Policy will meet the cost of private consultations and then surgery if NHS waiting lists exceed 12 w...
Policy will meet the cost of private consultations and then surgery if NHS waiting lists exceed 12 weeks
By Robyn Hall
PPP healthcare is rolling out a PMI plan which aims to plug the gaps in treatment left by NHS waiting lists.
The policy, called Perfect Sense, offers immediate access to specialist consultants and, if required, private surgical treatment when NHS waiting lists exceed 12 weeks.
Perfect Sense is designed to dovetail with NHS services, and PPP said the plan aims to allay worries over waiting lists and the cost of private healthcare.
Dr Adrian Bull, medical director at PPP healthcare, said: "For less than the cost of a packet of cigarettes a day, a family can have access to private healthcare when they need it most. All the research we have done shows that while people believe the NHS does a great job and is second to none for accident and emergency treatment, waiting lists - both for initial consultations and operations - remain a constant concern."
Consumer research commissioned by PPP healthcare earlier this year showed that more than eight out of 10 people believe
that demand for the NHS will always exceed its funding. The research also found that one in 10 of the population said they are on an NHS waiting list. While healthcare ranked above both law and order and education as the number one issue of concern to consumers, one in three people believed private healthcare to be beyond their means.
PPP said Perfect Sense is designed to fill the gap when the NHS is unable to deliver within a comfortable timeframe, enabling people to use the NHS when it can deliver in time and private healthcare when it cannot.
A family of four - two adults aged 35 and two children - would pay a total of £95 pm for a Perfect Sense plan. The plan is linked to the length of waiting lists and premiums are expected to fall long term if waiting lists come down.
Dr Bull added: "Not only does this plan offer more affordable peace of mind to individuals, it also helps ease the pressure on the NHS to the benefit of all. It is a real example of the public and private sectors working in a complementary way - the future of healthcare in the UK."
Following referral by a GP, the policy enables private consultation with a specialist to be arranged immediately - avoiding waiting lists of up to two years long - and also covers non-surgical diagnostic tests and day case investigations.
If surgical treatment is required, policyholders automatically qualify for referral to a private hospital for immediate treatment.
