Five reasons to take out private medical insurance
21/09/2009
Research from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) showed that the uptake of private medical insurance (PMI) is increasing and currently around 7,335,000 people in the UK have some sort of private medica insurance cover.
Nick Starling, the ABI's Director of General Insurance and Health, said of the trend: "PMI is good for companies and the economy because it enables employees to get back to work after illness or injury as quickly as possible. This is why there has been a continued rise in the number of people covered by corporate policies."
A separate survey quizzed those with PMI cover on their reasons for choosing to get it. These were amongst the top answers:
- Better quality treatment/advice
Many people feel that private treatment offers better quality services and advice.
- Being able to choose a treatment location that suits
Private medical insurance is appealing to many people because of the flexibility it offers over where they receive their treatment and who treats them. With a private health plan you'll be able to shop around more until you find a treatment provider that you feel happy with.
- Ability to see specialist at time to suit you
Having private health insurance gives you greater choice over when you are treated. You can often choose the time and date of your appointment which means medical treatment will cause less disruption to your life.
- Faster return to work
Many people worry about having to take time off work due to illness. They don't want to lose money, damage their career prospects or lumber colleagues with extra work. Of course absence can't be helped sometimes but with private healthcare insurance you're likely to be treated more quickly for many conditions, meaning you'll be back at work sooner.
- More comfortable hospitals
When you're ill, and especially when you have to stay in hospital, a bit of comfort and luxury can help you to feel better. With private treatment, you'll usually be able to have your own room with a television and other home comforts.
Patient Choice provides easy-to-understand, cost-effective private medical insurance for individuals and businesses. For more information visit the Patient Choice website.
