health anxiety getting health insurance good or bad thing ?

[davey2k12]

debating wether or not too get some

[mikewales]

It is always worth having, but beware that they won't normally cover existing conditions, so won't pay for tests etc if they are just worries you have from the HA and not actual problems, and also won't cover time off work if it isnt a new problem

[Pipkin]

Hi Davey,

I have private medical insurance and what Mike has said is right - they won't cover pre-existing conditions. Also, the cover for mental health issues isn't great.

The advantage for me is the speed of referral if you need it. I was suffering from recurrent migraines a couple of years ago and I saw a neurologist within 2 weeks, had a MRI scan the week after and the results a couple of days after that.

You have to read the policies very closely to see what's covered and then weigh up the benefits against the costs.

Pip x

[emeraldgirl]

I have private health insurance but the others are right you do have to be very careful. I find it very good for getting a quick test/scan but even better is the fact that they tell you straight away the results as there is a consultant there when you have the test - thats the best thing about it for me as I can't stand the waiting for results for NHS tests

[Rugrat]

i just noticed your all in the UK lol i thought you were all in the USA i have HA and
for me so far just to see my GP is enough to make me feel better i know that if my GP really
did think i had something like cancer i would see a specialist and be getting treatment within two weeks if you look up the NHS charter
you will see they guaranty treatment for cancer or heart disease within that time and i do know people that have had cancer and they have started
treatment very fast from what i have seen the system seems a lot faster than it used to be
for everything you can pay cash and walk in to a BUBA hospital any time you want and if they
find anything and you have not got the money to pay for the treatment they will send you back to
the NHS i did it about 14 years ago when the NHS was not so good it cost me £800 to see a specialist
twice and have 5 blood tests and a scan only to find out there was nothing wrong with me but that was before i knew i had HA
self pay treatment at BUBA
http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/self-pay-treatments

[macc noodle]

I think that you would find it very difficult to get private health cover that would enable you to access random testing to satisfy your HA.

With most affordable health insurance schemes, you still need a GP referral for further consultation via your private scheme I think you will find.

Additionally, if your medical records show that you have been worrying over certain conditions, they may well exclude these as pre-existing, especially if your GP has referred you for further tests following GP consultation.

If you decided to dip your toe into the water, I would recommend that you use a broker to find you the right scheme and that you are brutally honest about your situation.

Macc N

xxxx

[moirascott]

Hi Davey

I have private health insurance, through my employer, they are a big organisation and this comes standard, part and parcel of my contract.

I do not suffer HA, however I have found my private health insurance a life saver for therapy, and dare I say it yes jumping the Q.

Could you not go down this route.

Moira

[tofutoffees]

If you work for a Council or have a family member who does (check which other organisations are covered and if it can be a referral to the organisation from a friend), you can get cover with Benenden Healthcare.

The point of it is to cut out the NHS waiting time for treatments available on the NHS (so not treatments that are only available privately - my understanding, anyway) if the waiting list you are on is over a certain length (got my ears looked at really quickly - the one time it wasn't actually health anxiety as well).

[Louise36]

I used to have it through work and yes it helped with getting things investigated quicker, but it probably made my HA worse as I kept going back for follow up appts, booking scans etc without referral from GP and so then had quite a large bill when I left my job. When in full anxiety mode, it is fantastic for immediate reassurance but as we all know reassurance lasts for a short time until the next thing starts you off and you race to the next private appt...

[countrygirl]

Most health insurance conpanies ask to see details of your visits to your Dr in the past 12 months so anything you have seen your Dr about in that time will probably not be covered so if you have ha that would cover just about all your body! Joking aside it is a big problem in getting health insurance or travel health insurance unless you pay alot more for your cover.