Is private health insurance advised in Malta?

When it comes to surgery, waiting lists are mainly for the treatment of age-related conditions such as hip & knee replacements or cataract surgery so they shouldn't affect you. However, it's wise to insure yourself when you're young(ish) and healthy because generally insurance companies won't cover pre existing conditions. There are also waiting lists for MRI scans which are needed by people of all ages. Doing such scans privately would be expensive. I suggest you get a few quotations for private cover and take it from there.

I don't think its necessary, we use the free healthcare system but if we need something that requires urgent attention (but not an emergency) we pay.
The private sector is generally cheap to use if you need to see a consultant or scans etc.

Terry

When we lived in France the government only paid 80% the rest was paid by private insurance, has it changed?

Terry

Malta is extremely good in it's health care and ranked quite high. As in, everyone has access to everything ie. in the UK, one county could be entitled to something and the next might not.

Personally, Malta is unique in offering an all round care, to everyone who pays into the system (NI payments) and although there are waiting list in some areas, it is nothing like the UK. Having private health care may speed things up but as a nation and country, the free health care is pretty much amazing!

tearnet wrote:

I don't think its necessary, we use the free healthcare system but if we need something that requires urgent attention (but not an emergency) we pay.
The private sector is generally cheap to use if you need to see a consultant or scans etc.

Terry

When we lived in France the government only paid 80% the rest was paid by private insurance, has it changed?

Terry

No, you still need the top up insurance if you want full cover.  I think it's 70% paid by the government and 30% by your insurance.  It all changed about eight years ago and expats who were classed as inactive had to get private insurance until they'd be resident for five years.  Until then I don't think there were any companies that provided full insurance for expats living in France because all europeans used to just be allowed into the french system.

That's one of the reasons I'm wondering about getting Insurance here.  In France we paid for top up, but apart from a small amount for the odd prescription we never benefited from having it.  I regretted not just putting that money away instead, so I'm wondering whether I should put the cost of having private cover away here for a while and see how it goes.

coxf0001 wrote:

Malta is extremely good in it's health care and ranked quite high. As in, everyone has access to everything ie. in the UK, one county could be entitled to something and the next might not.

Personally, Malta is unique in offering an all round care, to everyone who pays into the system (NI payments) and although there are waiting list in some areas, it is nothing like the UK. Having private health care may speed things up but as a nation and country, the free health care is pretty much amazing!

Thanks for that.  That's what I've heard a few times.  If the system is as good as, or better than the UK, I think I'm fine with that.

I decided against health insurance in the end, but just my luck a lump appeared in my stomach so I paid to see a doctor last week.  She gave me a referral to go to A&E for a CT scan that day which showed a large tumor.  I'm booked in to have it taken out a week on Monday, so it's still quick if you really need it.  I don't think private health insurance would've made it any faster.

Better than the 6 month wait I have to see a specialist lol - free healthcare sucks lol

robpw2 wrote:

Better than the 6 month wait I have to see a specialist lol - free healthcare sucks lol

I think that have the healthcare in Malta just about right.
Its free for everyone but if you want to pay €10 you  can see a local doctor straight away.
If there is a need to see a specialist and its urgent then you get to see one, if its not and you are still worried you can pay €60  and see a specialist straight away.
Its not expensive for peace of mind!
Of course there are waiting lists and queues but I have never been  in a hospital, anywhere,  were there are not.

Terry

robpw2 wrote:

Better than the 6 month wait I have to see a specialist lol - free healthcare sucks lol

Would you class it as urgent?

I think I'd pay rather than wait six months.  I didn't have a clue how it worked, but I phoned up the closest doctor and got an appointment the same day, then I was rushed through the system so didn't pay private for anything after that.  I did check myself out of A&E because they wanted to admit me to keep me in the queue, so to speak, but they managed to get me an outpatients appointment the following week.

whats 6 more months after telling drs there is something wrong in the uk for 7 years lol
is it urgent probably not - well least i hope not
i will wait patiently for my turn lol

"free" health care is nice to have (had it back in Croatia also), but...

few things do annoy me, like:
they didn't want to take blood from my 1 y.o. son and doc (2 of them) accused me that I want to torture my son, after yelling at them that wtf am I paying NI and that I want his blood checked, they gave me refferal note...in the end I didn't get his blood checked as they said to me in clinic that they don't know how to take blood from such young child (2 nurses and a doctor) and that I should go to mater Dei 

