Is International Private Medical Insurance through work worth it?

Posted by TofuBoy22@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 15 comments

I've recently gotten a new job with a US based company where i'm fully remote based in the UK, London. From my previous employer, I've always signed up to the private medical insurance, typically with either Bupa or Axa and they've been somewhat useful just as a backup to the NHS whenever I wanted things done a bit quickly. To cover the family, it's only taken about £120 from my take home pay so not a crazy amount.

Anyway, this new employer has IPMI with United Healthcare and reading through the information booklet they've given me, looks to be very comprehensive. A couple main points are:

Medical History Disregarded which is really good because I had a brain tumour which required surgery and radiotherapy several years ago which from what I understand would rule me out of getting this sort of coverage outside of work.
Dental cover where you get 80% refunded up to £2k per person per year.
Chronic illnesses are also covered so things like my 5 year olds food allergies would be covered if we wanted to do food challenges or additional consultations etc (we've been doing these through the NHS but wait times have been crazy long)
Worldwide coverage ex-US - not too sure how useful this is, potentially means I have medical coverage even when I'm on holiday?

Now the main blocker is that it all sounds really expensive. I need to get the final benefit cost of this but it's looking like around £9k to cover my entire family. Even though I'd only pay 40% as it's BIK, it's still looking like £350 a month out of my take home pay. Not only that, but due to my base salarying being £110k and wanting to stay under £100k for my tax free childcare benefits, I'd need to put even more into my pension to bring my adjusted net income down, something roughly like 20%.

Appreciate that maybe not many people are in such a position, but I'm just trying to get my head around whether this is really worth it. We have the NHS which for the most part is good especially for my brain tumour and ongoing care, but then at the same time, there are a lot of things that aren't so good like long waits for my child's allergy appointments, or that I'm unable to get a NHS dentist so already pay extortionate amounts for my dental care.

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itgotverycool@reddit

Global health insurance is much more comprehensive than domestic coverage, and that’s reflected in the cost (but worth it to me).

My work used to provide Cigna Global which covered childbirth, medications, and much more thorough approaches to cancer care, fertility and behavioural health. I switched employer and my PMI is now Bupa (domestic) which feels like a sticking plaster for the NHS versus global cover.

CommercialPlastic604@reddit

I would jump at this because I have chronic illnesses as does my son (he’s like yours) and NHS wait times can be so long.

The HENRY sub is worth posting this in as you’ll have other people at your pay level and working for an international employer.

FlyingRo@reddit

I don’t know about UH specially but 9k is pretty cheap for US level of cover, it typically covers routine things like pregnancy which most local insurance won’t.

TofuBoy22@reddit (OP)

Yeah I did notice that it covered child birth but we don't have plans to have any more children!

TehDragonGuy@reddit

Having had to use it a couple of times recently, private healthcare is the one thing I'll never go without. While £350 per month is steep, and I don't know how the intricacies of an international healthcare package work, given your history, I wouldn't even consider not taking it. It sounds like a great package.

Ok_Young1709@reddit

Does insurance even cover you for a private hospital for cancer treatments, like surgery? I'd guess chemo etc maybe but surgery? Not sure maybe check that first as it's a lot of money to throw away if they then won't do anything and you go NHS regardless.

with my old employers PMI with Axa, because I didn't use/they couldn't help me more then what the NHS did, I was instead paid something like £150 for each day I spent in a NHS hospital, and £150 for each day I had radiotherapy.

I would assume there would be something similar in this but I'd have to go over their documents

EvilInCider@reddit

As someone who has had very treatable cancer and now also can’t get coverage - insure yourself, definitely. Then have the discussion with your partner about the rest of the family, whether you go with this insurer for them, or another.

That’s not a selfish standpoint - you’re specifically getting coverage for yourself in circumstances where you would otherwise struggle to cover what you really need covering. This benefits your family.

I never thought of that tbh, with everyone else in the household being a lot more healthier than me, then yes, maybe it's less reason for them to be included and just get something a bit more basic/cheaper

Mediocre-Spell-6090@reddit

I feel your pain. Had very treatable cancer. Not big enough for a pay out despite having insurance lol

CrazyCake69@reddit

Ultimately it boils down to will you receive more benefit out of having the insurance or not?

If you think that you will use it and cant get it cheaper elsewhere great sign up.

If you dont think your going to use it then dont.

it's a tough one really on whether we end up using it enough for it to be worth it. I suppose we can always sign up and then cancel after a year

No-Marzipan4261@reddit

I had a patient with a BUPA global plan that got all of their TRT paid for, which is not cheap privately. Insurance company seemed decent to work with and covered a lot.

billy_tables@reddit

£350/mo, even if you're already having to decrease your take home below 100k for the childcare benefits, seems like a solid tradeoff for me. Full family medical history disregarded cover plus dental will bring so much peace of mind even if you never need it

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