By: Sheila Challiner
Submitted: 2009-01-09 10:40:09 | Word Count: 617
Many patients suffering from chronic conditions such as cancer were feeling slightly more optimistic, when the decision was made to allow patients access to the very best drugs and treatments without losing their basic national health care.
It seems hard to believe that, prior to the decision by the government, where all National Health treatments for a patient had been exhausted and the NHS budget could not fund further and very expensive treatment, patients were left to fund all treatment.
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This still leaves quite a predicament. If, heaven forbid, you were to be diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer and all possible and available NHS treatment had failed to halt the disease, you could be left with your only hope for cure or extension of quality life depending on your pocket. We’re talking lots of expense here – some of the most up to date and promising drugs can cost £100,000 and more – over three times the maximum cost that the NHS can fund. This is, however, less than the cost would have been prior to the government decision.
If the thought of this horrifies you and you realize that you and your family would find it an almost impossible struggle to raise the money should something like this happen, then there are two things you can do
•Bury your head in the sand. You are healthy, your parents were healthy. You can’t possibly be at risk of any serious diseases or illness. After all most cancers can be cured, can’t they?
•Whilst it’s perfectly true that very many people are completely cured of cancer, there are still some tough cases where your only hope lies in extra and expensive drugs and treatment. This is where some form of insurance can offer peace of mind. You can investigate the possibility and take some positive action so that expense will be the least of your concerns should serious illness occur.
There are insurance policies which you can employ to cover your expenses should you be diagnosed with a critical illness. Critical Illness Cover will normally pay out via one lump sum, normally £100,000 to £250,000 when a diagnosis of critical illness is made. The cost of the insurance will depend on things like your general fitness, history, whether or not you smoke or have smoked in the past. Family health history will come into it too. Be careful though – some Critical Illness Cover policies exclude some types of cancer. Read all the small print and answer all questions with complete honesty.
Critical Illness can involve more than payment for drugs and treatment. You may need help with child care or domestic help. It’s an expensive and worrying time and support for the family is needed too.
It’s also possible to insure for a simple and less costly type of plan. These are intended to step in when the NHS stops. There’s a health top up plan on the market which pays out the necessary sums like prescription charges or dental costs. You are offered the chance to add options to the policy such as a cancer drugs option. This would pay out should you be refused cancer drugs on expense grounds.
There are other types of health insurance products coming on to the market all the time. If a modest cost can ensure that you are given the latest and best drugs if ever you need them, can you really afford to pass it over?
Contact an insurance broker – the easiest way is to get on line and ask for help and advice on all types of policies available. They’ll know the market and find you some really good options, in no time.
