6 Examples of When NOT to Use Personal Health Insurance

Health insurance is something we’ve probably all covered ourselves with, and while it’s there for unexpected illness or injuries, it can be frustrating to have to dip into it - especially if the reason we’re hurt or unwell isn’t our fault. Thankfully, there are lots of exceptions where you don’t necessarily have to use your personal health insurance when something happens to you. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some instances where you shouldn’t have to dip into your health insurance to cover any medical bills.

Travel

When you book a holiday, one of the things you need to do is get travel insurance to cover yourself - especially if you’re traveling outside of your country. Lots of people choose to risk it and then regret not getting it if they become ill or injured while they’re away.

Travel insurance doesn’t cost that much, even if you’re covering yourself for a current medical condition. You’re better off spending a little to save a lot in the long run. The last thing you want is to be landed with a huge medical bill if you become seriously unwell or injured on holiday. Medical treatment in foreign countries can be expensive, so you’re better off covering yourself.

You might even find that if you do need to have medical treatment on holiday that your travel insurance covers it totally, meaning you don’t have to touch your personal one.

Medical negligence

Here in the UK, we’re blessed to have a healthcare system like the NHS. If we’re unwell, we can go to the Doctor or the hospital and get the care we need. And yes, the NHS is over run, but it’s a system that makes sure people can get healthcare when they need it.

However, because the NHS is over run and underpaid, it also means that those working for us like Doctors, Nurses and Surgeons are often tired and overworked. And, sometimes there are slip ups in the healthcare system.

This can be anything from a misdiagnosis, surgical errors, the wrong medication, consensual errors, or even infections caused by lack of proper care while in hospital. When this happens, it can leave you feeling not just unwell or in dire need of further care, but also let down completely by the healthcare system. And, you are entitled to compensation if you believe you’ve been a victim of medical negligence.

Knowing where to start in instances like these is always difficult. Your best bet is to talk to an injury claims lawyer like those at injuryclaims.co.uk to get free advice about your claim. Not only that, working with a no win no fee company will also give you that peace of mind that if they’ve taken your case, they believe they can win it for you.

These types of cases don’t just count for the NHS either. If you’ve chosen to use a private medical provider and have had medical negligence you are still entitled to compensation there too. Just make sure you keep hold of any evidence that will help back up your claim such as discharge papers and any other correspondence you’ve had with the healthcare provider.

Work

Being injured at work can be devastating because not only are you hurt, it can cause a lot of tension in the workplace. This is especially difficult for those that love their jobs! If you are hurt at work, you don’t necessarily have to use your personal health insurance to get the help you need (that is, unless you want to.)

Some employers might even encourage you to do this to save them money, but it’s important for you to know that you are entitled to use their workers’ injury compensation, particularly if the accident wasn’t your fault. This might be if you’ve used faulty machinery or not been trained properly and hurt yourself in the process.

If something like this happens, you also have the right to make a claim against your employer without any discrimination in the workplace. And, if your illness or injury has permanently disabled you, you’re also eligible to claim for further compensation regardless of whether you plan to return to work or not.

However, there are many instances where employers have wriggled their way out of their workers’ claim compensation, and if that happens, you should look into hiring an injury claims lawyer to look at your case. As mentioned earlier, going with a no win no fee company is always a good route to go down.

If that fails, you might have to use your personal medical insurance. However, it’s worth trying to get compensation in other ways first, not just to save you using your personal insurance, but to get what you deserve!

Car accidents

Did you know that if you’re in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s up to the driver at fault to pay from their insurance? The same goes if you’re a passenger in the car - the “at fault” driver is the one liable to pay for any medical costs.

It’s always worth checking exactly what your car insurance covers when taking out your policy. There are lots of different levels of cover, and if you’ve opted for a cheaper premium, there’s a good chance you won’t get the cover you need if you’re in an accident. Don’t forget that if you’re the driver at fault, you could end up paying a lot of money if it goes to court. And, if you’re found to be under the influence of alcohol (even if you’re not the “at fault” driver) your policy may then become null and void.

But, if the accident was caused because of other reasons like poor weather conditions, it may become a little trickier. This is because there may not necessarily be a driver at fault. If this is the case, you’ll likely have to make any repairs and claim from your personal car insurance policy, so it’s really important to check exactly what kind of cover you have when you take out your premium.

Another important thing to remember is that the fault of the accident can be shared between each driver involved. This means that sometimes it’s better to swap insurance details and come to an amicable agreement between yourselves. If you don’t and it ends up in court, you could end up with an even bigger price to pay.

On public land

Accidents can happen quite literally anywhere, and out of nowhere too. That might mean that you could be walking down the street and trip or stumble. However, there are instances that might not entirely just be down to clumsiness.

It could be an open pothole that doesn’t have the right signage, or there might be a tripping hazard that hasn’t been properly set up for public safety. In cases like these, the problem often points back to the council or company that arranged for the work on public land to be done. You’ll need to get in touch with the local council and ask about how you can make a claim.

However, it’s important to remember that situations like these will often end up in court, so you’ll need to be prepared, especially if you’re representing yourself. Take pictures of the incident (which often can be missed when an accident happens) and keep copies of all correspondence for your records. If you use your health insurance for an existing medical problem you will need to inform them of your new illness or injury. Annoyingly, this could make your premiums rise in the long run!

You might also have trouble winning a claim against the council, especially if you don’t have much evidence. Your best bet is to speak to a professional before making a claim to avoid any unnecessary costs in the long run.

On private land

Finally, sometimes accidents can happen on private land. This could be anywhere from the supermarket to a restaurant. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get compensation or make a claim. 

The problem with private land is that in some instances, such as getting hurt passing through a private farm, you could be seen as trespassing. But, if you’re hurt somewhere like a supermarket, you’re safe to assume you’ll be able to make a claim.

The same kind of process as public land applies here. Your first step will be to speak to the owner of the land to explain why you’re planning on claiming against them. Remember evidence is always key in this kind of situation. So, if you slipped in the supermarket, take a picture of the wet floor with no signage to help back yourself up.

Again, the claiming process can be long and tricky, so you might benefit from talking to an injury claims lawyer. They’ll be able to tell you straight away whether your claim is worth fighting for!

As you can see, there are lots of instances where you shouldn’t have to dip into your personal medical insurance. Remember with any kind of injury to get professional advice to see if you’re entitled to anything!