To cancel private health insurance

[Ethina]

We have a health insurance through husbands work but to date every single claim has been turned down (I describe a few below) as nothing is ever covered by the policy. This is an expensive insurance which is supposed to be the flagship product of vitality but when we need help everything is deemed ‘chronic’ and hence not covered

I’ve heard that doctors often don’t use health insurance due to the above. Is there any truth to this? If anyone with a medical background could shed some light if be so grateful.

I really want to cancel as it’s essentially useless to us but is this somehow a bad idea with the NHS being so overwhelmed?

(most recent cases they’ve turned down include treating anaemia as they say it’s chronic - but apparently I need it addressed before they can get to the bottom of why my platelets are elevated, so now that investigation won’t go ahead. Second issue was a scan which I had for something else, it showed some changes which can be a cancer marker so a biopsy was recommended. Vitality say no as I don’t currently have any symptoms- I argued that the markers are the symptoms but I need to be experiencing discomfort for them to cover it? So I just need to wait until it potentially turns into something serious enough to cause pain, or…?)

In our experience, Vitality is not accepted by some clincians as they are a nightmare to deal with in terms of settling bills. Our DCs ACL reconstruction has to be delayed as the surgeon wouldn’t proceed until he had written confirmation from Vitality of cover as he’d been let down by them previously. My physio has also stopped dealing with them for similar reasons.

I wouldn't touch Vitality. Nothing but issues and problems

I am not sure other insurers are any better. I have had endless problems with an expensive policy through AXA and am tempted to cancel too.

I've had loads of claims paid out by AXA PPP, Cigna and Bupa. More than £100k

AXA wasn't great and I had to speak to three advisors to get authority and then they tried to bill me twice, when insurance had already paid out!!

I've had BUPA and Vitality.

While BUPA was seamless in comparison, Vitality were fine. Ive had minor surgeries that would not have been done on the NHS without bother.

I'd not be without, you just never know.

I've had Bupa, AXA and Vitality.

Bupa was the best for me without a doubt. So easy to claim and so much choice.
AXA less choice and some of the interfaces are a bit more difficult to use. Getting the authority is pretty painful, whereas Bupa this wasn't an issue in the slightest.

Vitality was awful for us. Was immensely happy when my employer dropped them and went with AXA quickly!

We used to use Vitality at work but I didn't sign up as everyone said how useless it is.

We have now moved to AXA but their terms and conditions don't seem any better. If you need a prescription you pay private rates for medicine; you can't make a claim if you have seen the NHS for the same issue in the past 2 years; £100 excess for anything

At my previous company we used Bupa and that wasn't much better.

I’m with BUPA and they’ve been incredible.
We never had to claim for years and now all they ever do is have to pay our claims. Not a single issue or drop in the care or service we’ve received.
They’ve all been incredibly helpful and supportive too, I recommend them to everyone.

I had AXA through work for years, then AXA privately and then Bupa. Both were good, AXA was really good.

I have a horrible feeling most of the insurers don't want to pay out at all. I have WPA and they would not pay out for a mole to be removed - because years ago I had a general mole check and I was advised, nothing to worry about but best to keep an eye on it as was a larger one! Nothing else. Then years down the line I was advised to have it removed as it had grown a bit bigger. No pay out. So basically, you can't seem to able to be vigilant and sensible! I am wondering whether to renew - is a very expensive luxury.

Used Axa and Bupa over the years. No issues with consultants, everything easy (ish) to arrange. I think you have to always pay for private prescriptions and when you need a referral can book an appointment with their online GP for a video call easily, 7 days a week and referral letter immediately

I have a policy through Axa that has paid out for MRIs, chiropractic treatment, physio treatment, niche genetic testing and echocardiograms. They haven’t turned a single thing down and have a paid thousands for testing for conditions that would have been inconsequential even if I had them. I guess it depends on the level of cover, but if yours doesn’t give you what you need then cancelling seems reasonable

I've had AXA through work for several years and they've covered multiple procedures and treatments related to a pre-existing, lifelong condition. Many thousands of pounds worth. It's been absolutely worth it for me and, so far, I've had no issues with communication.

Try benenden, we use that it's good as a backup to the NHS.

I have bupa via dp workplace. Didn’t use it for years and then literally became life saving, had no issue getting the operations, consults and cancer treatment needed was worried it was going to be turned down as have read some horror stories with private health. But was incredible smooth sailing. Does seem to vary from company to company

I’ve got Bupa and they’ve paid for dermatology, physio and now psychological therapy for dc. Never been quibbled.

I found AXA excellent with anything mole related.

I have had Bupa for years and never had any problems with them. Have had to use them for various things during that time. When DD was having some mental health issues they were actually amazing, sat on the phone with me and went through all the possible people she could see, considering their specialisms and reviews etc. I was falling apart, and the staff went over and above to ensure that DD and I both got the help we needed.

I have axa through work. Have really tested it the last 8 months following a cancer diagnosis. They have been amazing at sorting thibgs.

In my experience, I’ve managed the company private medical schemes. Vitality is usually popular for their Apple Watches & other such likes. The coverage is less good. You can’t beat an AXA or a BUPA in my experience.

Given one of your issues is a cancer marker, get your DH to raise a complaint at work with HR. There are levers that can be pulled. It might be that you’ve not explained your situation the right way. If you get me?

I've had all my cancer treatment through AXA and they've been brilliant. All chemo, surgery, radiotherapy, physiotherapy... thousands and thousands of pounds worth of treatment. Can't fault them.

Wow, amazing. So happy it worked out for you. Conversely I called vitality to ask a general question re whether eating disorders are covered by them- they said no and then insisted I name which of my children this would be regarding. I said I would not be sharing that info with them given that they would not be helping us, so I did not want it on their record. They kept insisting and were really aggressive about it so I ended up hanging up without giving them the info. Definitely put me off turning to them for anything related to mental healt

Happy for everyone in this thread who have had excellent support and coverage from their insurers! We had axa in the past and were happy with them.

I’ve had enough of vitality so am very tempted to cancel but I’m just not sure what I’d risk if I do. Perhaps a really stupid question but in the event of a cancer diagnosis, is there a really huge gap between going private and the nhs? Is this in terms of speed or also types of treatment?

Vitality seems to categorise everything as chronic and they don’t cover emergencies so I really don’t know what I’d use them for. Anything which has the potential to come back won’t be covered, they told me. This really makes me wonder whether they would step in at all even for something more serious

(Glaucoma and diabetes runs in my family and they definitely won’t cover any of those)