6 reasons to go private for healthcare

Are you on a long waiting list for a routine hospital procedure? Or perhaps struggling to find an NHS dentist? Do you want a procedure which is not covered by the NHS, such as cosmetic dentistry? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, it could be time to consider joining the growing numbers of people who are opting for self-pay treatments.

Self-pay is exactly as it sounds. You choose to go private and pay for your treatment yourself. It’s different to having health insurance, in that you pay specifically for a treatment, rather than paying into a scheme which then pays out for your treatment. In many cases, particularly with some dentistry and cosmetic surgery, it’s the only option available.

Here are six reasons why going private on a self-pay basis could work for you:

1. You can get your treatment more quickly

With waiting lists for NHS treatment growing and the difficulty accessing NHS dental services, going private is an option worth considering. It means you can get your treatment more quickly and get on with your life sooner. It can also cut short the pain and inconvenience associated with ongoing conditions that are waiting to be treated. Private hospital facilities are also comfortable, with private rooms, tempting menu choices and restful surroundings all helping your recovery.

2. You can get treatments not available on the NHS

Increasingly, people are opting for procedures that are not available on the NHS, such as teeth alignment or whitening, or some types of cosmetic surgery. And that costs money. With Chrysalis payment options, you can self-pay for these treatments and build the cost into your monthly budget.

3. You have a greater range of options for your treatment

Once you decide to go private, you can opt for the treatments that you want. The NHS is rightly based around medical need, whereas a private treatment allows you to be more tailored. At one end of the scale, this could mean choosing white fillings rather than amalgam. At the other end, it could mean accessing pioneering treatments not yet available on the NHS, which might be more effective or improve your recovery time.

4. It puts you in control

Health is a funny old thing. You take it for granted until something goes wrong. And when something does go wrong, such as reducing mobility because of a worn knee joint, or the trauma of a chipped front tooth, things can feel like they are out of your control. Getting effective treatment at an early stage is as good for your mental health as it is for the problem being treated. Choosing to go private gets you back in control, making your own decisions rather than waiting to be told when and where you can be treated.

5. You can spread the cost

Perhaps the biggest myth of private healthcare and dentistry is that it is only affordable for the very rich. That’s simply not the case. With Chrysalis, you can choose a payment option that allows you to spread the cost of your treatment. This means you don’t have to plunder your savings or put your treatment costs onto a high-interest credit card. It means that you can get a treatment and then build the cost into your monthly budget.

For instance, meet Chris, who opted to go private for his hernia operation after being told it could be years before the NHS could do the op. Chris paid £1000 deposit, then £500 per month interest-free for 12 months. At 80 years of age, he didn’t want to waste any time getting back to his beloved golf and the instalment plan suited him perfectly.

6. Try our repayment calculator to see how our payment options could work for you

It reduces the pressure on the NHS

The NHS is under an unprecedented amount of strain since the pandemic, with waiting lists at record highs. Some treatments, such as life-saving surgery and treatment for chronic conditions is simply best done by the NHS, but for other, more elective and routine procedures, self-pay is an important alternative and it takes away some of the strain from the NHS.

Ready to go private?

In the end, going private for your healthcare needs is entirely your decision. It works for a growing number of people, because it puts them back in control of things. Choosing a Chrysalis payment option gives you the flexibility to spread the cost of your treatment, paying in monthly instalments. This allows to build it into your budget, and crucially, it allows you to get your treatment quickly and on your terms.

Find out more about our payment options or contact us today: