tests and the aggressiveness of the cancer. According to chief researcher, Scott Tomlins, the results of the tests are an excellent way to segment men according to their probability of having cancer, which subsequently helps deciding whether it is necessary to have a biopsy or not.

Digital Healthcare Revolution

2011-07-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

The University of Manchester are working alongside a number of parties to create a huge network of computer programs which could potentially change the way healthcare is delivered around the world. The project, heavily backed by a large European research program, involves creating 'virtual patients', essentially an algorithmic version of the human body which could allow healthcare plans to be individually tailored for every individual based on both their physiological and genetic composition.

The potential benefits are massive, and could eventually allow doctors to have instant access to a patients specific health needs and would allow a far quicker diagnosis of illness as well as flagging up medication which could prove harmful or may not be effective for the patient, saving a fortune on wasted drugs.

It is, obviously, an extremely complex system and it is a long way from reaching the operational stage, but the possibilities are staggering. Once completed it will be able to give the outcome of any number of hypothetical scenarios, such as the benefits and risks of a patient taking a certain medication or the impact of the person exercising regularly. It could lead to far quicker diagnosis, better treatment, shorter hospital stays and could even be hugely beneficial economically as it would vastly reduce levels of sickness and absence.

It’s early yet, but this is an exciting project. More details can be found in the article over at Medical News Today.

Unofficial Sites Selling The Free EHIC

2011-07-22T02:40:00.000-07:00

It seems there are some tricksters running websites which are selling the European Health Insurance Card to visitors who may not be aware than both the NHS website and the Post Office offer it for free. The Office of Fair Trading are advising that they will be investigating a number of sites, most of which are selling the card for around £10-15.

The European Health Insurance Card, which is not a substitute for travel insurance or private medical insurance, can be used to gain access to emergency treatment in any country in the European Union as well a few other Western European nations. The sites offering the paid cards are said to look official despite having no affiliation to the NHS, are advertised via sponsored links and currently rank well in major search engines so users are being advised to go directly to the NHS website to request the card.

The site has advice on applying for an EHIC card, so to stay safe it’s best to stick to the official channels to avoid being scammed or ripped off.

Man Robs US Bank for Prison Healthcare

2011-06-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

A man from North Carolina admitted that he robbed a bank last week in order to receive care for his medical problems.

James Verone, an unemployed 59 year old with two ruptured discs, a foot injury and an undiagnosed growth on his chest, limped into a bank in Gastonia, North Carolina, and passed a note to a bank teller explaining that it was an unarmed robbery, but she better give him $1 and call the police.

Mr Verone, who has never been in trouble with the law before, explained on an interview with the local television station that the sole reason behind the crime was to benefit from the free medical care of prison.

This story, which sounds surreal, highlights the pain of unemployed people lacking health insurance coverage.

Could the health and social care bill lead to a rise in PMI demand?

2011-06-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of news on the health and social care bill lately, I'm finding it hard to keep track of it all - but the reports that it could increase the demand for private medical insurance certainly caught my attention.

According to David Worksett, director of the independent sector network of the NHS Confederation, the bill could give rise to more PMI sign ups because of new ways to access medical care and an increased knowledge of some of the problems of the NHS.

If passed in parliament this bill could do the following things:

Give some GPs the power to manage a budget based on the needs of their patients
Make the NHS accountable to the public with the introduction of Healthwatch, a new complaints and investigation body
Make all English hospitals semi-independant and able to make money by accepting some private patients

The third point is probably the most likely reason that people may turn to PMI, as the addition of NHS facilities could offer more flexibility and options on the number of treatments and hospitals available.

Of course, this just highlights why the bill is so controversial - surely a benefit of PMI is that it helps reduce the pressure on overcrowded NHS hospitals? What do you think?

Whiplash and insurance

2011-05-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Well, however you look at it, the first year of the coalition government has been nothing if not controversial. This week the health noise surrounding the government has been mainly around Nick Clegg and David Cameron's reported disagreements over the future of the NHS.

While the coalition government was always going to have its 'moments' - few would have believed the galactic smiles of the first days would last - nobody knew when or where the dread schism would appear. There's no indication yet that this schism has appeared. Depsite, of course, some media headlines loudly shouting about open warfare between the once happy pair. As the article linked to points out, "policy consensus may yet occur".

On another NHS related note - Insurance Daily reports today that an incredible 1 person out of every 140 claims for whiplash injuries each year, at great cost to insurers - with the stats showing UK has more whiplash than anywhere else in Europe. Or does it? As someone from the ABI states in the article, whiplash is easy to fake or exaggerate, but difficult to diagnose. Hmm.

Healthcare in the headlines again

2011-04-14T03:02:00.000-07:00

Story in the Mirror Online today, headlined NHS told to cut tonsil, wisdom teeth and other "low value" ops to cut costs.

Well, I think we all knew that something like this would eventually happen - as hospitals are likely get more and more desperate for their share of money to carry out their business, the types of operation mentioned in the article (tonsillitis, cataract ops, hip replacements, knee joint repairs, treatments for wisdom teeth and varicose veins) would be subject to some form of *ahem* priority rethink.

Where could this leave ordinary folk like us though? I mean, I know plenty people who've had the wisdom tooth thing done- (I will spare you the graphic details except to say that one story in particular still makes go a bit queasy even though it was told to me over a decade ago!) - and believe me, if that's going on in your jaw, your brain will most certainly NOT be sending 'low priority' signals to the brain's pain centres.

While on the short term this could definitely be a time of fractious transition, in the longer term it might mean who knows what? We'll have to wait and see. In terms of people seeking affordable health insurance, there will almost certainly be an increase in uptake.

BST and health (and cuts)

2011-03-28T03:25:00.000-07:00

It's summer at last!

Well, in terms of the clock it is. First thing I saw when I looked out of the window this morning was frost on the riverbank. At least the river itself wasn't frozen over though...

British Summer Time often feels a bit unreal for the first few days til you get used to it. What I don't understand though is why not have BST all year round - there's nothing worse than the feeling of being plunged into darkness when the clock rolls back again every Autumn...

So, why not have GMT + 1 during summer and GMT + 2 during winter.

Anyway - summer's here. First of all, that means look after your skin - however welcome sunshine may be, too much of it is bad for you and is a cancer risk. So limit your time under the sun or use a sun block.

Second thing that summer means is that because the weather's warm enough for people to spend more time outdoors, there could be an increased risk of public demonstrations against government cuts. Judging by the events of the weekend, I'll bet that prime minister David Cameron hasn't ruled out the likelihood of 2011 being a summer of UK discontent.

Business benefit - spiritual guidance

2011-02-28T02:51:00.000-08:00

Hmm, interesting. A headline in today's Mirror says that the "NHS could save £18.5m a year by reducing chaplaincy costs". This claim was made by none other than the (ahem) secular society.

Meanwhile, according to hc2d.co.uk, "Designers are to rethink the design of hospital Accident and Emergency departments in a bid to develop innovative new ways to reduce violence and aggression towards NHS staff". I remember going on a school trip to the county's biggest police station once, and the community cop told us that the place had been painted brown as it was believed by psychologists to have a calming effect on those in custody.

That chaplaincy story does have me wondering though - companies often provide a range of staff benefits from discounted goods and services to employees heath insurance - maybe there should also be spiritual guidance for staff?

