Over the last few months, I've been having issues with my lower back (just hear me out)!
Spending a lot of cash on physios, to the point where they all came to the same conclusion: you need a scan, book a call with your GP so they can refer you.
Now we all know how understaffed, underpaid and under pressure the NHS is at the moment. But until I had my call with my GP - for which I had to wait 4 weeks - I didn't realise how bad it was.
My doctor outright said (and I quote) "The NHS is so poor at the moment, I can't do anything for you". I was pretty stumped after he said that, however, he did follow up by asking if I have private health insurance.
Now I had completely forgotten about our Vitality Health insurance perk.
After my call I went straight onto my Vitality app and in space of 10 minutes I had booked a video call for 2 days time with a private GP. Once I had met with my GP, she referred me in a matter of minutes to a specialist for a scan as well as a prescription for the pain.
What a touch.
Now this isn't a post to moan about my poor old back, the state of the NHS or to look for attention (although a nice comment saying "I hope you feel better soon" wouldn't go amiss😇)
It's more about the importance of company benefits such as Health Insurance.
Some people really aren't fussed about things like that and would just pay outright for private healthcare or wait forever and go through the NHS. However, if you're like me and are being financially crippled by a wedding (or as I like to call it 'The Big Party') I couldn't afford to go private.
Forbes released an article about the Best Employee Benefits of 2023 and surprise surprise, Employer covered healthcare is number one. Here is the article link
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/best-employee-benefits/
67% of employees and 68% of employers believe this to be the most important benefit. And I can see why.
Being someone who regularly attends the gym and is trying to get into the best shape of my life before 'the big party', I really don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had my private healthcare.
So big up to PIE Recruitment, Vitality Health and Dr. Bird for this.
What do you guys think? Is private healthcare top of your benefits list?
Employer-covered healthcare: 67% of employees and 68% of employers believe this to be the most important benefit.