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13 million saving to pay for medical treatment
Against a backdrop of the one of the worst flu crises facing the NHS in a decade, a survey of 1,000 UK adults commissioned by PMI provider CS Healthcare found that nearly 27%, equivalent to 13 million UK adults, are actively saving specifically to pay for medical treatment. An additional 29% (equivalent to 14 million) of the adult population are resigned to the fact they may have to access their general savings in a medical emergency.  
Fear of the NHS’s ability to meet the demand for treatment appears to be behind this move, with the equivalent of around 8.5 million adults (18% of those asked) revealing that treatment waiting times are their primary cause of anxiety when falling ill – of more concern than death or pain.  
David Royle, Chief Executive of CS Healthcare said “The UK public is sometimes presented as being unconcerned about their health, which is clearly not the case. However, for people to be saving or prepared to break into their precious savings, especially in today’s economic climate, signals that there is not only concern over the NHS’s ability to cope, perhaps unfairly, but also confusion about the role and cost of Private Medical Insurance (PMI).”  
The CS Healthcare research asked specific questions about the perceived cost of private medical insurance and found that, on average, people expected to pay as much as four times more than the actual starting price of a policy - £44.80 as against £13.33** per month.  
Of those respondents who had PMI*** 60% admitting they were confused when buying health insurance cover due to the number and variety of health insurance products on offer.  
Royle continued: “Private Medical Insurance can be a low cost route to peace of mind when it comes to medical treatment. However, as an industry, we need to break down misconceptions over cost and make our products clear and easy to buy”. 
Research Methodology: Research was carried out by Lightspeed Research, during October 2008, who polled a statistically representative 1,000 UK adult sample along with a sample of 1,000 PMI policy holders***. *56% of a statistically representative 1,000 UK adult sample. This and subsequent population figures have been generated based on population figures from the National Office of Statistics. Sources: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Mid-2007 Population Estimates: United Kingdom; estimated resident population by single year of age and sex http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15106 On this basis, there are estimated to be 47,864,400 adults aged over 18 in the UK. **£13.33 starting price for a CS Healthcare policy: Premiums start from just £13.33 a month for a 30 year old on a co-payment plan. These premiums are valid until 31/08/09 and are based on essential cover, co-payment and partnership hospitals. Co-payment is a way of sharing the cost to keep premiums down – members pay 15% of the cost of treatments up to a ceiling of £1,500, per policy year.  
 
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Civil Service Healthcare Society Limited incorporated in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Princess House, Horace Rd, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. KT1 2SL.
FSA reg. no. 205346.