Find out as much as possible about the operation that you
need and compare services, treatments, costs and credentials of the private hospitals
and clinics that provide your surgery or treatment.
Self paying patients
For self paying patients (those without private health
insurance, or when private health insurance won’t cover the procedure/treatment),
one of the first things to consider is the cost of the operation or treatment. Many inclusive surgery packages cover the
hospital charges for the operation and the hospital stay, the consultant’s fees
for the operation and a follow-up consultation, but get these points clarified
in advance; sometimes the initial consultation is excluded, which typically
costs between £150 and £250. Typical prices for private operations are available on Private
Healthcare UK.
Contact the hospital’s patient services/customer services
department if there is anything you are not sure about. One of the main points to check is the refund
policy in case you change your mind (particularly with cosmetic surgery) or if
a pre-existing medical condition causes the surgery to be cancelled. The quotation is usually valid for a period
of time to give you time to decide or investigate other options.
Self paying patients should consider how to finance the
operation. Will you need a loan, or does the private hospital offer a payment
plan? Some hospitals allow customers to
spread the cost in monthly instalments; so find out what is available to you.
Insured patients
Private health insurance patients should check with their
health insurance company who have detailed schedules in place for all common
procedures and will be able to tell you what is covered by your scheme, and if
there are extra charges that you will have to pay. Any discrepancies between the information
from your insurer and the hospital should be clarified before treatment
commences.
Planning the operation
Decide when and where you want to have the operation. Your
consultant will have his preferences hospitals, but it’s your final decision. Enquire about availability (the length of
wait for your appointment may depend on how busy the consultant is, and locate
the best hospital for your needs. Some have specialist services for particular
types of surgery. You will need to
consider how much time you can take away from work/family commitments, how long
you will be hospitalised, as well as the recovery time and success rate for
your operation, and any potential complications. Try to be as flexible with your schedule as
you can as you may have to stay longer if a complication does occur. Raise these issues at the consultation.
