A rock and a hard place? Ministry of Defence | Defence News | MOD confirms loss of recruitment data

[Roland Perry]

In article <C2E51480-98C0-430C-B060-C96217B38AFD@imaj.es>, James Cox 
<james@imaj.es> writes
>>they *still* wouldn't do it unless I gave them   credit card details 
>>"in case the insurance people didn't in fact   pay". This is a luxury 
>>that private hospitals appear to have: "if   you don't want to play 
>>ball, there's an NHS waiting list over there;   and close the door as 
>>you leave, please".
>
>Seems fairly reasonable. Though, when a transplant (as an example of an 
>extreme procedure) can cost upwards of $500,000, not so many credit 
>cards will cover that..... :)

This was a test that cost about £1000 and took an hour as an outpatient.

I suppose that tests are less "essential" than operations, but part of 
the deal with private healthcare ought to be that people trust the 
doctors not to do unnecessary tests just to boost the hospital profits. 
Of course that would never happen!

>On a serious note though, if you consider a stay in a private hospital 
>somewhat akin to that of a hotel, you could imagine where value added 
>services might accrue extra 'personal' cost....

The insurers seem to pay the "hotel bill" element without even checking 
with the patient that it was a valid charge.
-- 
Roland Perry