I don't know why more of you don't go private now, I would be seeing a decent private Dr, than the dr/nurse stuff I'm reading here on the forum
Some of us do have private medical cover, but most of it doesn't cover GP costs, and almost all will exclude the management of long term, chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and several others.
My medical insurance costs just under £140 a month, and my OH is just over £200, as he is a few years older. Those are heavily discounted rates for the cover we have, because I was able to continue with the cover when I left a former employer, who had a division providing medical insurance. Our cover doesn't pay for private GP costs, nor does it cover long term, chronic conditions, even if diagnosed whilst under cover. It is possible to cover those, but blimey, it's costly.
A few years ago, I had a couple of years having private treatment monthly. I used to have some fairly complex hormone related blood tests, at least one scan a month, and a couple of surgical procedures over the two years, plus either a telephone conversation or a quarterly face to face meeting with the consultant. My insurers paid an average of £1200 a month to the consultant and hospital. I've just checked my pedantically accurate records. Under other circumstances that sort of care would have inflated my premiums, but due to my closeness to the insurer, I was spared that.
So, Jack, many people just can't afford those sorts of figures. And some who may be able to afford it prefer to keep their cash in their pockets and if necessary pay out a lump of money from the savings they have made by not paying insurance premiums, should they believe their need is urgent enough or they are unwilling to wait.
Medical cover is expensive.
We are extremely fortunate to be in the position we are, through our hard work and the ability to budget, but I still thank my lucky stars for our NHS. Like many of us, it has kept me alive in the past.