SAGA — Doing things properly

Joint replacements can be necessitated by natural wear and deterioration that gradually becomes more uncomfortable over time, or as the result of a sudden fall or injury. On average, a private hip replacement operation costs nearly £8,900, and may last for 10–15 years or more.

Joint replacements are some of the most beneficial operations in terms of improving a person’s life. Bad wrists, hips or knees are often painful and can affect your ability to work and undertake everyday tasks. Driving, shopping, gardening, sports activities — even getting up from a chair can become difficult when you lack mobility. This means that having to wait for treatment can be particularly frustrating painful and inconvenient.

The current NHS position

Currently around 50,000 hips, and 30,000 knee joints, are replaced in the UK each year. The demand therefore causes long NHS waiting times — about eight months for a hip replacement and even longer for a knee. Once you are admitted to an NHS hospital, the average in–patient stay for a hip operation is 11 days, and 7–10 for a knee. These are rather long times, so the cleanliness and peacefulness of the environment are especially important. Equally vital to the success of your recuperation is the standard of physiotherapy that you receive both during and after your hospital stay.

The Plan in detail

The high cost of a joint replacement and its life–enhancing results gives private medical insurance a great opportunity to really prove its value. With a Saga Joints Replacement Plan, you can avoid the long waits associated with the NHS and also receive the following benefits:

• Replacement costs and all hospital charges covered in full
• Full in–patient cover for any post–operative complications
• Access to a wider range of prosthetic joints than normally available with the NHS
• Full cover for any necessary scans
• Up to £500 out–patient cover towards consultations and follow–up physiotherapy
• £2,000 if you decide to have a joint replaced by the NHS.

Taking out the Saga Joints Replacement Plan is very easy. You simply have to declare that you do not already have any symptoms that could be associated with a joint condition and you do not have rheumatoid arthritis. The policy also excludes treatment of back and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Summary of cover for Saga Joints Replacement Plan

	Benefits available	Notes
In–patient and day–patient treatment
Hospital charges		Using a hospital from the Saga network of hospitals.
Consultants'/specialists' fees*
Diagnostic tests
Out–patient treatment
Consultants'/specialists' fees*	**	**Up to a combined total of £500 for each insured member per policy year.
Diagnostic tests	**
Physiotherapy*	**
CT and MRI scans		Covered in full
Other features
In–patient cover for complications resulting from treatment
Out of network cash benefit		£50 per day
Cash benefit alternative		£2000 any joint
24–hour health information line
*We will pay these fees in full, as long as they are in line with the level customarily charged for the treatment you are given.

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