End of State Monopoly?

2011-02-21T05:20:00.001-08:00

There are some potentially concerning moves afoot regarding the British healthcare system arising from the latest ideas of current Prime Minister David Cameron. The talk is that he's going to to "completely change" public services and start to work on the "presumption that private companies, voluntary groups and charities are as able to run schools, hospitals and other council services as the state".

That enterprise may run council services better is of course possible. But there is a reason that the NHS has never in its history made profit: it was never meant to be a profit making organisation. The emphasis ought be on the word 'service'. Conversely, the idea that a group of volunteers [no matter how well meaning] could organise the day to day running of a vast hospital (with each department vying for resources) is just plain daft.

These principles work well enough when it comes to rail or bus transport privatisation (maybe not everyone would agree!) - but those services are much less complex than health.

Alcohol and the health service

2011-02-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

Wine and beer, when enjoyed moderately, are one of life's little enjoyments. But overconsumption quickly turns joy into misery. You don't need me to tell you the physical and mental problems that alcohol addiction can cause, since they are well publicised.

"Alcohol is now the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking and is the biggest cause of liver disease, which is the fifth most common cause of death in England" says today's Guardian.

The writing's on the wall for heavy booze consumption, and the government will need to do all they can to educate people and to make sure everyone has the chance of a healthy life. Prohibition, of course, historically never worked but I'd not be surprised if heavy drinking goes the way of smoking in the UK, and that one day in the not too distant future public drunkenness, rather than being something we put up with in urban centres like it was inclement weather, will become socially inacceptable. Services like the police and the NHS will feel the benefits when it does.

health care abroad

2011-02-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

Health is our best asset, since without it we are at a disadvantage.

But if moving abroad there are a lot of things to think about regarding health provision and so on. The country you're moving to is likely to have significant differences from the one you're leaving, and so it is with health.

It's worth having a good look at what info is available on the web in order to find out all you can about your new home, and to find out about best international health insurance policies to suit your needs.

Blue Monday

2011-01-17T01:10:00.000-08:00

It's Blue Monday!

The official most depressing year of the day, or so them say. Me, I dunno if it is or not. The sky's looking pretty blue to me, and some coffee will be on the go soon.

Anyway, Blue Monday, according to the Wikipedia:

Blue Monday is a name given to a date stated, as part of a publicity campaign by Sky Travel, to be the most depressing day of the year.
This date was published in a press release under the name of Cliff Arnall, at the time a tutor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, a Further Education centre attached to Cardiff University.Guardian columnist Dr Ben Goldacre reported that the press release was delivered substantially pre-written to a number of academics by Public Relations agency Porter Novelli, who offered them money to put their names to it.^[1] The Guardian later printed a statement from Cardiff University distancing themselves from Arnall: "Cardiff University has asked us to point out that Cliff Arnall... was a former part-time tutor at the university but left in February."^[2]
According to a press release by a mental health charity^[3], the formula is:
where weather=W, debt=d, time since Christmas=T, time since failing our new year’s resolutions=Q, low motivational levels=M and the feeling of a need to take action=N_a. 'D' is not defined in the release, nor are units.

New year resolutions

2010-12-21T02:26:00.000-08:00

New year resolutions abound at this time of year, although the talk is all about the ones made for next year and never the ones that were kept to from this year.

And maybe that's the problem with resolutions - maybe we're too strictly focussed on one goal. Take not smoking - rather than an unachievable 'I will stop smoking on January 1st', why not make a determined attempt to cut down over the next months with a view to stopping altogether?

January is better for some resolutions than others though - for instance, after all that rich Christmas food, the boxes of Quality Street, Celebrations, etc., the Christmas pudding, eating less in the new year always starts off well. And after all those Christmas beers and glasses of wine, January always starts off well in the healthy stakes.

One of the more challenging new year's jobs is looking at all the financial stuff - seeing how badly your current account has been mauled is never fun. But some of the other financial stuff like looking at what insurance policies you have, savings or other financial products you may need - well, best not put it off as these are the things that can make a life a lot easier. There may even be financial products that you previously weren't aware of or are surprised by how inexpensive they are - things like health insurance for children, dental cover and so on.

National health service - latest

2010-12-20T06:35:00.000-08:00

The latest NHS news doesn't make for a chirpy read:

Guardian headline: The NHS funding grenade has exploded in David Cameron's face

Independent headline: A manifesto for NHS civil war

Telegraph headline: Patients denied treatment as NHS makes cutbacks

It certainly looks like a rough time ahead not only for people working in the NHS but for service users as well.

The Telegraph quotes Dr Mark Porter, Chairman of the British Medical Association’s Consultants Committee, who says that [threatened services] "are by and large not being axed for clinical reasons, but as an inevitable consequence of the massive cost savings that have been imposed on the NHS.

It is far from clear at the moment what the UK is going to look like in 2011, but what with the changes in NHS and higher education, one thing is clear: we are entering a time that's going to be very different from what went before.

PMI recommended

2010-12-13T01:40:00.000-08:00

Report in the Insurance Daily from Friday, under the headline: Public encouraged to take up PMI.

Basically the report says now's the time to be thinking about private medical insurance, since "Health Secretary Andrew Lansley [decided] to scrap the NHS targets to see a family doctor in 48 hours and the 18 week treatment period"

Perhaps the most interesting part of the report is this:

"Eight out of 10 Britons are concerned about the costs of healthcare, and confused about certain aspects of it (a third are unaware dental check ups are not free)."

What mustn't ever be allowed to happen is for clarity regarding healthcare to be sacrificed in order for politics to do its thing. Let's have government communication lines open no matter who is in power. I would also like to see a monthly PMI magazine on the shelves of the newsagents, with all the latest info on health and healthcare.

Insurance inventory - from home to health

2010-11-30T01:41:00.000-08:00

We all like to take stock of our financial situation every so often. Make sure the credit card isn't getting relied on too much, maybe check those savings accounts, and so on. But beyond the every day stuff, a lot of people also have various life assurance policies and so on. We often hear stories about people who didn't even know they had a policy with a company, only to receive a payout when the company demutualised. Then there's the complicated world of pensions - for which the services of a financial adviser are probably a good idea.

Thankfully insurance is a lot more simple, but do you know what you are actually insured for, and to what level? It shouldn't take too much effort to find out, especially in these days of internet and call centres where information is more readily available. Getting a picture of your insurance means that you can decide if there are other policies you may need. If you decide that you need for instance pet insurance or private medical insurance, it's easy enough to get a health insurance online quote and take it from there.

The most important thing is to stay in touch with all your finances - by having the bigger picture you will be able to plan for the future more easily and have more control over things.

Going skiing? Check your insurance...

2010-11-25T01:29:00.000-08:00

Given the weather, a timely report here from the Press & Journal on foreign skiing trips. The report quotes the Know Before You Go campaign chairman, who says:

“Many skiers will be unaware that their insurance may not cover them if they have been drinking alcohol or ski-ing off-piste.

“Medical treatment and repatriation can leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket. It’s just not worth the risk"

Be careful out there.

Health news in numbers

2010-11-05T02:20:00.000-07:00

News hot off the press.

According to this report, the passing of a low electric current through a specific region of the brain can double your maths ability.

