Ill Health Insurance for Practitioners - Advice Please

[LoveFreshL]

I posted this a week ago in the Business and Marketing forum but sadly no replies. So thought I'd try here...

Ill Health Insurance for Practitioners - Advice Please
Does anybody currently have cover for ill health, and if so could anybody advise on what cover and company is best.

As a Self-Employed Massage therapist, I'm at a loss to find GOOD Ill Health Cover. I was hit with a bout of illness during the summer, where i was physically unable to work, and therefore could not see my clients and generate an income. I was fortunate enough to have savings, which covered my mortgage etc. However, I'm now so worried about any future illness that could flaw me, including the dreaded common cold of the up and coming Winter, that I'm literally giving up on Sports I enjoy in fear of injury and dosing myself with Berocca and Echinacea to ward off the bugs.

It's so important to have this cover. It was one of those things that I "never got round to" actually getting oragnised and now having been ill and lost a great deal of income, it is absolutely paramount to have it.

I welcome your suggestions. Many Thanks

BH xx

 

[pokiedot_346]

May be easier to call an insurer and ask what could be covered - www.balens.co.uk - are helpful, even though they are not my insurer. I have sickness cover, but have not had to use it (thankfully) but do pay a large premium which may or may not be what you require. I know that I would not get full loss of earnings, but a minimum rate, and it can take a long time to be awarded plus you would need a sick note from the GP, which he probably wouldn't give for a common cold - mine certainly wouldn't! I just had to 'suck it up' when I took off 3 weeks last year with 'flu.

 

[Sirhc]

I am in independent financial adviser (IFA), and i know of no health policies that would pay out for flu or a common cold !

But if not me at least speak to an IFA or broker. If you speak direct to an insurance company you may well end up with the wrong policy, a poor one or an expensiove one ! or all 3

They are designed to cover long term, and serious health conditions. PM me if you would like to know more

 

[Quiet girl<3]

Yes, sorry Alrl - should have been more specific - I cannot apply for payouts on anything other than accident or serious illness. I tried to insure my hands once, since they are my 'tools' but the premium was beyond belief so now I just look after them!

Ill-health as a sole trader is a nightmare, which is why so many of my colleagues can only work part-time - they have to keep their salaried jobs to cover their costs until they have built a client base large enough to be able to have savings to cover time off to recover from the odd 'affliction'!

 

[Leprosy]

Hi

I think this is a good example of why us self-employed therapists have to charge high hourly rates as we have to put some money aside for unfortunate sickness, fortunate holidays, pensions, and rainly days.

Hope you are reading this Cool Hand Luke

Best Wishes

RP

 

[Windmill]

Most income insurance policies won't cover you in the first 30 days of an 'event', so that rules out common cold, flu, and even fairly major surgery! I had 4 weeks unable to work after a major operation, (1 week in hospital and 3 weeks recuperating) the only cover I was assessed as being entitled to was coverage for 2hr a day for 10 days so I could do a 'light' work load, the first 30 days when I could do nothing, I was entitled to nothing. Shopping around, this applied to all the policies I could find!
So it's great if you get some looooong term illness, but for a large percentage of 'events' it doesn't help much.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi Cola

You can get income insurance policies that are offer decent cover and offer it on a back to day one basis. You cannot actaully expect to claim from day 1, ( that would assume instanaaneous claims checking and processing) but you can be covered from that date and it will be back date to day one of your illness. So I suspect you could have been covered.

 

[ChristalSmoozy]

Many thanks for your replies and input.

I've PM'd you Arl, thanks.

Insuring your hands is logical, as they are the 'tools of the trade', but again, it's finding a policy and company that would do just that.

It's not so much covering for the cold/flu etc...more so the injuries that can be picked up from just day to day living and accidents; E.G: Slipping on ice and putting your back out and incapacitating you for X amount of days/weeks to dislocating your shoulder from playing sports. Sports I no longer partake in, in fear of injury. My team players are all employed and therefore have the advantage of taking sick leave and still receive their wages at the end of the month. I and those employed alike, do not have the "luxury".

In a career where we do our very best to help people feel better, both physically and mentally, it begs the question "Who cares for the carers"?

BH xx

 

[Dffdf]

Hello BubbleHead

Just to let you know that the one in Business and Marketing has now been deleted, since our forum guidelines don't allow duplicate postings.

However, it's good to see that you now have had replies here

Holistic
Healthypages Moderator