Weighing up mind the costs and positives of private medical insurance against the National Health Service could be the only way of deciding what is right for you, at least according to a recent Telegraph article.
More patients than ever before are considering purchasing private medical insurance, largely due to hospital waiting lists and the possibility of fatal infections in hospitals run by the state.
Approximately 7.4 million British people already have private health insurance, many policies are offered by employers. Private medical insurance promises a cleaner hospital and a private room. Many patients pay for medical insurance in order to be treated immediately and being given access to drugs that are no available on the NHS.
Speaking for BUPA, Suzanne Clarkson reportedly commented: "With a slowdown in funding post 2008, the NHS is likely to be under increased pressure to meet demand for its services from patients of all ages. As longevity increases, this is only going to increase. In its Mind the Gap report, BUPA Health Insurance has predicted an £11bn gap in NHS funding by 2015. Others, such as Sir Derek Wanless and the King's Fund have made similar predictions. The PMI market is growing as more and more people realise the benefits and value of it."




