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Original poster

Private medical insurance

117 replies

Orangesandlemons77 · 13/03/2023 10:19

Considering this. Do you have it? Who do you recommend. Family of 4.

Does it cover things like hip / knee replacements? Thanks for any recommendations.

Have been looking at Aviva, Vitality and the Exeter. Also Benenden (have Benenden already)

Aviva have a reasonable policy which kicks in if the wait for treatment is over 6 weeks. Thinking of combining this with Benenden who I have used in the past for diagnosis and liked.

But would it be better / easier just to have one policy overall.

Been quoted around £60 just for the Aviva as mentioned (which would then include Benenden at £47 a mont for 4) or around £100-120 a month.

OP posts:
QOD · 30/03/2023 21:52

With regard to mh cover, no your condition wouldn’t be covered for in person appointments but may cover phone counselling and Cbt

just don’t have any form of health check before you take out a plan …
the claims wriggling bit i see both sides.
customers don’t understand that even if something hasn’t been diagnosed, it’s still not covered if you’ve had symptoms of it

Magnoliainbloom · 30/03/2023 22:00

Love it. I have the highest level of insurance via AXA. I made a call yesterday for a referral to gynae. Appointment booked for Monday. It was a lifesaver during Covid when I needed surgery.

@dew141 18k sounds bonkers!! I pay nowhere near that I’m in my 40s. Are you high risk?

ThankYouVeryMuchGerry · 30/03/2023 22:01

I have AXA. I've had so many specialist appointments (seeing four for different issues at the moment), at least 8 major operations (got another small one on Thursday), and my psychiatrist and psychotherapist are covered and always have been.

Can't praise them highly enough. I've got very bad health - loads of random, unconnected issues (see above!) and they have been great. I can speak to a helpline whenever I need to and they are always wonderful. £200 a year excess and £70 a month for a single policy.

The only thing I didn't use my policy for was my bowel cancer operation last year, but I did see the specialist for the colonoscopy and follow up so was diagnosed and operated on (by the NHS) within 4 weeks. I had an ileostomy which was reversed privately.

I wouldn't be without it.

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General health
Magnoliainbloom · 30/03/2023 22:02

GwendolenAbott · 19/03/2023 16:55

No, I don't; I'm just trying to help; before they were recommended to me, I was paying an excessive sum of money, for cover which I could have had from another insurance for a lot less.. and given the current climate, I was hoping to spread the word so that others can benefit from their services as well.

Show quote history

I agree with advice to go through a broker. Mine was fab.

ssd · 30/03/2023 22:07

Orangesandlemons77 · 30/03/2023 20:43

It was just stressing me out what they would cover or not, affording it and the excess...I think we will stick with Benenden as it's much more affordable.

DH also has an autoimmune condition and on a funded NHS treatment of specific meds

We are not young and it is a bit pricey also

I know what you mean, we aren't young either and the quotes are scary.
We have Benenden too.

dew141 · 30/03/2023 22:08

18k sounds bonkers!! I pay nowhere near that I’m in my 40s. Are you high risk?

Just arthritis but they only pay for flare ups or intervention of a chronic condition not monitoring (although I'm having the other side of my hip replaced tomorrow and they covered the first one).

I think it's partly that I've chosen to have various tests and consultations over the last five years. Although they've all been negative, I guess that puts up my premium as I've claimed through them. Whereas my husband hasn't used it once in that time,

I'm now back on a work policy but I'm dreading the cost when it moves to a personal policy eventually.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 30/03/2023 22:18

PP saying combine the two...yes so this may be a plan but have to count in the cost for both, then we have dental plans as well it all adds up!

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 30/03/2023 22:20

Would arthritis flare ups not be covered by the NHS? They should be. DH has humira prescribed

OP posts:
dew141 · 30/03/2023 22:50

Orangesandlemons77 · 30/03/2023 22:20

Would arthritis flare ups not be covered by the NHS? They should be. DH has humira prescribed

I guess most things are covered by the NHS, it's just the wait time and ease.

I have a yearly NHS outpatient appointment at the rheumatology clinic but it would be difficult to get a consultation within 3 months if I was desperate as the clinic is so booked up (central London).