This could change the course of world history - a quick blast of juice through the chancellor's brain prior to every budget, for instance. Maybe one day private healthcare will offer a brain zap before any job interview or exam involving numbers.

For now though, the numberly ungifted among us will have to stick to using a calculater, chewing a pen cap and scratching our heads.

Insurance and the government cuts

2010-10-21T01:15:00.000-07:00

Cuts, cuts, cuts. There are more cuts going on in public spending right now than there are in barber shops.

As we navigate our way through our futures we're going to find some surprises along the way. Will the age of retirement edge up further and further until 'retirement' becomes a euphemism for, well... being dead?

As the cuts begin to be felt - there will necessarily be a corresponding change in the private sector. A lot of the public sector jobs that are being exterminated, Dalek style, are expected to be replaced by posts in the private sector.

And this is where insurance is bound to play a part - when you think about the unstoppable changes that are taking place, it makes certain kinds of contingencies all the more important. Where once such things as life assurance, payment protection plans, health cover, redundancy cover, children health insurance - etc - could have been seen as add-ons for the comfortably off, it now looks like they'll be increasingly important for all of us.

Chilean Miners Saved

2010-10-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

Well, the world breathed a sigh of relief this morning with the news that all of the trapped Chilean miners are now free and back on the surface of the panet, after being trapped below for many weeks.

It must be a very difficult situation for the miners to deal with. It would be challenge enough to adjust to life back on the surface. But add intense worldwide media attention and you have a situation that even an x-Factor winner would find fifficult to cope with.

I don't know what the miners' insurance situation was, but I think it's fair to say that even if they aren't due some kind of payout, they have the potential to earn millions by telling the story that the world is desperate to hear.

Medical Insurance quotes and pensions up, early retirement down?

2010-10-07T01:51:00.000-07:00

And so the cuts continue. This week the hullabaloo has been about child benefit payments. next week the hullabaloo will be about something else. Always with the hullabaloo. (There, I've used that word three times in one sentence - do I get into the Guiness book of Records or what?)

Despite the opposition's noises, it looks like the direction of travel for the foreseeable future will be one way - and that's the way of the deficit-cutting.

My guess would be that we're about to see people reacting to the current situation by being a bit more strategic with their cash. As we emerge from the recession, I predict

People using savings accounts more

Higher payments into pension schemes (who knows what a state pension will be by the time we retire?)

More people seeking medical insurance quotes to ensure that they can get swift treatment should they need it.

Fewer people retiring at 50 - in some organisations this was the norm a decade ago.

Health on television

2010-09-21T01:55:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver's new programme was on last night, in which he tries to provide some healthy eating education to schools in the US. In one memorable scene he holds up some tomatoes before the class and asks them what they are. Nobody can answer. He tries again, this time with an aubergine. Someone makes a guess: "is it a pear?".

While in the UK there's probably still some way to go before we're eating the way we should be, I'd guess that more people in a school class of that age would recognise the tomatoes, if perhaps not the aubergine.

But perhaps one of the reasons there was virtually zero obesity in my day (maybe one kid in the entire school) was because school meals were pretty much inedible. Every shop sold vegetables though, so anyone even going into a shop to buy sweets would still see tomatoes etc on sale.

These US school students will of course go on and learn a lot about the world as they grow up, and hopefully eat healthy as they do. As adults we have more than just a responsibility for our own health but that of our families as well. And there's lots that can be done - we can ensure that our intake of trans fats is as small as possible, we can try and get our five a day, etc.

I think the reality/ documentary style of show is a good way of doing health television as it shows how diet and exercise affect people's lives. It would be interesting to see how other celebrity chefs would have fared in this quest. Say, Gordon Ramsay or Marco Pierre White.

International Health Insurance Comparisons

2010-09-14T03:24:00.000-07:00

There are many companies offering insurance packages for people living all over the world. You will have heard of nearly all of the big players in the market, here I am going to go through some of the most high profile names in this sector just to compare and contrast the basics that are offered in each case.

Aetna Global Benefitsare an american firm which specialises in insurance for expatriates, but that doesn't mean that other nationalities are excluded. The main areas of concentration are in Asia and the near East, and they have access to a large number of hospitals throughout that area.

AXA-PPP International Health Insurance are the result of the merger between the French insurance firm AXA, and the British insurers Guardian Royal Exchange. But as AXA are a truly international company they do not concentrate on any single part of the world having partnerships in the Americas, Africa and Asia, with their own network of partnerships with private hospitals and physicians throughout the world.

Bupa International are one of the best known private health insurers in the UK, but have only recently started to expand majorly into the far east. They too have partnerships in North America and in most of Europe, with specialist clinics etc.

Medicare International are a young British Insurance company who do not simply specialise in expatriate health insurance, they have set out to become a global insurer, offering insurance to all nationalities globally.

This list is not, by any means, exhaustive, and with a lot more research I could probably have unearthed some international brands from non-english speaking countries, but then I might not have been able to translate them very well.

Changing times: health options?

2010-09-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

It's not been a big week for news so far - a Vitamin B trial has shown some promise in dealing with Alzheimer's, an expert has called for the legalisation of cannabis (is it my imagination or does one of these experts pop up everly 18 months and do this...?) and there has been more talk of industrial action, with some heavyweigh politicians endorsing it.

But as the news plays out constantly on the radio and the television, some things remain pretty constant - the need to be prepared, while it might sound a bit like some kind of motto for the Scouts, is always a must. In times of uncertainty there's things we can do like make sure we have a savings account, and get online health insurance quotes, also things like making sure we have wall insulation to save a bit on the heating bill.

Will private healthcare benefit from NHS cuts?

2010-09-06T02:29:00.000-07:00

The talk of cuts in the NHS is naturally worrying for some - there are bound to be a few bureaucrats concerned about their future - but also good news for others, eg companies who carry out healthcare in the private sector.

While private healthcare in the UK is set to grow in the coming years, it isn't necessarily at the expense of the NHS. In a lot of cases private healthcare actually reduces the burden on the NHS, for instance if I went private for a minor operation it would be the NHS who would benefit as I would still have paid my taxes towards the NHS.

So, it's not as simple as one set of professionals taking work off another. But as the new NHS takes shape durung the coming years, a clearer picture will emerge of what the balance of services is liekly to be.

Private Health Insurance - Bucking the Trend

2010-08-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Despite the country going through some of the toughest economic straights since before time forgot, recent figures are showing that the private medical insurance industry is bucking this trend in that it is one of the few parts of the economy that seems to be growing consistently.I an interview recently the chief executive of the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries [AMII] Andrew Tripp stated that he felt that the whole of the sector was incredibly resiliant in the face of the overall gloom being felt in the country as a whole.

A recent report into the industry did seem to suggest some losses in the industry but that these fallbacks were nothing compared to the problems faced elsewhere and that even though some companies are trying to cut their costs all over, they are generally fixing tailoring their Health insurance contracts accordingly, isntead of finishing with them for good. So all in all it looks good for everybody with anything to do with Health Insurance.

National Health Service complaints rise

2010-08-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

Reported across a number of media today is the news that the NHS's complaints level has risen at a record rate over the last year.

A staggering 42% of the complaints were made against medical professionals.