I wanted a specific test, brought the list of test I need to do from my doc in Croatia, only to be told by doc  here that he doesn't have half of this test's in his computer so I can't do them   

the same kid (now 2 y 4 m.o) need's to do some test as he still doesn't speak too much - we just got the appointments - one in august, one in february 2016, one in march 2016.... I have a strong feeling that by that time - he'll sing., not only talk in sentences 

Duxx wrote:

"free" health care is nice to have (had it back in Croatia also), but...

few things do annoy me, like:
they didn't want to take blood from my 1 y.o. son and doc (2 of them) accused me that I want to torture my son, after yelling at them that wtf am I paying NI and that I want his blood checked, they gave me refferal note...in the end I didn't get his blood checked as they said to me in clinic that they don't know how to take blood from such young child (2 nurses and a doctor) and that I should go to mater Dei 

I wanted a specific test, brought the list of test I need to do from my doc in Croatia, only to be told by doc  here that he doesn't have half of this test's in his computer so I can't do them   

the same kid (now 2 y 4 m.o) need's to do some test as he still doesn't speak too much - we just got the appointments - one in august, one in february 2016, one in march 2016.... I have a strong feeling that by that time - he'll sing., not only talk in sentences 

If you are that worried why don't you pay privately, its not expensive !
If it was my son and I was that worried I certainly would.

Terry

why wait  - pay for private and get the blood tests done  - so you can worry less.....as Terry said  - if it was my son  i wouldnt be waiting id pay and get it done....

just as a comparison I've had several blood tests done here privately  and quite recently 5 done for €45 and two specialist ones done for €80.... believe me the relief from any worry is amazing......

stop worrying  - just go and do it  - you will not regret it....

I wasn't worried, I just wanted to do a routine check
ofc I paid private, but that is not the point of my post

point is - health care is free, but the level of service you get is (at least in my case) ridiculous

I pay for free health care and ending up paying private clinics to do BASIC stuff

Duxx wrote:

I wasn't worried, I just wanted to do a routine check
ofc I paid private, but that is not the point of my post

point is - health care is free, but the level of service you get is (at least in my case) ridiculous

I pay for free health care and ending up paying private clinics to do BASIC stuff

So for a routine check you wanted it immediately?

Get real!

Terry

"few things do annoy me, like:
they didn't want to take blood from my 1 y.o. son and doc (2 of them) accused me that I want to torture my son, after yelling at them that wtf am I paying NI and that I want his blood checked, they gave me refferal note...in the end I didn't get his blood checked as they said to me in clinic that they don't know how to take blood from such young child (2 nurses and a doctor) and that I should go to mater Dei  "

where did you read immediately?
get real!

let me try to explain to you in details:
i wanted a blood test for my child - not immediately, but to schedule it
after a argument that this isn't torture for a child I got the appointment
my wife went with child to health clinic, to the laboratory unit that, guess what ?- takes blood from people
nurse said I don't know how to do it
second nurse came and said I don't know how to do it
they went to get the doctor, he came, think a bit and said: I don't know how to do it!!!!!

this are the people that GET PAID for taking blood from people

as last couple of post's are not related to original question, my last contribution on this topic

have fun,
S

Free health service like free education is NOT FREE!
It is paid for and made possible through our taxes, and therefore to be used reasonably and be protected from squandering.
We are lucky enough to have a reasonably good system in this country, which actually costs millions each year and getting bigger.
It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to realise this and not to abuse the system. And hope that we shall continue benefiting for many years to come.

Malta being a small country, the same doctors work at Mater Dei and at the private hospitals. In that respect, you'll get the same quality doctors from both systems. It is more a comfort choice, I think: you can have a private room at St James hospital, whereas be prepared to share a room with several other people in the public hospital. Which means sharing it with their family members, too, when they visit. It may not be very quiet.
Two years ago I accompanied a foreign friend who'd been diagnosed with cancer. I was very impressed by the time and care that her surgeon dedicated to her at Mater Dei, to explain what surgery and treatment were awaiting her. He took his time, answered her questions, never looked at his watch. His secretaries/nurses were friendly and efficient from our arrival until the appointment. I'm not sure we'd get as much at a Paris hospital.

Well I had the laparotomy two weeks ago, so I've got a bit of experience with the hospitals here now.  I can honestly say, I'm glad I didn't pay private because I felt really well looked after at Mater Dei.  The only slight negative is I had it on the Monday and they discharged me on the Wednesday.  I felt very rough, I was weeing pure blood and I had a cut from just above my pubic bone all the way up to a couple of inches after my navel, so I was quite scared going home so early.  I suppose they knew I'd be okay though, but it was scary leaving so early and having a nurse come out to me instead.