To ask about health insurance...

[EmilyRosiEl]

Basically I'm not in the financial bracket where I can easily afford Health Insurance and I probably shouldn't even be considering it BUT I have found some changes on my breast that I need to get checked out. I also have a condition, which makes visiting the GP tricky and I think that the distance/video-call GP appointments offered by private health insurers might work better in my situation.

I also don't want find that when the NHS ends in the next decade or so that I then cannot get health insurance for any breast-related conditions (e.g. cancer) just because I have previously seen the GP (and potentially the breast clinic) about this issue. I am relatively young so might be able to get extended Vitality Health Insurance for £30 per month, which I am considering.

I was just wondering whether people who have health insurance recommend taking out a plan? And if so are Bupa better than others? Is Vitality any good?

It sounds like you'll need a physical breast examination. Not suitable for a video appointment.

Yes that's probably true Mintyfresh- I can probably work up to going once but was thinking that in the future I would find distance appointments easier.

I just wonder whether I should try to get health insurance in place before seeing the GP in case it's anything nasty.

I work in health insurance so can hopefully give you an insight. I would warn against taking out a policy because you suspect something is wrong. Any claims made in the first year (some insurers it would be longer) are considered 'early claims' and will be referred for further investigation as it's usually a sign that someone has taken out a policy in order to claim for something they were already suffering from. Your medical notes will be asked for and if there is evidence you've been to see someone about a related condition and you didn't declare this when taking out the policy, your claim will be declined.
Even if you see the GP after you take out the policy, if you try to claim early and they can see you consulted a doctor a week after taking it out, you'll still probably be challenged on the basis that you would have been having symptoms before you went to the GP.

The policies at the cheaper end of the market are usually underwritten on what we call a 'moratorium' basis and you won't the able to claim for 2 years for anything you've suffered from in the previous 5 years. After 2 years, you're usually ok.

Basically if you're thinking about taking out health insurance, do it while you're healthy and read the underwriting terms carefully so you know what you can claim for and when.

Hope that helps a bit. Hope all turns out to be well

I was recently looking at health insurance and £30 per month sounds incredibly low. Read the details very carefully to find out what you get for that as I doubt it's much. Basically if you've got a problem you need to get seen now, so NHS, or you can pay to go private without insurance. As PP said unfortunately it's too late now you have a hopefully only suspected concern.

Please see your GP for examination and possible referral without delay.

We have been members of Benenden for years, it is very reasonable and works to back up the NHS, so if treatment is quicker on the NHS you can use NHS, for urgent matters, but if the referral will take months Benenden can often help. How Benenden works has changed over the many years we have been members, not it’s seem to be operated by Bupa when you need to use it. Well worth having IMHO, I have had surgery through them, and when I needed to see a specialist for a urgent set of symptoms that would have taken months under the NHS I had a dx within a week.

It may be something worth looking at.

But in the meantime see you GP.

Good luck OP

Yogagirl makes a good point. The lower end of policies will undoubtedly include a '6 week rule' or similar where if you can get seen within 6 weeks on the NHS it's not covered.
If, it turns out to be something nasty you'll be seen within 2 weeks as an urgent referral on the NHS anyway.
The NHS isn't going anywhere right now so do go to your GP and get seen and sorted as soon as possible. A private health policy isn't the answer here.
Good luck

Bupa is brilliant. But if you already have a symptom, you won't be covered. Anytime in the first year you claim, if they feel you may have had symptoms prior to joining they can write to your doctor to clarify.
If you haven't seen your doctor about the symptom, you might get away with it. If you're careful about what you tell you doctor about having the symptom.

I've had a breast lump. I was seen on the nhs, the service was brilliant and very quick.

FYI. I have bupa and have worked for them in the past. So I know a lot of the processes

Most private health policies still use GPs as gatekeepers, so you can't get access to their benefits until you've been referred by a GP in any event - and then you need to get an appointment, which is easier said than done.

I am with Vitality but haven't used it yet.

Rather than paying for private health insurance, could you afford a private GP consultation instead? Would going privately mitigate the concerns you have about seeing an NHS GP (you said you have a condition that makes seeing a GP difficult - is it something that a quieter environment with longer appointment times would help with?) The cost varies - where I live it is expensive and can cost around £90 for an appointment, but it's cheaper in other places and might be worth it for you.