It's not easy to see how the government will navigate their way through a situation with this level of dissatisfaction on the one hand, and the "reshaping" of the organisation on the other. I put the word "reshaping" into quote marks there, as I'm unsure what shape it can eventually be under the circumstances, except 'cheaper shaped'.

As an occasional service user, I've (thankfully) had little reason to complain, but things have definitely been less than perfect. Definitely time to think about getting a health insurance quote - makes sense now more than ever.

But it's not all doom and gloom, and after the birth of his new baby yesterday, PM David Cameron was all smiles.

Healthy eating, health insurance and acai berries

2010-08-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

While a lot of us who care about ourselves and our health have health insurance policies, there are types of 'insurance' for health that aren't financial. For instance: healthy eating. If we take care of ourselves eating plenty of nutritious foods containing the right amount of vitamins and fibre, we're actually helping to safeguard our future health. While nothing is certain in terms of the future, it's still fair to say that the healthy eaters will have the fewer health problems during their lifetimes.

And while healthy eating is often very enjoyable, there are times when we wish we could all cheat a bit. If you're trying to lose a half stone in weight and it's slow in budging, for instance, it's tempting to turn away from the low-calorie healthy plates you've been serving up and start to cast around for easier, quicker ways. Unfortunately there are none. or at least, none that are scientifically proven. Special herbal teas and things like the much vaunted fruit of the acai tree. But sadly there is no scientific evidence that açaí consumption affects body weight or could promote weight loss.

[picture: the açaí palm, which bears the acai berry]

Family health insurance - children's cover

2010-08-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

It is often the case that large companies will provide health cover for their employees, but in the case of families it isn't just the one member of the family who may require medical treatment at some point.

Therefore it's perhaps suprising that children's health insurance isn't more often mentioned in newspaper articles or general discussions about health cover, since it's an important (though often inexpensive) form of health cover, meaning that all the family can potentially be insured.

Most companies will have a fairly detailed website section to help you decide which policy is right for you, and they will also be able to answer any questions you may have over the phone or by email.

Cancer awareness

2010-08-05T03:07:00.000-07:00

This isn't really a subject most of us like to talk about - once we reach a certain age we all know someone whose life has been affected by cancer. It's just a fact of life that we acknowledge but never really discuss.

Which is why it's good that there's so much info on the web - what once would have been questions you'd never in a million years ask your GP are now the standard FAQs published in many places. In terms of the preventative aspect alone, the internet has been a great help for millions.

But there's still a long way to go. A lot of people still think 'cancer' is a single disease, when in fact the word refers to a class of diseases many of which are very different from each other.

So - awareness is key, but we need to take it upon ourselves to make sure we can educate ourselves as much as possible on this topic. Things as simple as self-checking can be crucial. Speak to a medical professional or have a look at the NHS website for the types of checks that you can do yourself.

Some links:

Cancer medical fact sheet
Cancer Research
BBC Health Cancer page

NHS - no crystal ball as yet

2010-07-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

Some worried noises coming from Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, over at The Mirror.

It's difficult to separate the rehtorical scariness from the genuine concern in this one, but the gist of Burnham's article seems to be that under Cameron, the NHS is facing its biggest threat in all its 62 years.

Here at Your private Healthcare Insurance Blog, we definitely agree that it looks as if the NHS is heading for its biggest period of change. The question is whether this change will be all bad or not.

With the deficit the government's priority, the NHS will surely not be allowed to spend as much as it used to. But not all the money it spent went on patients anyway. The NHS employs a lot of desk people and spends (I would imagine) a lot of money on things that large organisations spend money on - consultancy work (note: business consultancy work, I mean, not medical consultants), training courses, inhouse media etc.

But Burnham is right to subject the actions of the new government to scrutiny - that is his job. The question is whether and to what extent Cameron's NHS will improve health care or just change the nature of its management and provision. It's doubtful that the changes will be painless however. Watch this space...

Plane Sailing

2010-07-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Yep, we've all been there. Returning from holiday you step off the plane with a dose of the sniffles.

This case of sniffles turns into mild flue (probably aggravated by tiredness and your body acclimatising to its new surroundings).

Lying there on your miserable sickbed, coughing, sneezing, aches to the very core of your bones, you think to yourself, you ask

How did it feel not to be ill?

You cast your mind back to the two whole days before you got sick. Suddenly you realise that
the unwellness must have come from the aeroplane.

Well, it's no wonder planes are where we pick up loadsa lurgy. All that shared air with other people in a pressurized cabin. Yukk.

But there's worse health risks than a bit of flueyness from air travel. Among them are things like DVT, which really does sound frightening.

Have a look at this handy guide in The Guardian for tips on air travel health. If you're a regular air traveller it's probably a wise idea to seek medical advice on the general risks of flying.

On a more general health and welbeing note, it's probably also a good idea to get a health insurance quote for peace of mind.

Nosferatu says: don't fry yourself!

2010-07-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Being brought up on the west coast of Scotland, I have to say I didn't see a lot of sun. Days, maybe even weeks passed without a blue sky. My town seemed to specialise in a kind of inauspicious-looking luminous stormcloud grey weather, the sky in a constant bad mood punctuated by heavy downpoars.

As a result of which, I'd never much gotten a habit for sunbathing. When I was a kid we got taken to the South of France on holiday (central Mediterranmean coast) and I duly got sunstroke and spent the entire rest of the holiday flat on my back in a cold sweat or, ahem, 'in the restroom'.

So after the sunstroke episode, and having to peel onion-layers of dry-fried skin off my back, I vowed never to go under the sun again unless I was protected by sunblock (note: not suntan lotion, sunblock), a hat, a collar, whatever.

I think it was partly teenage obstinacy that started this, but it seems I was just ahead of my time. Doctors now recommend that we don't do the tanning thing. Ok, we still need our vitamin D, so it's still good not to completely live the vampire lifestyle, but pretending to be a piece of toast is yesterday's pastime.

Some very interesting thoughts on the tanning phenomenon and its toll on the UK's health here (via Guardian). Look away now if you're squeamish, but the report says that "Our love of tanning has led to the incidence of malignant melanoma quadrupling in Britain over the last 30 years; it is now the second most common cancer in young adults in the UK". I don't know about you, but that makes me as angry as it does scared.

So, for all of you who favour the Klaus Kinski in Nosferatu look, it could be that your sun-shyness has actually been a health benefit all these years - who'dve thunk it?

While it's good to feel smug now and again because of healthy habits and being a fit individual, I still think it always pays to be prepared though, so the money saved on Ambre Solaire can be spent on affordable health insurance

Quick update

2010-06-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

Just spotted a very interesting news story in the Health pages of The Independent.

Apparently, recruiting a locum doctor for a district hospital is no HR cakewalk. Well, I'd kinda guessed that the medical profession would have its vicissitudes - all careers do. But this story would be funny if it wasn't so downright disappointing.

Around Christmas 2009 a medical staffing agency emailed offering "a fantastic doctor with very good UK experience". I booked him immediately. Four days later came another email: "He is not wanting to work in Scotland (too cold!!) – only wants to work in or around London." You win some, you lose some, I thought.

Read the full story here.

Health links 1. Children's health

2010-06-28T06:21:00.000-07:00

First in an occasional series, where we link to the best the web has to offer on a variety of topics - this week: children's health.

