Take Control Of Your Healthcare!
With Britain's population ageing and budgets tightening, health cash plans can provide you with an affordable way to take control of your healthcare.
Financial advisory firm Deloitte recently carried out research in the UK which indicated that, while 90% of consumers in the UK rely wholly on the NHS for medical provision, 80% feel they are not adequately covered.
NHS provision can be patchy according to region, is prone to long waiting lists and does not always offer the most convenient appointment dates.
There are also supplementary charges, such as dental fees and prescription charges which are increasingly to be paid up-front; and hidden fees, such as NHS car parking charges.
Being ill can be expensive.
Full private medical insurance plans provide much more extensive provision, but with medical inflation rising fast, these can be too costly for an ordinary family budget.
Company health insurance policies are also at risk.
A survey of employers by Mercer in September 2010 said that employers expected healthcare costs to increase between 9 to 12% and so would be using cost-saving measures to reduce the increase to 6%.
57% said one way would be to make employees pay a greater share of the costs.
If all this leaves you uncertain of the future, medical cash plans may be the solution for you.
Cash plans reimburse costs for routine medical expenses that the NHS would not cover.
This can include everything from dental and optical fees to consultancy bills, tests and scans and GP fees.
New schemes are also offering cover for hidden costs, such as NHS car parking charges.
More streamlined than a full medical insurance plan, prices begin at less than £8 per month, with options to tailor a plan that is right for you.
This can include customising benefit levels or choosing between 75% or 100% reimbursement levels on some plans.
This compromise offers the peace of mind of extending your medical coverage beyond the minimum offered by the NHS, but still being able to keep costs low.
Cancer care is a major area where cash plans have allowed patients to take back control in ways previously only available to those with full medical insurance.
Cancer charity Macmillan reported that cancer sufferers who could benefit from treatment were left facing mortgaging or remortgaging their homes to gain access to life-saving drugs, such as avastin.
NICE claims Avastin, estimated costs £21,000 a patient, does not justify the benefits it provides for the price it charges.
Responding to growing concerns, the government has recently announced a cancer drugs fund which looks likely to be a source of funding, but this will remain subject to strict budget controls.
Medical cash plans give patients another option with some plans including options to include cover for cancer drugs when they can provide treatment but will not be provided on the NHS.
This option offers customers the security to use the NHS provision when it is available, but still to enjoy the peace of mind of access to life-saving medication that is just beyond the means of the NHS.
Financial advisory firm Deloitte recently carried out research in the UK which indicated that, while 90% of consumers in the UK rely wholly on the NHS for medical provision, 80% feel they are not adequately covered.
NHS provision can be patchy according to region, is prone to long waiting lists and does not always offer the most convenient appointment dates.
There are also supplementary charges, such as dental fees and prescription charges which are increasingly to be paid up-front; and hidden fees, such as NHS car parking charges.
Being ill can be expensive.
Full private medical insurance plans provide much more extensive provision, but with medical inflation rising fast, these can be too costly for an ordinary family budget.
Company health insurance policies are also at risk.
A survey of employers by Mercer in September 2010 said that employers expected healthcare costs to increase between 9 to 12% and so would be using cost-saving measures to reduce the increase to 6%.
57% said one way would be to make employees pay a greater share of the costs.
If all this leaves you uncertain of the future, medical cash plans may be the solution for you.
Cash plans reimburse costs for routine medical expenses that the NHS would not cover.
This can include everything from dental and optical fees to consultancy bills, tests and scans and GP fees.
New schemes are also offering cover for hidden costs, such as NHS car parking charges.
More streamlined than a full medical insurance plan, prices begin at less than £8 per month, with options to tailor a plan that is right for you.
This can include customising benefit levels or choosing between 75% or 100% reimbursement levels on some plans.
This compromise offers the peace of mind of extending your medical coverage beyond the minimum offered by the NHS, but still being able to keep costs low.
Cancer care is a major area where cash plans have allowed patients to take back control in ways previously only available to those with full medical insurance.
Cancer charity Macmillan reported that cancer sufferers who could benefit from treatment were left facing mortgaging or remortgaging their homes to gain access to life-saving drugs, such as avastin.
NICE claims Avastin, estimated costs £21,000 a patient, does not justify the benefits it provides for the price it charges.
Responding to growing concerns, the government has recently announced a cancer drugs fund which looks likely to be a source of funding, but this will remain subject to strict budget controls.
Medical cash plans give patients another option with some plans including options to include cover for cancer drugs when they can provide treatment but will not be provided on the NHS.
This option offers customers the security to use the NHS provision when it is available, but still to enjoy the peace of mind of access to life-saving medication that is just beyond the means of the NHS.