An Honourable Association (HSA Healthcare)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	HSA Healthcare
Date:	01/05/02 (473 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small Outlay, Fast Claims

Disadvantages: None

I have been a member of the Hospital Savings Association since the late 80's, and have a particularly poignant memory of it's use.

My late husband was admitted to Fair Havens Hospice for a day in order that he may be given specialised pain relief for his cancer. After treatment by the Director, who was a pain specialist, I was told that it would be better if he stayed. These beautiful surroundings with more nurses than patients and so much loving care had to be better than his eventual removal to the local hospital, much as I would have preferred him to be at home with me. But Malcolm said that he didn't want to stay. I discussed the matter with the staff and returned to his room. It was only after carefully talking to him for a while that he murmured, "It is a charity." I still remember my guilt at not realising that my brave and stoical Yorkshire husband had a great deal of pride. What to do?

Thankfully I remembered that I was a member of the HSA and that my small weekly fee covered Malcolm as well. In fact I had received payments every time he went into hospital even for a day. I reminded him that I could claim £18 per day while he was there and there would also be a convalescent payment when he returned home. I promised him that I would donate the cheque to Fair Havens. The relief on his dear face was all I needed, and I went downstairs and made my promise to the staff. In fact Malcolm was not to return home and died three weeks later. My donation was over £360 which was raised to £600 with the help of Malcolm's friends and was given in his name.

The HSA was founded in 1922 in order to stop the closure of hospitals and to help people pay for treatment. It is a mutual and all profits are returned for the benefit of it's members. My first payments to the Association were deducted from my wages since the firm we worked for was involved with the scheme, as are many.

Nowadays the HS
A has greatly expanded it's previously generous range of benefits, which are commensurate with the payments you choose. Being a savings association means that you can automatically claim annually for a variety of treatments ranging from the mundane dental and optical to recognised alternative treatments, nursing homes, home help, care for the elderly and many more including maternity.

The range is too large for me to quote here, but I can give you my own annual returns. I pay £13.86 per month (just over £166 per year). If I claim my entitlement just for the dentist and optician I receive £116 back. Add to that a trip to the osteopath which would allow me £186 and you have the picture. The amount would be much greater if my payments were not the second lowest among a choice of 6 ascending amounts. These benefits are also available to a spouse and children under 18 years. All for the single payment.

Benefits paid are half the amount of treatment up to a maximum and daily amounts for hospital stays, each depending on your choice of subscription. The claim form is simplicity itself to complete and remuneration received within days. The Health Plan itself is plainly and sensibly listed and can be obtained from the HSA at Hambleden House, Andover, SP10 1LQ. Their website can be raised on www.hsa.co.uk

Expensive private medicine plans are not something that I would include in my budget. The HSA is something else again and has my wholehearted recommendation.

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