Is private health care a scam?

Dr Brown · 14-03-2018 05:24PM #1

I'm on the waiting list to see a consultant and I'm told the waiting list is 3 years long.

But if I want to see the same Doctor privately I can get an appointment within 6 weeks.

It seems to me that they want to push people over to the private system.

Nobody is going to wait 3 years to see a consultant if there are other options.

davo2001 · 14-03-2018 05:25PM

You get what you pay for i suppose.

howamidifferent · 14-03-2018 05:26PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

I'm on the waiting list to see a consultant and I'm told the waiting list is 3 years long.

But if I want to see the same Doctor privately I can get an appointment within 6 weeks.

It seems to me that they want to push people over to the private system.

Nobody is going to wait 3 years to see a consultant if there are other options.

Can you not self-diagnose?

dr.fuzzenstein · 14-03-2018 05:27PM

davo2001 wrote: »

You get what you pay for i suppose.

Yes and who needs poor people anyway...

Avatar MIA · 14-03-2018 05:29PM

Heading doesn't match opening post. Seems like an argument for Health Insurance rather than questioning its validity.

Half the population covered with HI, and even reluctant to let go of during recession and skyrocketing prices... that tells you what Irish people think.

super_furry · 14-03-2018 05:29PM

Depends how much of a value you put on your health.

_Whimsical_ · 14-03-2018 05:29PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

I'm on the waiting list to see a consultant and I'm told the waiting list is 3 years long.

But if I want to see the same Doctor privately I can get an appointment within 6 weeks.

It seems to me that they want to push people over to the private system.

Nobody is going to wait 3 years to see a consultant if there are other options.

There aren't other options for people who cannot pay through the nose though, that's why there are people waiting and dying while waiting.
You're imagining the only outlay might be 250 quid to see the Dr. For a lot of people that's just the starts. There's likely some of the following, blood taking, pathology, imaging, an overnight stay in hospital for testing, surgical testing requiring use of a theatre. Then a follow up trip to the same Dr for results.
And that's before treatment begins! There's no option to just put your hand in your pocket and pay for that.
Also if you wait to get health insurance until you need actually need medical attention you're classed as having an existing condition which they won't cover either.

Avatar MIA · 14-03-2018 05:31PM

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

There's no option to just put your hand in your pocket and pay for that.

Yes there is, it might be exorbitant, but if you have money you'll see a consultant sharpish.

Mockba · 14-03-2018 05:31PM

I have no problem with private health. If you want to pay for it then you should be able to. if not then you have to join the queue like the rest of us. I do have a problem with it being the same doctor. He needs to be private or work for the HSE. Working half and half doent work for me.

suicide_circus · 14-03-2018 05:32PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Yes and who needs poor people anyway...

We all need to pay more tax. There is a huge number of low paid workers at one end and corporations at the other that pay very little to no tax. Middle to high earners pay for everything and it's not enough.

davo2001 · 14-03-2018 05:33PM

Even if you have private health cover, most policies still mean you will pay to see the consultant, usually €150-200 per visit.

Dr Brown · 14-03-2018 05:34PM

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Heading doesn't match opening post. Seems like an argument for Health Insurance rather than questioning its validity.

Half the population covered with HI, and even reluctant to let go of during recession and skyrocketing prices... that tells you what Irish people think.

Health Insurance does not cover consultant vists.

2smiggy · 14-03-2018 05:35PM

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

There aren't other options for people who cannot pay through the nose though, that's why there are people waiting and dying while waiting.
You're imagining the only outlay might be 250 quid to see the Dr. For a lot of people that's just the starts. There's likely some of the following, blood taking, pathology, imaging, an overnight stay in hospital for testing, surgical testing requiring use of a theatre. Then a follow up trip to the same Dr for results.
And that's before treatment begins! There's no option to just put your hand in your pocket and pay for that.
Also if you wait to get health insurance until you need actually need medical attention you're classed as having an existing condition which they won't cover either.

surely that would make a person go out and take out health insurance before you get ill ? it's not much per week over the course of a year, considering what people waste money on a weekly basis

kneemos · 14-03-2018 05:36PM

What the hell kind of a health service has you waiting three years to see a consultant?

