It's 'Good4you' (Westfield Health Scheme)

Member Name: Debc

Product:	Westfield Health Scheme
Date:	23/05/02 (1326 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smooths out the cost of 'regular' medical costs, levels to suit need/pocket

Disadvantages: Not PMI so not suitable for major medical events

I first became aware of the Westfield Health Scheme when I moved to a job in Sheffield in the mid 90's. My employer promoted the scheme through the payroll ( and since I was planning for a second child the maternity benefit was appealing!). I joined and have been contributing and claiming ever since. Founded in 1919, the Westfield Health is a non-profit making organisation 'dedicated to providing cost effective health care schemes for the benefit of its contributors' i.e. the scheme is basically mutual insurance to pay for the more minor aspects of personal healthcare, such as dental, optical and hospital costs. It describes itself as 'working hand in hand with the National Health Service', and says 'Westfield makes donations every year to the NHS and medically related charities'.

For a monthly contribution of a set amount you become eligible for a range of benefits (detailed below). These benefits vary in range and financial level dependant upon which Scheme you join. There are five levels of cover to choose from, starting from just £4.76 per month and children get cover within this cost.

No medical is needed to join and you may continue membership into retirement with no premium age relationship. When you incur a cost, such as a visit to hospital or new spectacles you fill in a simple form and either attach a receipt of get an NHS stamp. Payment of claims has always been quick for me, especially so now that they make use of the Direct Credit (not Debit) facility to put the money straight into my bank account.

The plans cover (with limits dependant upon Scheme chosen):

sight tests
glasses/contact lenses
dental treatment
physiotherapy
osteopathy
acupuncture
homeopathy
chiropractic
chiropody
surgical appliances
home help
maternity payments
hospital benefits (in patient,parental,travel,day surgery)
recuperation
consultations
he
alth screening
personal accident
critical illness cover

The detail is much too much to enter here (see http://www.westfieldhealth.com/good4you/index.html ).

I will however list the benefits I enjoy on my level 3 contribution of £13.43 per month. Having a child, wearing specs, contact lenses and needing to travel to hospitals means that I personally have probably taken more out of the scheme than I contribute. But the main advantage is that it smooths out the costs). Conditions apply such as you can't join and claim maternity if you are already pregnant(!) and referrals have to be via NHS doctors. Payments can be made by monthly Direct Debit, or annually by Switch, Mastercard and American Express credit cards.

SUMMARY
A good range of schemes giving valuable cover. They say it's 'good4you' in their adverts and it's certainly been good4me. However, it is no replacement for private health insurance that pays for major operations.

For £13.43 per month I have the following cover (up to these limits, as you only get what you claim):

Optical - within a 2 year period £120 me & £120 child
Dental - £85 per year for me and £85 child
Maternity - £175 per child
Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Treatment - up to £625 at 75% of cost
Chiropody - £155
Homeopathy - £100
In-patient - per night £34.50 (£11 child)
Hospital parental stay (per night) - £34.50
Hospital day surgery(per day) - £34.50 (£11 child)
Travel to NHS hospital(per day) - £8
Recuperation - £220 adult, £110 child
Surgical applicance - £175 at 75% of cost
Home help - £450
Personal accident - accidental death £10,000
Personal accident - permanent disability up to £10,000
These values are correct at time of writing.

Summary: