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Howard - actually those of us who pay for private medical treatment will have experienced something very different to what you describe.
The people who pay the bills, the insurance company, is not necessarily the same company that is responsible for the care. I believe that this division is an important one.
When I had a minor problem I got my GP to refer me to The Chaucer and a specialist there conducted a whole range of tests and investigations looking at it from every angle. In the end all they really found was high blood pressure now being treated. But, because the treatment provider was not paying the bill no stone was unturned in checking me over. The tests cost a lot of money, I did see the bills that I promptly passed to my insurer!
By contrast I speak to a lot of people who are subject to NHS only treatment who have a very different and inferior experience to mine by NHS staff worried about their budgets. That is not to critisise them, they have a difficult job and do their best in very trying circumstances. The other great thing was the lack of waiting around and always being seen promptly and efficiently, no 4 hours in a waiting room. For me, being self-employed private medical cover is essential.
I will outline my own personal vision for healthcare in the UK that I believe will deliver improved results for everyone. I do not expect any politician to support it - electoral suicide for them sadly and they will not get a fair hearing and it would start a hysterical scare campaign motivated by political aims and vested interests.
Before going on I must add that I do not want a system such as in the USA as I am sure someone will try to use that example to attack my suggestions. There are far better health systems out there in Europe.
It is possible to arrange for a system by which everybody can benefit from a division between care provider and those paying the bills (an insurance company). This can be made accessible to everyone as in Germany for instance and no-one need be left without provision. It is just a matter of how it is set up. I would envisage the first step being to allow tax relief on insurance premiums (in the same way as it is given on pensions) therefore reducing the costs of insurance by 20% for those who want and can afford it and so encouraging a greater take-up. At the same time employers should be encouraged through the tax regime to make employer provision via group schemes. This would extend further the reach of the current PME system without a great deal of difficulty.
The next stage should be a set of minimum cover standards and conditions to be agreed for policies to qualify for that tax relief. I believe that a minimum standard requirement is essential. There can be competition for contracts that exceed the minimum requirements between insurance companies. But that competition should not be in respect of quality of treatment or preference only in additional add on benefits over and above the best you can currently expect on the NHS.
The difficult part will be to extend provision more widely. This would have to be phased in over time but no-one, whatever their health, unemployed, self-employed or employed, whatever age must be left out or without care. I understand that in Germany it is the government who pay for the insurance premiums for those who cannot afford cover and that seems a good idea.
For those who do not know much about insurance with 'group schemes' provided by employers for things like life assurance and Income Protection there are 'free cover' levels so that employees who have health issues can get cover up to that level without underwriting. The minimum standard I suggest for PME could be set as the equivilent to the free cover level for group schemes paid for by employers or the big one, that paid for by the government. As a result there would be no need for anyone to be without cover.
Clearly NI should be cut as well to help offset the costs of private cover and as that should be affordable as the overall health costs to the taxpayer should fall. I prefer heavy use of incentives in a changeover rather than compulsion but at the end of a longish changeover period everyone will have their healthcare funded through an insurance based approach. Yes there are problem in implementation but there is a lot of experience in other countries that can help the learning curve.
Oh, I would also help reduce the debt crisis and sell the NHS hospitals to private concerns to run. There is no need at all for that provision to be in the hands of the State under my system.