Health Screening Saves Lives

Private medical insurance companies encourage their clients to have health screens as they are a preventative form of medicine which can save lives. This week research has been published that indicates that screening can detect ovarian cancer before there are any symptoms.

Ovarian cancer is notoriously symptomless and because of this is often hard to treat. The 4 year UK study found 97 tumours in 802,636 women aged between 50-74. They divided the group into three: those who had no treatment, those who had a yearly ultrasound and a blood test and the third group had just a yearly ultrasound.

The Ultrasound method picked up 75% of cancers, and the blood test method 89%.

Dr Ian Jacobs, director of the trial and the Institute for Women's Health and University College London said, 'We have now demonstrated we can pick up the vast majority of women with ovarian cancer earlier than they would have otherwise been detected and before they have symptoms, and that a good proportion of those women have earlier stage disease than we would normally expect them to have.'

This type of screening for ovarian cancer is not yet available within the NHS or private health insurance however the results are probably encouraging enough to prompt an NHS review.

Health Insurance News reported this month on a new health screening scheme offered to men at Football matches. Statistically men are reluctant to visit doctors and are shy about having medical check ups therefore the department of health is trying to redress the balance and encourage men to seek more medical help.

Basic health screens are available through the NHS but the private medical sector provides a more comprehensive set of screens. Bupa for example are currently offering 8 different screening packages including Bupa Advanced Health which includes 46 tests. It costs up to £728 and gives you an hour with a doctor.

It is well worth looking at the best health insurance company when it comes to screening as several companies offer you discounted rates for health screening. Private medical insurance company, PruHealth, for example, also offers reductions in premiums if people have health screens. It makes business sense: early detection of illness means that people can stay healthier for longer. The healthier they stay the less a company has to pay out. As a reward, your premiums are lower.