Health insurance companies excited by top up prospects

The decision by the National Health Service to allow patients to supplement their health care by paying for additional drugs – ‘so long as the additional treatment takes place in a private facility – could be a boost for the private health insurance market.

Previously, those patients that chose to pay privately for drugs would also give up access to NHS care. A detailed, four-month report called ‘Improving access to medicines for NHS patients’ has now been passed to government.

Health secretary Alan Johnson reportedly commented: It is an incredibly thorough report and I am accepting all of his recommendations. From today, there will be greater clarity, a fairer society and wider access to treatment.

Dr. Macdonald, managing director of Bupa UK Health Insurance, reportedly copmmented: Bupa is confident that full private medical insurance, which in our case already provides comprehensive cancer cover, will remain an attractive option for many of its customers. Bupa hopes, however, that NHS top-ups, and insured top-ups in particular, will enable a larger number of people to obtain their treatment of choice at an affordable price.