Mumsnet. Don't be put off the name if you're a dad rather than a mum. This is a great resource for friendly advice with a number of forums, focussing on a variety of subjects including health. A very clear and well-designed site. Well done mums :-)

BBC Health: a typically content rich site from the BBC, with good clear design and easy to follow links to relevant other pages within the BBCs web offering.

Telegraph pages - children's health: latest news on the topic of children's health.

Child health insurance from AXA. Important information on medical insurance for those who wish to find out more about this area of children's health.

The future

2010-06-04T04:22:00.001-07:00

Believe it or not, I used to follow my daily horoscope. Sometimes (very occasionally) the horoscope was accurate. But I think it's fair to say that the future is necessarily unpredictable - that's half the fun. The FTSE never quite behaves the way anyone expects. And if it could be predicted, everyone would be rich - and while that would be great, it remains the material of daydreams.

In an unpredictable world though, there are thankfully some cushions and safety nets that we can rely on without the need for prescience or a mystical third eye. Many of these, such as pensions, savings and whatonot are second nature to us. But while they are great to have, we also need a cushion against the unforeseen/ unforeseeable. So while it's great to watch a small pile of savings grow, or a pension fund (hopefully) perform, we also need insurance. As self-employment looks to be a more attainable option for many of us in the coming years, and with growing numbers already joining the ranks of the self employed, it's time to think about self employed health insurance. A little peace of mind can go a long way. And as being self-employed is often an enjoyable challenge, it's good to know that some things will always be there to assist.

PMI Options Availble To People Of All Income

2010-05-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

Is PMI The Best Option For You?

Private medical insurance is a huge boost to people with cut downs of operation waiting times and other luxury’s such as getting your own room in hospitals but it’s also known that many people who have the bonus of private medical insurance do so through their employers.

Even though some employers go for this option there are a lot of people out there that don’t get the chance and have to try and sort it out themselves for them and their family’s. It’s been known that many people think private medical insurance is for the rich but there are plenty of cash plans out there for everyone, including you.

It’s easy enough to find out about what prices are available and how this could benefit you through many sites on the internet. If you have any questions on this feel free to leave a comment or if you have already sorted out insurance and find the benefits far better than being on the NHS.

Safe Health Care

2010-05-13T01:28:00.000-07:00

At long last the uncertainty has been removed as to who will be governing the UK for the foreseeable future. Now we can be secure in the knowledge that the future of our hospitals is in good hands.

Any worries we may have had that the previous lot were going to further drag the state of the infrastructure for both public and private health care, into despair can be resolved.

With the economy left in a dreadful state, it may take time but I'm sure we will be going in the correct direction in the coming months. After all you can't turn a ship round straight away, but as long as you have the right skipper at the helm, you know you will get safely home.

NHS Doctor on UK and US Healthcare Debate

2010-04-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

Some common sense from NHS Dr Stepehen Hayes.........

Expatriates Far Happier In Australia

2010-03-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Australia Tops Expatriates List

Unsurprisingly Australia has been voted the best country in the world for expatriates to bring up their children while working there. With the sun always shining the friendly atmosphere and beaches who can argue with this. As you can imagine Australia looked like the best environment for healthy and active kids with more than three quarters of them spending more time outside playing than they did in their native country.

Another reason for Australia being top of the charts other than the great prices available on expat health insurance was that children found it a lot more easier to make new friends at school compared to the UK and United States being the least friendly for foreign children starting at new schools.

The survey was carried out over 50 countries and surveyed more than 3,100 expatriates including countries such as the UK, Honk Kong, Australia and the USA. The main topics of the survey were of childcare, education, ease of integration, costs of raising children and time spent on outdoor activities.

Health Videos from NHS Choices

2010-03-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

Pardon me for being a little late in pointing this out but if you head over to the NHS website there is a very handy library of videos on a huge variety of health topics. There are some particularly valuable videos featuring people discussing their 'real life' health experiences.

The full list of videos can be seen on this page.

Are there any other health video sites that we should be aware of?

Are our grandparents making our children fat?

2010-02-17T03:11:00.000-08:00

Interesting story from The Daily Mail today:

Indulgent grandparents 'overfeed' kids and make them fat, scientists warn

It seems that grandparents babysitting have been a little to generous with the cakes and biscuits, leading to a rise in obesity and an increase in child healthcare issues.

There's a bit more on the science behind these findings on the NHS Choices website.

Living in Japan - New Regulations

2010-02-17T01:15:00.000-08:00

According to a source within the Japanese Immigration Bureau it has been decided to reinforce an existing regulation regarding visa applications for all foreign nationals currently resident in Japan.

As of the first of April 2010 it shall become necessary for everyone applying for 12 month [or longer] visa to show proof that they have signed up to the Japanese National Health Insurance System.

This will not take away from the coverage enjoyed by users of International Medical Insurance, provided through their employer or through their own means, but is intended to streamline the entire system, which has been under strain due to the recent economic downturn.

The previous situation had been described as a "grey zone" for expatriates as they could in reside in Japan using the state system without being registered, although they were already contributing through their personal health insurance.

Healthcare upgrade in Dubai

2010-02-03T04:17:00.000-08:00

Healthcare has come a long way in the United Arab Emirates in the last 50 years. And of course it is no coincidence that these advances come in such a wealthy country.

But the emirate of Dubai is about to take another step forward in its health system. The national healthcare authority the DHA have announced that in partnership with Dutch electronics giant Phillips to build a new Medical Academy.

The new academy whilst helping the Dubai's doctors to increase their expertise, will also act as a fully working hospital for the residents of Dubai, as well as providing support to the rest of the UAE.

In recent years Dubai has developed into the financial center of the UAE and this has caused a growing number of overseas workers moving to the emirate.

If you're thinking that you might be moving to a better job in this vibrant growing city, you had better look into whether your current health insurance covers you for treatment in this new facility. If not why not try International insurance, a policy from a leading provider could be made to fit your exact circumstances, and needn't cost more than you're currently paying.

Skiing Holidays In France

2010-01-26T07:49:00.000-08:00

Health Insurance For Winter Sports

After the recent weather we have experienced here in the UK it comes as a bit of a surprise that thousands of Brits will be going on a winter sports holiday over the coming months with the likes of skiing and snowboarding at the top of the list. And what’s even more worrying is that half of them will be doing so without international health insurance.

Out of the many sports around the world surprisingly skiing isn’t at the top of the injury list with the likes of horse riding and football way in front. Although not at the top of the list you only have to check out sites like YouTube to see what can happen when out skiing and believe me after you see this you will be looking for health insurance cover straight away.

It goes without saying taking part in such a great exciting sport comes with the risk of being seriously injured or can even end up in a death. It only takes one dodgy miss place of your foot or a quick turn and you could lose your balance in a second. So remember if you’re planning on taking a winter break this year with sports involved make sure your covered for all injuries.

Is Health Care still Free?

2010-01-25T01:40:00.000-08:00

Some of you might have noticed recently that moves are afoot in the Spanish Health Service. Normally UK citizens are entitled to the same services as any Spanish citizen under a reciprocal agreement between the Spanish & UK Governments.

However, there is a mood growing within both the Spanish Health Service and various regional governments [to whom health-care is devolved], that the the should be clarified, read tightened, as to who does and does not qualify for it.