Whereas I've been able to have steroid injections privately within a couple of weeks. And I'd rather have surgery privately as I can choose the surgeon and have my own room.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 31/03/2023 09:13

Oh of course that all makes sense. Guess it is a balance of affording it all,

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 31/03/2023 09:14

and accessing the treatment you need

OP posts:
GwendolenAbott · 31/03/2023 15:44

you can protect the policy at the point of joining, but I would advise speaking with a broker as they may be able to find the right policy for you and may be able to cover pre-existing conditions which other provider don’t cover. I don’t know that the condition is, however I had a condition covered by a provider which other providers wouldn’t cover. The broker which I had previously recommended is independent and doesn’t charge fees

GwendolenAbott · 31/03/2023 15:48

With my cover I added dental and optical which is an extra £4 a months I believe, it’s also not considered a ‘claim’ so the policy doesn’t increase when you use it

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 31/03/2023 15:56

Ok thanks, I am going to just stick with Benenden for now and keep our Simply health dental plan as well but may use a broker in future if reconsider.

OP posts:
GwendolenAbott · 31/03/2023 16:03

It’s worth it, it’s such a hassle to do it yourself

rosieleeinmytea · 01/04/2023 11:48

We have a family policy through dh work. He does pay for it through taxes or something but I don't understand how much. We use it. And since covid it's been near on impossible to get an NHS doctor appointment so we've really had to use it. Ours covers most things. Sadly with the nhs going how it is we've even seen wait lists for private appointments too now so I suppose be aware it isn't always plain sailing.

zaffa · 01/04/2023 11:53

I know you've said you've changed your mind for now, but for the future I really rate Axa. We have the cover through my work so I don't know how it compares to one you purchase privately, but they've been really good, you can usually find a private option that they pay direct and you just cover any excess and they have a broad range they cover. Again I don't know if that's just perks of going through work but I thought it was really good and a huge benefit of my workplace to provide it.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 01/04/2023 13:06

I'm now pondering over just taking it out for the DC for the future, they are cheap as young but things like MH care is not good with the NHS Maybe it will be something we do just for them for the future. And keep the rest of us on Benenden

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 01/04/2023 13:38

Just did a qucik look at Axa but it seems having MH is a problem - Bupa are also about half the price

OP posts:
dew141 · 01/04/2023 18:01

I think the helpfulness of AXA varies by the type of work scheme. They wanted to exclude pretty much everything on my new work scheme but finally relented.

My issue with our BUPA policy is that it only has £2k for outpatients a year, to cover consultations and minor diagnostics. That's easily reached in a couple of visits.

I do know that standard physio sessions are an hour for AXA and 30 minutes for BUPA. BUPA have seemed less flexible than AXA so far.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 01/04/2023 18:46

dew141 · 01/04/2023 18:01

I think the helpfulness of AXA varies by the type of work scheme. They wanted to exclude pretty much everything on my new work scheme but finally relented.

My issue with our BUPA policy is that it only has £2k for outpatients a year, to cover consultations and minor diagnostics. That's easily reached in a couple of visits.

I do know that standard physio sessions are an hour for AXA and 30 minutes for BUPA. BUPA have seemed less flexible than AXA so far.

You see this is why Benenden would be a good combination with Bupa for only £11 per person extra per month they give £2500 outpatients cover and even use Bupa pre-authorisation codes

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 01/04/2023 18:47

Also no excess (benenden)

OP posts:
Angelonthewall · 01/04/2023 19:42

dew141 · 01/04/2023 18:01

I think the helpfulness of AXA varies by the type of work scheme. They wanted to exclude pretty much everything on my new work scheme but finally relented.

My issue with our BUPA policy is that it only has £2k for outpatients a year, to cover consultations and minor diagnostics. That's easily reached in a couple of visits.

I do know that standard physio sessions are an hour for AXA and 30 minutes for BUPA. BUPA have seemed less flexible than AXA so far.

I think this is almost certainly true. Companies set their requirements and insurance companies price it - you can literally ask for anything if you are willing to pay and so medical insurance companies provide different levels of service, so depending on recommendations for health insurance policy, is maybe something that can’t easily be relied upon. You need to know you are comparing like with like - other wise it’s apples and pears.

MrsBubblegum · 01/04/2023 20:47

We have Vitality and have claimed a few times. We've never had to pay anything up front (or at all except our monthly premiums)

zaffa · 03/04/2023 07:56

Aaaah sorry everyone - I didn't realise it was a specific package that Axa would have negotiated with the company I work for. I work for a huge company so that's probably why we have so much included.
Good luck OP, I'm really sorry I don't have anything further to add

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