Dr Brown · 14-03-2018 05:38PM

2smiggy wrote: »

surely that would make a person go out and take out health insurance before you get ill ? it's not much per week over the course of a year, considering what people waste money on a weekly basis

The problem with health insurance is that when you need to use it you will find it doesn't cover alot of stuff.

davo2001 · 14-03-2018 05:38PM

kneemos wrote: »

What the hell kind of a health service has you waiting three years to see a consultant?

The Irish public sector one.

gifted · 14-03-2018 05:38PM

Private health care means you can tell the consultant he's not doing a good job...public health care means you can tell the cleaner in the waiting room

Avatar MIA · 14-03-2018 05:39PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

The problem with health insurance is that when you need to use it you will find it doesn't cover alot of stuff.

Eh, such as - a hair transplant?

Katgurl · 14-03-2018 05:40PM

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Also if you wait to get health insurance until you need actually need medical attention you're classed as having an existing condition which they won't cover either.

This

corner of hells · 14-03-2018 05:40PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

The problem with health insurance is that when you need to use it you will find it doesn't cover alot of stuff.

Or you haven't read the policy details properly .

My elderly mother has private health care , is terminally ill and regularly is admitted to hospital. I was most impressed when her oncology consultant strolled in to her ward on Christmas day to visit her.

Avatar MIA · 14-03-2018 05:41PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

Health Insurance does not cover consultant vists.

You can get a policy with zero excess, it will be more expensive though, however if you can afford health insurance you'll likely be able to pay the couple of hundred excess.

Dr Brown · 14-03-2018 05:41PM

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Eh, such as - a hair transplant?

No to get certain tests done which I needed.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 14-03-2018 05:42PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

The problem with health insurance is that when you need to use it you will find it doesn't cover alot of stuff.

That depends on what scheme you have.

Dr Brown · 14-03-2018 05:43PM

corner of hells wrote: »

Or you haven't read the policy details properly .

My elderly mother has private health care , is terminally ill and regularly is admitted to hospital. I was most impressed when her oncology consultant strolled in to her ward on Christmas day to visit her.

You won't know what tests you will need until you get sick.

Danny Donut · 14-03-2018 05:43PM

It always struck me that you wait X time to see a Doctor or pay privately and see the same Doctor in a couple of weeks.

Aren't we employing these people anyway?

Any other occupation would seem suspect. Imagine a plumber - "It'll be 3 months before we can fix your shower unless you want to pay the guy privately"

corner of hells · 14-03-2018 05:43PM

Avatar MIA wrote: »

You can get a policy with zero excess, it will be more expensive though, however if you can afford health insurance you'll likely be able to pay the couple of hundred excess.

Some excesses now can be a couple of thousand.

Avatar MIA · 14-03-2018 05:43PM

Katgurl wrote: »

This

That's not insurance. Insurance is against something that might happen, not what has already happened. Otherwise we'd all take out insurance once we became sick and would be right fools to pay for it before hand.

splinter65 · 14-03-2018 05:44PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Yes and who needs poor people anyway...

Ugh poor people are the worst

Dr Brown · 14-03-2018 05:45PM

Heaven Obnoxious Bullfrog wrote: »

That depends on what scheme you have.

Mine cost 2k a year yet it wouldn't cover the test I needed which would of cost less than 2k.

Avatar MIA · 14-03-2018 05:45PM

Dr Brown wrote: »

You won't know what tests you will need until you get sick.

Dr Brown wrote: »

No to get certain tests done which I needed.

You take out a general policy and as long as you don't have a preexisting condition you'll get the tests done. UNLESS you've already got the test done a short time ago and want it repeated.

0byme75341jo28 · 14-03-2018 05:46PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

We all need to pay more tax. There is a huge number of low paid workers at one end and corporations at the other that pay very little to no tax. Middle to high earners pay for everything and it's not enough.

That's the truth no one wants to stomach.

Unfortunately I doubt it will ever happen

Is private health care a scam?

Comments