07.11.12
NHS spending £1bn a year on patients with private insurance
The NHS is spending nearly £1bn annually on treating patients with private medical insurance, although these patients could claim on their insurance to cover the cost of their care.
A study has illustrated that nearly one in three patients being treated in NHS hospitals is privately insured and could thus have their costs paid by their insurer. However, patients are not claiming on their insurance due to fears that this will increase their premium, that they may have to pay excess charges or that their GP may neglect to enquire as to whether they are insured.
The study was commissioned by Keith Biddlestone, commercial director at HCA International, which owns six private hospitals in London. He stated: “Private healthcare is about choice and many patients choose to move between private and NHS care – but these figures show just how hard private medical insurers rely on the NHS to maintain profitability.”
He underlined the fact that patients are losing out, especially when it comes to cancer care, due to the latest treatments which mainly private hospitals offer, as they should profit from their entitlements as private insurance users.
The report, carried out by private health analysts Laing and Buisson, suggests that the 250,000 operations each year on patients with private medical insurance is costing £359m, with a further £609m being spent on emergency medical or surgical treatment. Despite the fact that the latter treatment is not covered by private medical insurance, any recovery costs could be covered.
The report proposes that the NHS could save the most money in the south east, where there are more patients with private insurance and more NHS hospitals with private patient units. Biddlestone asserted that these private patient units have the potential to free up NHS beds and prevent further expenses. These units are managed by HCA International on behalf of a number of London NHS trusts.
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