Health Insurance -- You CAN claim for old conditions

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I live in the UK in Europe and I work for a company that gives health insurance to all its employees. This is uncommon in the UK. Very few companies over here have health insurance for their workers.

What I found odd though, is that once you take up employment with my company, you are on the company's health insurance policy and you can claim for pre-existing conditions.

So I'm going to all sorts of specialists now...... I had shoulder surgery last week and now this week I'm seeing a neurologist who has ordered an MRI of my head. So far that's two consultant appointments, two MRI's and one surgery in the space of about 5 weeks, and I've to go back for follow up's.

The only excess on the policy is £150 (approx US$189) per year. So for each year of treatment, you pay the first £150 and then the insurance pays everything else.

I'd rather not have torn that tendon in my shoulder, and life would be a little handier without the occasional headache, but boy am I grateful now to have this health insurance.

[s1nc1ty]

Dont uk have health insurance for all working people,minors,etc like other eu countries?

Maybe go check a psychiatrist too then :P

[XnavyHMCS]

Dont uk have health insurance for all working people,minors,etc like other eu countries?

Maybe go check a psychiatrist too then :P

What Kimbo is referring to, when he uses the term "health insurance", is most likely supplementary HI provided to employees of larger or mulitinational companies, which is becoming more and more common inside the EU. sincity is correct in his assumption that nationalized healthcare (socialized medicine) is the norm throughout Europe. What this SI affords the recipient is the ability to circumvent the long waits which commonly plague the NHS (National Health Service in GB) arena.

As an American living in Europe, with not only experience in both systems, NHS and private (paid, as in the States), but also with a background in the medical field; I have found the NHS in the two EU countries where I have lived as a civilian, to function remarkably well. As an example: I had broken my nose many years ago and was progressively developing some breathing problems. I was told by my Polish healthcare provider that I could opt two pay cash for the surgery, or go through the NHS. The surgery would be the same, but the difference was only in the waiting time to go under the knife. I could have gone through my CHAMPVA, but instead chose to get a look inside the Polish healthcare system. I had to wait just over a year, but I had already been living with the condition for quite some time, so that didn't bother me. Overall, I was impressed with the service, the facility; but not the food...