The health reforms you talk about could free up over subscribed NHS

Comment on General Election 2010 Poll Results by David.

The health reforms you talk about could free up over subscribed NHS facilities, but if so many British people are paying for private health care (if it’s compulsory, they have to), taxes for the NHS would have to reduce and the NHS would have to scale back.

Result is those who can afford it pay for private health care and get good treatment, those who can’t afford a good health provider (there’s bound to be cheap health insurance offers that aren’t very good cover wise) are left with an under invested NHS.

The poor suffer, just like with the US system.

At least with the NHS we are all in the same situation unless you are well off and pay for private health care, which is expensive here: I haven’t even looked into private health care as I have pre existing conditions, would cost a fortune.

Speaking of which, what about people like me?

If I was pretty much healthy now I could easily afford private health care premiums, but I’m not healthy.

I don’t smoke or drink, but have had two discs fused in my back, have iffy knees and one hip hurts like hell. All are physical wear and tear type damage, but I’ve had these problems in a serious form (needing treatment) since my early twenties when I was at University and couldn’t afford private health care.

I currently take quite a large dose of morphine every day for pain (have taken pain meds for 15+ years and probably will for years to come), possibility of needing an operation on my hip as it’s not getting better on it’s own. Knees are probably going to need some work later in life as well.

I get hay fever in summer, used to have a single steroid shot for that, but that’s no longer an option (banned treatment) so in summer I pop antihistamines all the time.

None of my health problems are self inflicted, I had back problems at 18, maybe earlier (unlucky I suppose). Can you see BUPA taking me on at reasonable premiums?

I just had a look at BUPA and selected which is their full cover minus “complementary medicine” (which I’d never use).

Take a look at the things not covered beyond complementary medicine:

Bupa Heartbeat doesn’t routinely cover the following conditions and treatments. Full details can be found in the membership guide.

* Ageing, menopause and puberty
* AIDS / HIV‡
* Allergies or allergic disorders
* Birth control, conception, sexual problems and sex changes‡
* Chronic conditions‡
* Complications from excluded or restricted conditions / treatment
* Convalescence, rehabilitation and general nursing care‡
* Cosmetic, reconstructive or weight loss treatment‡
* Deafness
* Dental / oral treatment (such as fillings, gum disease, jaw shrinkage etc)‡
* Dialysis‡
* Drugs and dressings for out-patient or take-home use‡
* Experimental drugs and treatment‡
* Treatment to correct eyesight (eg long or short sight)‡
* HRT and bone densitometry‡
* Learning difficulties, behavioural and developmental problems
* Overseas treatment and repatriation
* Physical aids and devices‡
* Pre-existing or special conditions
* Pregnancy and childbirth‡
* Screening and preventive treatment
* Sleep problems and disorders
* Speech disorders‡
* Temporary relief of symptoms‡
* Unrecognised providers or facilities

Even if I’d joined BUPA as a child I’d not be covered for my current health care problems, specifically:

* Allergies or allergic disorders
* Convalescence, rehabilitation and general nursing care‡
* Chronic conditions‡
* Temporary relief of symptoms‡

“Temporary relief of symptoms” is a good one, it would appear BUPA wouldn’t cover medications that don’t cure a condition, but only manage it like pain medications.

4.24 Temporary relief of symptoms
We do not pay for treatment, the main purpose or effect of which is to provide temporary relief of symptoms or which is for the ongoing management of a condition.
Exception: We may pay for this type of treatment if you need it to relieve the symptoms of a terminal disease or illness.

For me they’d have helped diagnose the problems, probably paid for the operation on my back, but nothing else!

I am right in believing BUPA is the biggest supplier of private health care in Britain? Talk about waste of money if they won’t treat long term medical conditions, that’s the elderly screwed then!

David