Stop private health insurers bribing patients to take NHS treatment

Published: 04 September 2019 Ezine

A Society motion at this year's Trade Union Congress, originally passed at this year's SoR Annual Delegates Conference, calls on the TUC to campaign against money being offered to private patients to switch their treatment to the NHS.

With tough NHS waiting targets, particularly for cancer care, the Society claims that private insurers are persuading patients to use NHS services.

The SoR motion says it is "scandalous and unethical for private health care insurance
companies to offer a financial incentive to patients who opt to continue with NHS
funded care to save the insurers money.

"This reimbursement is a fraction of the total cost of treatment and thus saves the insurance companies vast sums of money which instead is delivered to shareholders."

The TUC Conference is in Brighton from 8-11 September.

Motion 49 Financial incentive to undergo NHS treatment
Congress notes that those individuals who pay for private health care are often given a financial incentive to undergo NHS treatment. This is especially true in cancer care where strict waiting targets ensure the NHS delivers treatment quickly, making it impossible for private health care to compete. Instead private healthcare “customers” are offered an incentive to use the NHS.

Congress believes it is scandalous and unethical for private health care insurance companies to offer a financial incentive to patients who opt to continue with NHS funded care to save the insurers money. This reimbursement is a fraction of the total cost of treatment and thus saves the insurance companies vast sums of money which instead is delivered to shareholders.

Congress calls on the General Council to:
i. take a stance against this financial-based incentive
ii. ensure the money instead is paid to the NHS to fund patient care at a far lower rate than if they were to pay for an individual’s full treatment.
iii. work with a future government to achieve this.

Society of Radiographers