Private Health Insurance in UK

[earlgreyhot]

We are moving to London on Monday! AGH!

As a benefit, DH's company offers both a private UK plan as well as expat plan with both offering coverage for emergencies in the US, etc. The UK plan makes things really easy for us in the UK and gets us half price membership to a gym. The US plan involves copays and paperwork for reimbursement ,but it would allow to see a doctor/specialist of our choosing when we are home and we are eligible for COBRA in case DH is let go.

Currently we don't have any preferred specialists here in the US and they are dropping a ton of money moving us all over there so I'm assuming his job is pretty secure for a couple years at least so I am inclined to use the UK plan. I'm under the impression that they have open enrollment so would be able to switch over.

Are there any other considerations I should take into account?

[origami]

You have to choose between one or the other?

I don't know anything about UK insurance but where I am I'd take my expat/global ins plan over a local plan any day. My global plan covers me anywhere. US, host country and on every trip. No need to buy medical trip insurance. No dealing with in-network/out of network doctors (except in my US home city but it's BCBS and we're never there, so no issues there). Their copay/premium stuff is more generous than the local UHC coverage. We do have to submit paperwork to get reimbursed but they've never rejected anything I submitted. All I do is take a photo of my receipt and upload it to their website. Takes <5 min. There is a hotline we can call to get something pre-approved if we can't pay for it and wait for reimbursement, if we're at a hospital that accepts international insurance.

[frlcb]

Take the global plan. That way it covers you when you return home, and you don't have to go through the NHS (which you have to do even with a private UK plan) to get referred to a private GP.

[loira]

Mar 29, 2017 21:06:07 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Take the global plan. That way it covers you when you return home, and you don't have to go through the NHS (which you have to do even with a private UK plan) to get referred to a private GP.

But what's the advantage of a private GP? I mean, a private specialist, sure. Or even to cut the wait to get a pesky mole removed etc.

OP I'd do the UK plan. You probably won't even need it. I had one with my company in London and all I ever used it for was to save a ton of money on my glasses and dental visits. But as frlcb said, if you're worried about being covered when you return, maybe the global plan is better. In any case, you'll probably just use the NHS while in London. I am a huge fan/supporter of the NHS, in case that wasn't clear.

[mrsukyankee]

Honestly, I've never had to use our private insurance (UK plan). I had the one you are talking about. My H used private healthcare and all you have to do is see your GP and ask for a referral, letting them know you have private insurance. It's not a big deal. I love the NHS and have had nothing but great experiences with my GP surgery (which is probably why I haven't used private healthcare since moving here almost thirteen years ago).

[earlgreyhot]

mrsukyankee, loira

That's what I am thinking...that we'll use the NHS for most stuff. As such we'll likely use the benefit of half price gym membership. Though...maybe the gym thing is overrated. The website looks flashy and has childcare/programs....but I can also see it being a trove of hidden fees and ending up being a money suck.

It seems that vision is not covered by the UK plan, but is with the US plan, though. Both DH and I wear glasses and assume our kids will as soon as puberty hits.

frlcb It does say we are covered for emergencies if in the US and other travel on both plans.

I'm pretty sure we can change our minds...I somewhat inclined to do the UK plan for the first two years that we are contractually obligated to be there...and then switch as we start to think about moving back to the US. But I will confirm.

I'm pretty annoyed they only gave us this information this week...as if I have the wherewithall to properly research this right now.

THANK YOU all for your input. Very helpful.

[frlcb]

Mar 29, 2017 21:25:04 GMT -5 loira said:

Mar 29, 2017 21:06:07 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Take the global plan. That way it covers you when you return home, and you don't have to go through the NHS (which you have to do even with a private UK plan) to get referred to a private GP.

But what's the advantage of a private GP? I mean, a private specialist, sure. Or even to cut the wait to get a pesky mole removed etc.

OP I'd do the UK plan. You probably won't even need it. I had one with my company in London and all I ever used it for was to save a ton of money on my glasses and dental visits. But as frlcb said, if you're worried about being covered when you return, maybe the global plan is better. In any case, you'll probably just use the NHS while in London. I am a huge fan/supporter of the NHS, in case that wasn't clear.

Maybe I should have said a private specialist. But I also didn't love the NHS so there you have it. I thought it was a pain to have to go through the NHS gp to use our private insurance.

[mrsukyankee]

earlgreyhot, the gym thing is legit. They can't hide prices in the UK and have to be upfront. We did the half-price Virgin thing - went in, talked to them, no joining fee and half price on a monthly basis for a year. If it's Virgin Active, I can say that I really liked the gyms available to us and I know that people definitely use the child care as part of it.

[loira]

Mar 31, 2017 0:08:51 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

earlgreyhot , the gym thing is legit. They can't hide prices in the UK and have to be upfront. We did the half-price Virgin thing - went in, talked to them, no joining fee and half price on a monthly basis for a year. If it's Virgin Active, I can say that I really liked the gyms available to us and I know that people definitely use the child care as part of it.

I've heard great things about the Virgin Active Gyms.

I had a company membership to LA fitness for awhile and it was okay. I really liked my Nuffield Health membership, but I had a discount since they were in my building.

[Deleted]

I used to be a member of Virgin Active - they are pretty good, all depends what you want out of a gym.
Are you going to be based in London or elsewhere? I'm up north!

[brainie]

We have private health insurance through DH's work.

For us, it's worth it. I've used it for physiotherapy for running injuries, to have a suspicious mole removed, and a laparoscopy (which I could have had on the NHS, but the wait time was much shorter).

One thing to check though: ours doesn't cover chronic conditions, so DH has to go through the NHS for his Crohn's and I do for my asthma. Your plan may be different though; something to check.

[earlgreyhot]

Mar 31, 2017 0:08:51 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

earlgreyhot , the gym thing is legit. They can't hide prices in the UK and have to be upfront. We did the half-price Virgin thing - went in, talked to them, no joining fee and half price on a monthly basis for a year. If it's Virgin Active, I can say that I really liked the gyms available to us and I know that people definitely use the child care as part of it.

That's great to know, thanks! 

They also apparently have a deal where they will give you and Apple Watch for £69 and will let you "work" it off by logging a set amount of gym time. Or it's £12.50/month over two years. I find myself "needing" a smart watch for navigation...holding my iPhone and pushing a stroller and remembering that pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way is getting old fast. 

[mrsukyankee]

Let me know if there's a time you'd like to get together - I'm free during odd hours but would love to grab a coffee or drink.

[cottoncandy]

We I lived in London (about 2 years ago) we had private insurance and only used that for my pregnancy. Everything else including the baby care after he was born we used NHS. Our NHS gp was about a 3 minute walk from our flat and had open hours twice a day, which I loved. It was nice to have private "just in case", but our experience with NHS was good.

Ours also did not include vision, but I just went to boots when I needed more contacts. It does not stand out as super expensive, but I don't remember how much I paid.