To wonder if health insurance will cover this - really really embarrassing

[namechange11112222]

I had bad piles when I was pregnant. Because of this I am now left with a lot of big anal skin tags (I’m sorry TMI!!)

I had a colonoscopy done around a year & a bit ago due to blood in stool & polyp removal on the NHS. But the tags are really causing issues themselves, not bleeding (so unrelated from that aspect) but itchy, really difficult to keep clean and sometimes cause pain themselves.
I’m not sure if the two things are too closely related that insurance wouldn’t cover it, the NHS won’t.

I am so embarrassed by them, it’s seriously damaged my self esteem & sex life, I don’t like my husband touching me because I worry he will feel it. I can’t tell him about it because I am just so embarrassed about them.

I know I can go private but for the quantity, I’m looking at £2000.
I wouldn’t be able to get them done for another 9 months if I wait for private medical (2 years without symptoms) and I’m not sure I can deal with them for that long.

Thank you for reading x

OK so if its not preexisting then why are you waiting to claim? You said you had to be free for 2 years for any old issues? If it's not an old issue then this doesn't apply. I think you need to contact your insurers and discuss it with them, as I think you are confusing or misunderstanding your underwriting. If they are linked to the old issue and you have a moratorium then you won't be able to claim as you are symptomatic so can't meet the trouble free period. If its unrelated that trouble free period doesn't come into it. Also some insurers exclude removal of skin tags, so you need to be clear if they are anal skin tags, or haemorrhoids. I'd honestly suggest contacting them to understand if you'll ever be covered for this as you could be waiting in vain.

I was told by the NHS that they usually do not do these because they often come back. I had tags done privately and it wasn't problematic or painful at all. There is a difference between piles and skin tags.

It’s covered, I had something similar and it was very easily sorted out through Bupa health insurance. Although I spoke to a private GP and she referred me. Your NHS GP may do the same, even though they probably wouldn’t operate. But I’ve never had any issues being referred by the NHS, they are usually happy to do so. Good luck!

Meant to say if tags also are sometimes considered cosmetic.

Wow

Wow seconded

I had a colonoscopy done around a year & a bit ago due to blood in stool & polyp removal on the NHS. But the tags are really causing issues themselves, not bleeding (so unrelated from that aspect) but itchy, really difficult to keep clean and sometimes cause pain themselves.
I’m not sure if the two things are too closely related that insurance wouldn’t cover it, the NHS won’t

These are two unrelated health conditions. A bowel polyp has nothing to do with hemorrhoids (and the skin tags left when they "heal")

I know you find this embarrassing, but it's extremely common. If you've ever had severe hemorrhoids (swollen or thrombosed) the chances are good that you'll be left with extra loose skin when the acute swelling goes down.

I'd approach it from the standpoint that these hemorrhoid tags are causing pain and irritation and are not simply a cosmetic issue. Good luck!

They won’t cover it 😔 x

Thank you so much x

@namechange11112222 I'm pleased they won't since seeing your awful statement.

The NHS will no longer do piles, nor do they do skin tag removal, varicose veins and a whole long list of other things they no longer do
im now having to go private to have varicose veins done and piles.

Op have you asked your Consultant if you can have Botox, my DH had this done on NHS outpatient but under general anesthetic, we weren’t convinced this would work, but it did.

Same. It was awful. I have had several operations and various procedures and treatments and this was the worst thing I experienced.

On top of that, it left me incontinent.

I got it done for the same reasons OP - never really feeling clean and also appearance. In hindsight, I wish I wasn’t so vain.

Wrong. They did mine very recently

Must be postcode lottery as with many other things.

How would Botox aid in the removal of anal tags?

Depends on who your healthcare provider is, I should imagine!
ours don’t do it, and for my veins I’ve been quoted £3500 each leg!

Could I ask where you had yours done please?x

Sorry if I confused anyone.
its because I don’t know if they would link it, because locationally they are similar, or if they would be seen as separate.
They have told me they would not consider skin tags of any kind because they view it as cosmetic.

I think I get easily embarrassed around him, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I was having a colonoscopy either. I know I sound pathetic but he is extremely emotionally shut off x

Wow!! That is insane!
my stepdad is having that done soon.

I had mine done at a Nuffield Hospital.