By Lois Avery
Paying for healthcare in old age is becoming a concern for around half of the population, as the government looks to shake-up public health care provision.
According to a new report from Simplyhealth, titled ‘Bothered Britain’ half of UK adults are worried they won't be able to afford to look after their health in old age.
These concerns follow weeks of debate around the proposed government shakeup of public health provision and financing, as it aims to reshape the NHS around wellness not sickness.
Although half of those surveyed expressed concerns about paying for healthcare, there was also a general willingness to take greater responsibility for their own health by getting fit and saving into a medical insurance plan.
James Glover from Simplyhealth says that looking after yourself now can help ease any financial burdens in the future. He also urged families and individuals to consider taking out health insurance.
He said: “Small lifestyle changes individuals' make now can have a big impact on a person's long term health and wellbeing. Our research has found that 71 per cent of people are looking to do more exercise and 67 per cent are going to eat more healthily.
“It's great that individuals are taking these steps as prevention can be much more effective than simply trying to cure.”
Established, independent health policy analyst and social commentator, Roy Lilley, welcomed the government’s plans to get tough by educating people, saying: “Years of public health campaigns have bombarded us with messages around nutrition, smoking, and alcohol and perhaps now, in light of the greater need to protect our health system, they are finally getting through.”
