Families in future healthcare plight

Latest research released by Healthplan provider HSA reveals a worrying picture for the future health of the UK.

The annual benchmark survey has found that the nation is losing its faith in our National Health Service with only a third of respondents thinking the NHS will always be a part of the UK healthcare system, and a further 59% are concerned they may not be able to afford the cost of health in the future.

These are just a few of the findings of HSA’s “Is the UK looking at a healthy future?” report which is now in its second year. The independent survey looks at the future of UK healthcare from three key perspectives - employee, employer and the UK at large, in an attempt to predict what the future health of our nation holds.

Abby Bowman, a spokesperson for HSA explains: “The National Health Service has been an integral part of our culture since 1948, and it is a service towards which many of us feel fiercely loyal. However, it seems that we are no longer convinced that it will always be around to support us. Perhaps it is time for the government to compensate those that purchase their own private healthcare, and who are effectively helping to take the strain off the NHS, by offering them reduced tax or National Insurance. In fact, HSA’s research also shows that 46% of people would be more likely to purchase private healthcare if it meant that their NI contributions were reduced.”

When asked how people would budget for healthcare in the future - just under half of respondents would consider purchasing some sort of healthplan or set up a savings account specifically for healthcare

When asked how people would budget for healthcare in the future - 48% of people would either not plan to budget, would not be able to or didn’t know what they’d do, 4% would take out a loan or use a credit card to fund their healthcare

28% of respondents are concerned that a lack of NHS funding will mean that most people will not have access to vital services

Only 3% of those surveyed did not have any concerns about the future health of the nation