Union warn health insurance companies may exploit

Following recent health insurance news this week, trade union Unison has warned that health insurance companies could ‘exploit’ the new decision by the Government to allow patients to ‘top up’ NHS health care.

The decision, that has been in and out of the news this month, was confirmed by health secretary Alan Johnson earlier this week. The fees would effectively create a ‘two-tier’ health system, that already has private medical insurance companies excited about the prospects.

However, the head of health at Unison, Karen Jennings, reportedly commented: The big insurance companies are rubbing their hands together at the top-up announcement this week. People will fear that treatment will not be available on the NHS when they need it and turn to insurance companies to fund the gap. It is a very slippery slope. UNISON believes that introducing top-ups will create a two-tier health service and undermine the founding principles of the NHS.