UK patients turn away from NHS to medical tourism

2.65 million Britons have recently been or are planning to go abroad for medical treatment. The most common elective surgery procedures for outbound UK patients include hip replacements, knee replacements and cataract removal.

Most medical tourists go abroad to avoid paying for treatment not available on the NHS. However, if they previously had private medical cover they could have had these procedures done at no extra cost in the UK.

Without medical insurance, paying for a hip replacement privately in the UK can cost as much as £10,000. Abroad, the procedure itself will cost patients upwards of £3,000. However, the costs of having surgery abroad can add thousands onto this price if complications occur.

The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding or developing deep vein thrombosis, chances of which are greatly increased by long-haul flights.

Specific complications of hip replacement can include infection, joint dislocation, hip fracture, unstable joints and nerve damage. Last year, five patients died in NHS hospitals from NDM-1, a new superbug which is thought to have been imported by British health tourists who had surgery in India and in Pakistan.

In addition, on return to the UK, the NHS would not treat minor problems or long term problems related to the surgery.

An alternative option to medical tourism is to compare health insurance quotes. The average health insurance premium for a 30 year old is around £30 a month, totalling only £360 a year.

An average health insurance premium for a 65 year old is around £70 a month, totalling only £840 a year, perhaps lower with a discount scheme.

People with private medical insurance will receive that hip replacement without extra cost, in a private hospital of their choice, with a consultant of their choice.

Any complications will be fully covered, and they will be treated in a private room with excellent facilities. That £840 could also pay for cancer drugs too expensive for use on the NHS.

Dr Richard Theo, of health insurance comparison site ActiveQuote.com, said: “India, one of the most popular destinations for medical tourists, has 6 physicians, 13 nurses, and 9 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients.

“In contrast, the UK has 27 physicians, 103 nurses and 34 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients. Health conscious patients should compare medical insurance quotes and take advantage of our excellent private healthcare system”.

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Life insurance is designed to make sure your family would be financially protected in the event that you passed away. Nobody wants to think about this situation, but unless you’re covered, it could leave your family unable to cover their costs.

However, you should be careful to check the terms and the criteria of any cover you’re looking at. For example, many insurers won’t provide cover for known pre-existing medical conditions.

Getting life insurance during illness

You may be able to get life insurance that does cover you, despite your pre-existing condition, but it may cost you more – it’s a question of perceived risk.

If you’re unsure about how much it would cost you, get in touch with a life insurance company / broker. They can tell you what you need to know so you can make the right decision.

What else can affect the cost of life insurance?

Whether you’re ill or not, there are a number of different factors that can affect how much you pay for your life insurance cover. Just a few of these include:

- Your age (younger people typically pay less)

- Whether or not you’re a regular smoker

- Whether you frequently engage in ‘dangerous’ activities (e.g. extreme sports)

- Whether you want cover for other family members

- How much you want your family to receive if you pass away.

Remember, every policy is different, and every insurer has its own terms and conditions. Be sure to check these before you commit yourself to anything.

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But in reality we need to think about these things in order to give our loved ones the support and financial assistance they deserve after we have gone. There are some key handy hints and tips to help you through all those tough choices that you will have to make.

Important aspects of your life need to be thought about such as mortgage repayments.

Do you want your mortgage to be paid off? At this moment in time it may seem like a lifetime away but if you get everything in place now it makes it a little easier on your family and loved ones.

You may also have to think about replacing the primary earner’s salary as you do not want your family to struggle through life after you’ve gone. Replacing childcare is another factor to consider. The death of the main parent, guardian or carer will leave you sourcing childcare providers which don’t come cheap.

There are so many reasons why you should start looking for good life insurance cover and you owe it to your family to leave them in the best emotional and financial state possible. If you start shopping around now you using companies such as lifesearch you should be able to find the best policy to suit you.

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Life insurance is there to provide financial protection for your dependants in the event of your death.  Although no one wants to think about dying, it is a fact of life and some satisfaction can be gained in the thought that you won’t be leaving your loved ones out of pocket once you’re gone.

If you are in your fifties or older and you’re thinking of buying life insurance there’s a good chance that some health scare or medical problem has sparked your curiosity.  Whatever event has led you here, it’s good that you are considering the future security of your family’s finance.

There are some benefits of being in your older years when taking out your insurance.  For starters most companies will not require you to take part in any medical screening.  Acceptance is therefore guaranteed if you’re a UK resident typically for customers age 50 to 75 and some will accept up to age 80.  The reason your insurance premium may be higher than that of a younger person is that the Insurance companies will calculate the amount of premiums you will likely pay into a policy and the amount they are likely to pay out in the event of your death.

Policies vary in the amount they will pay out in the event of death in the first two years of your policy so be absolutely clear on the terms and conditions of your policy.  Some insurance for example, will pay out a cash sum upon your death after the policy has been in force for two years.  If however, you were to die as a result of an accident before the two years has passed you may still be covered.

As with any insurance product it is worth making sure you have a good deal for your money but you’d be well advised to put a good amount consideration into your policy choices and not just simply opt for the cheapest deal. It is important to take time to consider your needs and what life insurance policies might be best suited to your own unique circumstances, rather than simply looking for the lowest premium.

Because people are living longer and having more full and active lives they often forget about life insurance. You don’t have to be over 50 to consider life insurance but it can act as a reminder to start evaluating your options.

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