Private Health Care to Pay For Care of Elderly?

As the aging population is growing there are concerns about how we will be able to pay for their care in future years. One idea that the government is exploring is the possibility of private medical insurance schemes set up to help fund the cost of old age.

The system that we have at present seems flawed and unfair. Currently pensioners who are homeowners have to sell their properties in order to pay for their care even though those who do not have savings or homes to sell still get their care funded by the government. There is also a variation up and down the country on how much free help you can get. According to the Telegraph, 'The Government admits urgent reform is also needed to fill a looming £6billion black hole in funding as people live longer, care costs rise and dementia rates increase.'

It is generally agreed that the state are not able to pay for the care of all its elderly. Since May the government have had extensive talks with the health insurance companies who feel they have a role to play. The Care Services Minister, Phil Hope, said: "We know private insurance plays a substantial role in other countries' systems, including France. However we have made no decisions yet about the future."

The idea is that every adult would be encouraged to take out private medical insurance to cover the cost of care during old age. Premiums would be paid monthly and the cover would pay for care in a nursing home should that be necessary.

Those who vehemently disagree with the private medical health care system argue that we need to increase taxation in order to pay for comprehensive care. A critic of the new plans, health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, Norman Lamb, said he didn't think that the

'private insurance model is going to achieve the transformation in care that we need. Our view is that its got to be a shared responsibility between the state and the individual.'

He also pointed out that the sense of injustice currently felt by those who have had to sell their homes or use any savings over £22,500 to pay for care would continue. Why should people who had budgeted to pay for their premiums accept that their less well off peers would receive free care?

We will have to wait to see how the government propose to tackle the growing older population, their future healthcare concerns and the growing tide of unrest.