Maintain good health through private health insurance

In England everyone receives medical care free. No one has to pay as the National Health Scheme is funded by national insurance which is deducted from people's wages together with tax. Anyone can see a doctor when they are feeling ill and for anything which might be more serious will be sent to see a specialist at a National Health Hospital. However, for people who need a hip replacement or surgery on their knees the waiting can be very lengthy. When a consultant recommends that a person has surgery, their name will be placed on a waiting list and it could take six months or even longer before they have their operation. For this reason, many people maintain good health through private health insurance which allows them access to private clinics where their operation will be carried out almost immediately. By taking out private health insurance (Private Krankenkasse) this will cover the costs involved and from a patient's perspective is far better than waiting, often in pain, for their name to reach the top of the hospitals waiting list. Waiting a long time for an operation can mean their condition becomes much worse and in some cases, like heart surgery, patients have died before the operation can be carried out.

Many people have operations on their hips and knees by having surgery done at a private clinic and they will soon be back to full health instead of suffering for six months or more. A number of insurance companies even offer dedicated pension insurance (Rentenversicherung) policies, so that elderly people can get all of the protection they need. Of course, this takes pressure off the National Health Service and allows people to move up the waiting list quicker. Once a person is admitted to a private clinic, they will often have their own room with a television and telephone. More nurses are available giving individual care and families will be able to visit anytime. The surgeon who performs the operation will probably work for the National Health Service as well as private clinics as many doctors and consultants do. This means that operations either for the National Health or private clinics are carried out by the same surgeons. Private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung) is necessary in almost all other countries, as there is no free medical care. Often people cannot afford insurance so if they become ill or need hospital treatment cannot get the care they need. The National Health Service in England is the envy of the world. Anyone needing medical care can receive it at no cost whatsoever. Because of the waiting lists for operations, many people who can afford private health insurance take it out knowing that should they need medical care they will not have to join the waiting list.

Although waiting lists are long to receive treatment under the National Health, once admitted a patient will receive first class care from the doctors, nurses and support staff. Once the operation has been carried out the patient will be sent home as soon as possible to make way for the next. In a private clinic a patient will be given more time to recover before being discharged. Private clinics can admit patients needing operations almost immediately after seeing the consultant, and this has helped to reduce the number of people on the National Health waiting lists.