National Insurance Number & Health Insurance

[Akatrin]

Sooo... someone in the know, whats the deal? Do I have to get one? I've been reading up on it a bit - I will be using health services/doctors/specialists while in the UK. Is this like the Australian equalivent of Medicare?

Also, How does it work with getting private health insurance? I have the highest level of cover over in Australia, and due to my various medical conditions I think it's something I'm going to have to keep up my entire life. Any suggestions?

Finally, is the "National Insurance number" the same as a "National Health Service Number" that a GP can give you?

Cheers,
~Kat

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Akatrin

Sooo... someone in the know, whats the deal? Do I have to get one? I've been reading up on it a bit - I will be using health services/doctors/specialists while in the UK. Is this like the Australian equalivent of Medicare?

Also, How does it work with getting private health insurance? I have the highest level of cover over in Australia, and due to my various medical conditions I think it's something I'm going to have to keep up my entire life. Any suggestions?

Finally, is the "National Insurance number" the same as a "National Health Service Number" that a GP can give you?

Cheers,
~Kat

Hi there
Your NI number goes on your health card too and is a general NI / Health identifier, although the card has its own number as well.

Private health care is very expensive in the UK if you dont get it through a company scheme. I used to pay about £110 a month whilst in a company scheme, but when I came out of the scheme and tried to join as an individual it doubled! Plus, I'm afraid, they most often dont cover existing conditions.

If you are paying into the UK system by NI contributions though, you will be entitled I guess to free healthcare under the National Health Service. Queues are long for some treatments, but generally you can get to see a GP within a day in most areas.

Its only when you leave the UK you realise how much you took health cover for granted.

[Akatrin]

hmm in Australia they have no choice about pre-existing medical conditions since I contracted them while covered. Even if you change insurance providers the new one has to cover it. Which is why private insurance is something I want...

Maybe I should keep up private insurance in Australia while working and living in the UK? Though sounds... costly :P

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Akatrin

hmm in Australia they have no choice about pre-existing medical conditions since I contracted them while covered. Even if you change insurance providers the new one has to cover it. Which is why private insurance is something I want...

Maybe I should keep up private insurance in Australia while working and living in the UK? Though sounds... costly :P

Well its normal. When I moved to Spain I had to list any existing conditions. In the past I had two shoulder decompressions and rhinoplasty. In Spain now I am not covered for the shoulder decompressions (ever), although they did allow the other operation.

I tried to insure with BUPA originally, which was who I had been insured with in the past, but they wanted £300 a month! That covered me anywhere in Europe. I ended up with a Spanish insurer for a third of the cost and have cover abroad WHILST ON HOLIDAY.

Check with your present insurer to ensure they will cover you in the UK. Problem is that medical costs in the UK are high. Just seeing a consultant can cost £2-300. In Spain its £40. The insurance premiums reflect this.

[Akatrin]

You know, for those numbers I'm actually seriously considering keeping up my Australian single's health insurance... then just catching a flight home if I need an operation or something... I'll ring them anonomously tomorrow and explore this :P

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Akatrin

You know, for those numbers I'm actually seriously considering keeping up my Australian single's health insurance... then just catching a flight home if I need an operation or something... I'll ring them anonomously tomorrow and explore this :P

Probably a good idea, although the flights can't be that cheap

[Akatrin]

airfare about 1300 AUS return if you get a special, 1500 otherwise. So probably under 600GBP.. meanwhile my private health care would be under 500 dollars annually max, so that's just over 200 pounds.
So total costs 800 pounds if you need it, 200 if you don't.

Its funny but despite an exchange rate of 2.4dollars to a pound or whatever it is today, it really does seem like things would be more equal if it were 1 dollar = 1 pound. *shrug*

[Megami]

If you leave Australia but plan on going back, you let your health insurance provider know you are leaving the country. They should be able to keep your membership 'on hold' and therefore you don't pay insurance while you are away, but you also don't lose the years you have been in and the bonus for joining before you were 30 (or is it now 35).

Just make sure that your pre-exisiting conditions will still be covered under this arrangement.