Elderly parent private medical insurance

[popeyewhite]

My mother is 89. A bit doddery, but OK. She has had two replacement hips, approximately ten years ago. Her private health insurance premium is £4200.

I am conflicted. I have a responsibility not only for her physical health, but also financial. On the one hand I want the very best health treatment available should anything go wrong, on the other I have full LPOA over her financial affairs and don't want to spend her money unwisely. I'm aware that should the unthinkable occur and she needs an ambulance and hospitalisation then the NHS will look after her very well...

My thoughts are to leave her healthcare to the NHS now, as any serious mishap will likely result in her going into a retirement/nursing home, and not leave her bouncing about like a spring lamb back at her leafy Cheshire address for another twenty years.

Opinions?

[quinny100]

As with any insurance, it’s a simple look at the potential loss vs the premium.

At 89, it’s unlikely she’s going to have any elective surgery - which is really what PMI is best for. The NHS does emergency care and cancer treatment reasonably well.

If she can afford north of £4k/yr in premiums she could fund most almost any foreseeable elective procedure PMI would cover privately on her own account for a few years premiums.

[alscar]

I hold LPA for both my Mother and another relative and like to think I have always made the correct decision on their behalf which is only as it should be.
In your case , if it were either of “my” donors with this debate I would be doing as you have suggested ie not continuing it for the reasons you give.

Interestingly enough my Mother has expressed interest in moving house - she is on her own and in reasonable condition but has expressed desire to move closer to where she was born and eventually die there.
She will not be able to accomplish this without me but talk about conflict with myself in terms of son and family v LPA v what she wants !

[popeyewhite]

Thank you for the replies. I told my mother today we would not be renewing her PMI. Initially she was a bit put out, but when I explained she could afford most medical procedures privately if need be anyway she calmed down a bit. Then I had to sort out her gas bill. The new digital meter has broken so the gas board has used an assumed usage and charged accordingly. Cue my mother ringing them and getting into an awful mess with the digital reply service. I'll be honest, nowadays I'm glad to leave her house and return to the 'normal' world. Hey ho!