Diddles
Well-Known Member
However he's unlikely to have saved all the premium money so in the event of some sort of catastrophic medical event which the money saved would cover he's probably going to be fucked.
I think ye have me wrong, I wasn't suggesting that the money saved from not paying insurance should necessarily be kept as a rainy day fund for medical emergencies. Sitting in the bank or spent on patio heaters, fur coats etc. it was money that didn't have to be given to an insurance company.
Health insurance is really only good for ongoing, non life-threatening conditions, like a gimpy leg for example. If a consultant decides you need a load of physio, you won't have to pay anything beyond the intitial consultation fee and you will skip all the uninsured people on a waiting list who are limping about for a year.
If you are seriously injured in a car crash however, having medical insurance will make no difference to how you are treated on arrival at a hospital. And when it comes to having a serious illness, like cancer for example, the main problem with the health service in this country is getting a prompt diagnosis. If I visit my doctor on Monday and he is worried enough to refer me to a consultant, even though I'm insured I still have to stump up at least 150 euros to pay for it. But a public patient can do the same, rather than waiting six months plus to be seen. And if you are diagnosed with something life threatening you will be treated as a priority regardless of your insurance status.
I think I'll run the risk of potentially spending a year suffering with a gimpy leg and save my 900 euros. And then maybe take my kid to Eurodisney.