When I first started in my job so many years ago, free private health insurance was one of the perks. Nice to have I thought, but as I was fit, young and healthy I did not realise just how valuable this was at the time.
Many people say that it is not worth taking out private health insurance – after all, we have the NHS which covers us for free any time we need it. And yet I have seen over the years how much me and my family have benefited by having this insurance and I firmly believe that our ailments have been treated far more quickly as a result.
However, it is all good and well having this type of insurance paid for you by your company – but what about if you have to fund it yourself, is it really worth it? Now that I have left my employment I was faced with this choice as the premiums for a family of three are not insignificant.
My head tells me that we should cancel and go back to free healthcare but my heart asks, what if this is the year when one of us is seriously sick?
That is the problem with all insurance, you never know when you will need it, but just for now I will keep it going.