Currently, all EU citizens who are registered as resident in Spain, those working and paying taxes, and those over the age of retirement are able to benefit from the Spanish Health Service. But everyone else from now on will only be entitled to emergency treatment, under the auspices of the European Health Insurance Card. And from now on the Spanish Public Sector Union SiMAP has indicated that it's members are going to tighten up which ailments they consider emergencies and which not.

The meaning of this for Brits who wish to spend time in Spain, is that unless you wish to fully integrate yourself into Spanish society, you had better start thinking about taking out some form of International Health Insurance. As Spain is getting tough on 'freeloaders'.

NHS "more efficient in England" than Scotland - Nuffield Report

2010-01-20T03:45:00.000-08:00

The NHS in Scotland was dealt a blow today with the publication of a report from The Nuffield Trust into the state of the NHS in the UK post-devolution. It's principal finding is that despite having the highest spending levels, doctor numbers, nurses and gp's - the NHS in Scotland has highest levels of poor health and the lowest rate of health staff productivity.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Government health secretary has tried to counter the report by claiming that it is already out of date, telling Radi0 4:

"There's been a massive shift in the balance of care towards care in the community and the report takes no account of that whatsoever".

The health secretary has also claimed that Scotlands population dispersal and unique socio-economic factors (areas with long standing problems associated with poverty) render the report unfair.

Do you agree with this report?

You can read for yourself by downloading it from the Nuffield Trust website. There is also a Powerpoint presentation available with key facts and figures.

Cheap Health Insurance - Some tips for small businesses

2010-01-19T03:37:00.000-08:00

1 Make a list of what you need in a minimum health insurance policy. One health insurance policy can never fit all your employees' health care needs. Are you just looking for basic health care coverage in case of emergencies? Are you looking to make it more flexible for different needs? Determine exactly what is important for your situation.

2 Contact some reputable firms for a guide of what is on offer, and what kind of prices are available, you can either do this on you're own, or through a third party.

3 Ask your own personal GP! Strange as it sounds some GPs work for both Private and Public sectors, and are therefore experienced at both ups and downs of both systems, allowing you to cherrypick which ones might suit your situation. Your doctor might also be in a position to recommend companies/plans.

4 Ask/research Health Insurance Plans of other companies. Try both competitors and firms from other sectors. Compare the policies of large, medium and small companies, see which parts work best for which situation.

5 Contact 2 or 3 of your preferred choices directly. Be up front, tell them your situation and ask about the policies they offer. Tell them the policy you are looking for and ask them if they have any alternatives available.

6 Consider a joint overall Health Insurance scheme with one or two of your trusted business partners. as some Health Insurance companies offer better deals depending on the number of members of the scheme, this is to the benefit of everyone involved.

Living Abroad, Get Health Insurance

2010-01-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

More and more British Citizens are deciding that they wish spend at least part of their lives abroad, reasons include, work, study, volunteering and retiral.

Among the more popular places to relocate are EU countries skirting the Mediterranean Sea, but there are also growing expatriate communities in Hong Kong, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Germany, India and Singapore.

Expatriate health insurance plans are increasingly important, as politicians across Europe seek to control runaway health budgets, by limiting what non-citizens can have.

If you are planning to move abroad, you may think that the reciprocal arrangements which exist between EU countries will protect you. And it may, but it can only be relied upon for emergency treatments. State healthcare abroad is often done on a system of Health Insurance, quite unlike the system which exists in the UK: it is common to charge for many treatments.

Some countries now insist that all expatriates have international health insurance, or buy the same cover as locals.

Holland is the latest country to require foreign nationals, whether working in the country or simply resident, to have cover. Everyone aged over 18, irrespective of medical history and age, must buy an insurance plan.

Particularly if you are keeping a home in the UK, you may think you do not need to buy health insurance as you can return to the UK for treatment. But, following a crackdown on medical tourism, Britons in the EU who spend less than six months a year in the UK are denied access to the National Health Service, except in emergencies. Britons living outside the EU are ineligible for NHS services if they are abroad more than three months a year.

There are lots of international health insurance plans to choose from. They range from those offering very wide cover with lots of extras, to fairly basic plans aimed at covering in-patient treatment only. There are huge differences in cover and price. The only way to find out what suits your needs and your budget is to get lots of quotes. There are packages, plans where you have a core cover and a variety of options, or top-up covers for the difference in what the country you move to pays for and what you get charged by medical services.

Ten Great Health Sites

2009-12-16T07:31:00.000-08:00

As you ar no doubt aware, there are a huge amount of blogs and websites covering every niche within the health sector. However, there are a few which stand up more than other to repeated visits - we thought that we would list them here!

These are ten health related websites that we visit regularly.

1. Health on the Net – established and relevant guide to useful and reliable health websites
2. AXA PPP Health Insurance – UK insurance company with a great deal of health information on its site
3. Surgery Door – Commericial UK based website with a wealth of health information and advice on a range of health topics
4. Intute Medicine – thousands of links to academic medical resources, collated from top universities
5. Allcures – online pharamacy, you can get your prescription from the comfort of your computer desk
6. Web MD – well presented and hugley popular website, features loads of information on a huge variety of conditions
7. NHS 24 – much maligned, but on balance its probably helped thousands of people in need
8. Real Age – take the real age test and get a personalised plan to improve your health
9. Medgadget – the latest healthcare technological innovations
10. Insureblog – blog focusing on the us healthcare industry and health issues in general

If there any other health websites that you would like to see on the top 10 list? Please let us know.........

You Can Be Too Clean - Report

2009-12-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

An interesting story from the Daily Record website today, highlighting research from the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health in Aberdeen which suggests that Scots are far too hygenic for their own good.

Speaking in the Record about the findings Dr Denise Kelly of Rowett said:

"We were able to show that environment and early life have a major impact on the type of organisms in your gut when you reach adulthood.

"Then we looked at how the immune system is functioning and again were able to show there is a very big difference in the immune functions."

"The methods we are using are not discriminating, so though we are eliminating harmful pathogens, we are also eradicating a lot of the good organisms."

So, what is your opinion on this research - are we endangering our own and our children's future health by being too clean?

British Heart Foundation Report Highlights Concerns over Child Exercise Levels

2009-11-23T03:39:00.000-08:00

A very concerning report has been published by the British Heart Foundation which reveals that children across the UK are not getting the levels of exercise they require (60 minutes a day is recommended).

"Couch Kids - the nations future" contains some startling statistics, not least of which is that many girls and boys in England are not even exercising for 30 minutes each day.

You can read more about the report from this BBC News article or from the British Heart Foundation website. You can also download the full report from this page.

Why are our children still not getting the excercise they need? We would like your thoughts on this......

Health Insurance for Children

2009-10-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that the health and wellbeing of our children is a crucial aspect of life.

When taking out childs health insurance policies it is important to evaluate what the major health insurance providers can offer with any policy you take out. There are a few central policy elements that you should ensure are in place before entering into any agreement:

A series of thorough Tests to diagnose your child’s condition
Medical Treatment in a Private hospital (such as surgery)
Private ambulance provision
Consultations with a specialist before diagnosis of any condition
Private treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and CT, MRI and PET scans
Some insurers will pay for you to stay with your child at the hospital where they are being treated (if they are under 11 years of age)

These are some points that could be considered vital.