Single parent here

I’m insured up to my eyeballs. Biggest monthly spend on health, life and critical illness.

No regrets. It’s been brilliant. To be seen the next day privately is such a relief

Agree with the above - I work in PMI. Anything you’ve had symptoms of, whether diagnosed yet or not on the X years before joining will NOT be covered until you’ve had at least (usually) 2 years without any further treatment or medication, check ups or advice

With regard to Benenden, I believe you have to be a member for 6 months before you can claim for pre conditions
Then you can go private if the wait is more than 3 weeks on the nhs. All for around a tenner a month
They only cover certain procedures and limited hospitals BUT for lower end premium it’s better than nothing

If you’re looking at £30 a month now, expect £35 next year £42 the year after, then Make a claim and head over £50 a month. It’s very very expensive as you age
It’s bloody amazing and worth every penny IF YOU CAN EASILY AFFORD IT

Thanks everyone.

CookieWarbler- thanks for the info. If i claim on a moratorium basis without having visited the GP for three/four years but make an early claim within a fortnight will they definitely reject it?

“If I commit insurance fraud will I get caught” “yes, probably”
Get thee to a doctor quickly. Breast issues should not be ignored.

Benenden doesn't do cancer care. It has a GP helpline and various other services available on day 1, everything else from 6 months.
www.benenden.co.uk/health/healthcare/#!whats-included

Its rather strange way of operating stems from its history - it started life in 1905 as the "Post Office Sanatorium Society" to provide care for post office workers suffering from TB, in 1923 it was extended to Civil Servants - it wasn't till 2012 that they threw it open to everyone. Thirty years ago, a motivation for quite a few members (since subscription levels are low) was charitable - helping one's lower paid colleagues access medical treatment.

@Fruitbatdancer- I don't know if it's really insurance fraud as it's not something I've seen the GP about.

I genuinely haven't seen a GP for 3/4 years!

EmilyRosi
Any early claim will be scrutinised, without seeing medical notes it's impossible to say what would be declined and what wouldn't.

Sadly I happen to know quite a bit about the NHS cancer route at the moment as my Mum is going through it and I would not muck about with trying to get health insurance (which may not cover what you hope it will).
By all means self-pay for a private GP video consultation (we use Dr care anywhere) but don't try and wait to play the insurance system.
When my Mum initially saw someone privately at the start of her diagnosis, the consultant told her not to bother doing anything else privately related to cancer care. Whilst the NHS is chaotic and stretched, it does cancer care very well in general. A cut price PMI policy won't give you what you need in this case and the NHS will.

Get seen, quickly and if all is well certainly think about PMI again but don't try and get it now.

@Fruitbatdancer- I don't know if it's really insurance fraud as it's not something I've seen the GP about

Of course it’s insurance fraud. You have a symptom already.

It’s liek coming home and seeing smoke coming from near your house, thinking ‘fuck my house is on fire’ and calling up Aviva to get contents jnsurance.

If it turns out the smoke was from next doors BBQ then so so be it, but you had every intention of claiming for an event already in progress.

Even with private health insurance you often have to go through your GP initially for a referral (unless stated on your policy that you can go through them directly)
You can't take out health insurance and then a few days later try and claim - there will be some kind of clause there, usually a year.
With breast changes and lumps you'll be referred by your GP under the NHS two week rule so you should see someone pretty quickly.

Maybe I've misread something here but I don't understand why you can't see a GP? You can't do proper diagnosis over a video call, you'll need a physical breast examination.
Don't wait on this. I don't know what your situation is but nothing is worth sitting on something which could very possibly be a serious risk to your health.
Believe me. I know!

Also echoing @CookieWarbler 's words, the NHS might be in a bit of a mess but when it comes to cancer (or any potential cancer) they are pretty awesome and I wouldn't choose anywhere else for something of that nature.

You will be asked when you noticed the symptoms and have to give a date

If you lie then you could be found out, if you don’t then it’s pre-existing and won’t be covered (on that policy)

NHS is the best bet

Ok thanks guys.