Are there any other worthwhile options that you feel the major health insurers could offer in their childrens medical insurance policies? We are keen to discover your ideas.

Does Retirment Cause Ill Health?

2009-10-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Research Shows that Retirement will cause Ill Health

Now here is some news that will send chills down your spin if you are the working people of the world. According to research in America, it is bad for your health, if you retire completely.

I can imagine what all you 64 year old workers out there will be saying to this news. I for one am only 29 and I can’t wait to retire (I Know I am lazy) but our government (UK) are moving the goal posts so that by the time I retire I will need to work till I am 70.

Now according to the General Register Office for Scotland (where I live), the average life expectancy is 73 years old.

Is their many people out there who want to work for 70 years just to get a 3 and half year holiday after it, no I don’t think so but we will have a vote to find out.

One of the main reasons we will have to work longer is because they say life expectancy is getting longer. Other people think it is because the governments of the past and present have spent the pension pot.

I am skeptical of this new data and think it will be another line of spin from the US government. Planting the seed before raising the age of retirement. Is this a coincidence during the time of recession? Are the money men of the US looking at the pension pot and saying – what if everyone had to work a little longer, that would mean we could spend that money – way hay.

The survey carried out goes a little something like this:

“People should not stop working completely when they retire, according to new US research. Old Woman 400Researchers at the University of Maryland made a study of 12,189 retired people. They found that those among them who kept working after retirement had fewer major illnesses, as well as functioning better on a daily basis.”

Ye probably because the ill retired people, could not work because they were ill.

John Prescott defends UK Health Care System

2009-08-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

In a typically robust style, ex UK Deputy Prime Minister has come out fighting in favour of the UK health care system, which has come under an intense attack from Right-Wing interests in the US who are looking to spread fear and misinformation about the UK healthcare sector. This resulted in the much publicised #welovetheNHS campaign on Twitter last week, which Gordon Brown endorsed.

Getting the correct Health Insurance Quotes

2009-08-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

With the economic downturn still being a nuisance and unemployment still on the rise, stretching the NHS to its limits, not to mention swine flu, it is best advised to check for new health insurance quotes online if affordable. By doing it online, any good website will be able to give you a free no obligation quote within the five minutes it takes you to fill in your details.

Getting health insurance quotes used to be regarded as being a mine field, and can still be depending where you are asking and if you are not sure exactly what you want, or you don’t know what you can afford for your budget. Many of the top websites now have a five point step questionnaire to help you choose the health insurance cover that best suits your needs.

Health Insurance in the Credit Crunch

2009-07-30T04:11:00.000-07:00

With the economic situation posing financial problems for individuals and families all around the world, it is understandable that people have to prioritise where they should allocate their household budgets. Expenses such as food and energy costs are likely to be given more precedence than medical insurance. However, it is possible to reduce the costs of your monthly health insurance premiums, keeping access to private healthcare should you need it.

Despite the reccession more than seven-million people in the UK are covered by either personal or corporate private health insurance, and a further one million though heathcare trust agreements with employees. This is actually an increase of 2.7% on cover levels in 2007.

Is it worth switching insurers?

It is well worth reviewing your current insurance policy as if you've been with the same provider for many years you may be paying over the odds as policy conditions do change. Many people are wary of switching as, in the past, you may have had to start afresh and if you developed a new medical condition then you may not be able to get the same level of cover. It is now possible to get the same or more similar terms from many providers.

Get smart with you health insurance

It is highly possible that your private health insurance cover is more comprehensive than you require. You may be able to lower your premiums by taking certain risks with your policies. Another method that many would suggest to save on your premium would be to try to voluntarily pay excess on your premiums - the higher that you can manage to pay here could reduce your monthly outlay.

In summary, its most definitely the case that the credit crunch has altered our priorities somewhat, but it is still possible to have affordable health insurance cover by becoming more discerning about our policies.

Government urges calm over Swine Flu

2009-06-15T03:50:00.000-07:00

We all woke up to the sad news this morning that Swine Flu had claimed its first UK (and European) victim. Despite this alarming development the government and medical experts have called for the UK population not to panic.

Virologist Professor John Oxford, speaking to the BBC said:

"I still think the chances of picking up the virus are remote. It is not going to get any worse during the summer....................Britain is the most prepared country in the world".

Aberdeen University bacteriologist Professor Hugh Pennington has also seeked to reassure the public on swine flu, stating that although someone has died it does not mean that the virus has become stronger:

"It does not point to the virus getting nastier. All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all.

"This is a flu virus, it is in no way different from an ordinary winter flu virus, so if there are enough cases some people will have to be admitted to hospital and some will die."

Government ministers have continued to highlight that people should stick to regular hand washing.

US Health Insurers bulk up spending

2009-05-28T01:09:00.000-07:00

Private Health Insurance Increase

As the US health care system has been tipped for a big shake up we have seen an increase in lobbying spending from the health insurers.

You can see that in the first Quarter the big 5 insurers spent a whopping $6,400,000; this is an increase of around the $1,000,000 mark compared to this time last year. The White House is working towards an option where millions of US citizens’ could take a government insurance option. The big spending move from the big 5 is a counter result of this.

In the first quarter The Untied Health Group Inc upped there spend by 34% from $1,100,000 to $1,500,000, Aetna Inc increased their spending by 41% in the first quarter from this time last year. This list seems to continue right through the Private Health Insurance industry at the moment and is expected to continue until White House details are confirmed, stamped and sealed.

The history of Private Medical Insurance

2009-05-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

US Origins

The concept of Private Medical Insurance can actually be traced back to mid 17th century England, but it wasn't until the 19th century that what was commonly referred to as 'accident insurance' was made formally available. In the USA Franklin Health Assurance Company of Massachusetts, which was founded in 1850 began to offer insurance against injuries arising from railroad and steamboat accidents. The company was so successful that by 1866 over 60 companies had (literally) 'jumped on the bandwagon' and began to offer similar services -however, this initial boom levelled out eventually.

NHS stimulates Private Healthcare in the UK

The growth of Private Medical Insurance in the UK was ushered in with the creation of the NHS in 1948. Although the service could provide a decent level of service free of charge there were still a significant number of people who were keen to ensure a higher level of healthcare. The industry began to grow concurrent to the NHS and by the late 1950s there were three major firms that dominated the industry - PPP (now AXA PPP healthcare) BUPA and the WPA.

As the population of the UK grew and the strain on the NHS increased, more people began to take out Private Health Insurance policies. Many companies also began to offer health cover as a part of their benefit packages to attract and retain the best employees. This twin growth factor has contributed to the growth of the sector into the huge industry that it has evolved into today. Since the 1960s the number of perople with Private Health Cover in the UK has approximately doubled every decade, and its estimated that around 7 million people in the UK have some form of health insurance cover.

Medical Insurance Advice

2009-05-14T01:29:00.000-07:00

In life you are always at risk of losing the things you have worked hard for, that's why insurance was created, some one with an intelligent mind thought about how he could save people the pain of losing their valuables whilst at the same time making them a profit by getting enough people on board, the more customers he had the more money he or they could take in, the more they could take in the more reliable they could be in paying out their insurance to the people who lost their insured valuables. The concept has worked well for a couple of hundred years, it may not have been advanced as such in the past but their is evidence of protection against valuables dating way back.

Medical insurance is no different, whilst it may be to cover for medical bills and quicker better treatment I suspect that we all agree that your health is far more important than any valuable object, another great aspect of having private medical insurance is the prospect of it covering some of your pay if you have taken it through your work program, again this can be a weight of your back should something happen to you and you need to take pre-longed periods absence from you work, the knowledge that you are still getting paid and their for can still pay your mortgage and bills whilst still supporting your family is priceless in its self.

Their are many different medical insurance programs available and they range from business to business and from country to country, listed below are some of the best ways of finding the right deal for you in some collected countries.

Top 10 Health Top 10 Lists

2009-04-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

Lists are one of the most popular article types on the internet. They seem to be everywhere, and we are as guilty as anyone else of using the list format. The List format is so widely used as it is offers and concise and fun way to impart information. Our main topic of health has its fair share of lists and we thought that we would highlight ten of our favourite top 10 lists with a health-related slant.

10 Things I've Learned From Grocery Shopping on a Budget - A great list from Wisebread that should act as an inspiration to your next shopping trip. Amongst the best advice is "It's true that a lot of the cheap food is unhealthy. But a lot of the healthy food is cheap."
Top 10 Antioxidant Foods - Diet.com contains a wealth of food related lists, and this is one of the more interesting of them. Antioxidant foods are vital to our diets - this list explains exactly why.
10 High-Tech Health Breakthroughs Coming Soon to Your Body - Popular Mechanics is a fascinating website with facts and insight into every subject imaginable. This list details sme of the medical innovations that we can expect in the near future, including Targeted Delivery and Magnetic Brain Stimulation.
Top 10 Bad Things That Are Good For You - This list from Livescience.com provides comfort for those who like to enjoy life a little. The list includes some of your favourites - Beer, Coffee, Red Wine and Chocolate and why consuming them in moderation can be beneficial to your health.
10 best foods for your heart - Nice top 10 list from CNN with foods that are good for your heart - Oatmeal, Salmon, Olive Oil, Nuts and Berries all recieve a mention.
Top 10 truth about superfoods - Channel 4 health list on the truth behind so called Superfoods.
Top 10 Anti-Cancer Superfoods -
Top ten places to de-stress - More of a travel story from shape.com but pertinent nonetheless - we all need a break from time to time - these are the best places to get away from it all.
Top 10 beauty foods - These are the foods that will keep you looking young and fill you with vitality.
Top 10 Health Trends of 2009 - The Doctors TV with a guide to what the big trends in health could be in 2009 including 'Oxygen in a can' and 'Maggot Therapy' - we don't fancy that much!

Thats ten of our top ten health lists - if you know of any health related lists that we should be aware of then please get in touch with us.

MRSA Questions and Resources

2009-04-23T03:02:00.000-07:00

The hospital bug MRSA is a big concern for many prospective hospital patients. Amongst the main questions that many people have are:

Why did the MRSA hospital bug become so dangerous?

The infection of ordinary Staphylococcal bacteria (which nearly all of us have living on our skin and membranes of our nose and throats) mutated and became resistant to available antibiotics. Hospital patients being weaker, older and sicker than the general population are more vulnerable to MRSA infection. Cramped conditions in hospitals are an ideal environment for the transmission of infections such as MRSA, which can easily be spread by hospital staff who fail to wash their hands at regular intervals.

If hospitals just need cleaned them to get rid of MRSA why dont they do it?

MRSA, amongst other hospital bacteria, has become resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics used in hospital cleaning products, making it very difficult to treat. In the past, skin cleaning amongst hospital staff has been infrequent and ineffective, facilitating the spread of MRSA and other superbugs. However, the NHS is making efforts to counter the spread of hospital bugs by educating it’s staff through its Clean, Safe Care campaign.

Those wishing to discover more about MRSA can find some excellent MRSA resources on the web, including:

The NHS website, which has expert insight into the infection
A simple guide to MRSA from the Department of Health
MRSA UK website has a great deal of insight and information

Could hospitals be doing more to tackle MRSA infection?, let us know your opinion.

Five Top Health Links for April

2009-04-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

There have been a number of interesting health stories on the web in April. Kind hearted souls that we are, we thought that we would post a few of post five of our favourites. Hopefully there will be something of interest to you.

25 things you probably didn't know about your body and health - Great fun article from MSN Health and Fitness. There are bound to be some facts on here that will amaze you - for example, did you know that Baking Soda can help whiten teeth?
Drinking Hot tea linked to Cancer/Walnuts may help prevent it - we've had a couple of 'good food', 'bad food' stories over the past couple of weeks, these two were two of the more intriguing.
USA Today: Young adults health worse than 10-15 years ago - worrying report on the poor state of health of the 50 million 18-29 year olds in America. Research from the National Centre of Health Statistics suggests that about one-third of this age group are obese, and 30% do not have health insurance. Would these statistics be relatively similar in the UK?
An outgoing nature could help you live longer - On a lighter note is this inspirational post from Health.com stating that being open and outgoing can help to mange stress and increase life expectancy. Cheer up - its good for you!
Bacon Sandwiches can help cure hangovers - Researchers from Newcastle University have claimed that eating a Bacon Sandwich after a night out can help by "boosting the level of amines - which clear the head". Elin Roberts told Marie Claire:
‘Food doesn't soak up the alcohol but it does increase your metabolism helping you deal with the after-effects of over indulgence. So food will often help you feel better.‘Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. Your body needs these amino acids, so eating them will make you feel good.’

Thats five of our top April health links, if you have any stories that you have come across please leave a comment!

Aged between 40 and 74? - Get ready for a health MOT

2009-04-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

UK Government to indroduce health checks

If you are aged between 40 and 74 and live in England then you should have recieved your invitation from the government to take part in a free health check. This mass testing programme is being introduced to asses the levels of risk that people may have when it comes to the 'big four' of Heart Disease, Stroke, Kidney Disease and Diabetes.

Five yearly check ups

These health checks are to take place every five years. Tests that will be undertaken include measuring weight, cholesterol levels, levels of sugar in their blood and blood pressure. In addition, patients will be also asked if they have any family-inherited medical issues and whether they have smoked at any point in their life.

Assesing the risk

When these tests have been completed, patients will be given an overview of their health status. The level of risk will be indicated and any course of action that needed to be taken in order to combat these symptoms will be suggested. Those at lower-risk are to be provided general healthy living advice, they may also be given a dietary plan. Higher risk patients will be prescribed statins (Cholesterol/Blood Pressure lowering drugs).

Preventing the major diseases

The Department of Health hopes that the health checks will save 650 lives a year and prevent up to 1,600 heart attacks and strokes. A reduction of 4,000 fewer people developing diabetes annually is also a target.

The medical tests are likely to be run from GP surgeries, health centres and pharmacies. It is hoped that they may be offered in supermarkets to target those people who are perhaps not registered with a doctor. The government has said that it expects a 75% take up of the scheme.

All this is obviously going to require a great deal of administration, and its thought that the scheme will be fully operational by the year 2013. It may be some time after that that you recieve your first check up. This leaves plenty of time to adjust your diet and get in shape!.

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