C-section on private healthcare policy???

[deo357]

does anyone know of a private healthcare policy that would cover having a c-section with medical complication?

I thought almost all private healthcare policies would cover you for a c-section under medical advice ie where your consultant advises it. It will cover your op and stay but not generally private antenatal care I think. the policies I've had in the past have all worked this way.

really, when i have searched on price comparison sites. one out of ten may cover but limited cover too??

Hi, my BUPA policy covered me for having a c-section due to medical reasons, for example breach presentation, pre-eclampsia etc. They covered the cost of the stay in hospital, costs associated with C-section such as epidural and consultants fees etc.

I had an emergency C Section and this was covered by my private health policy - I believe that if you are aware in advance you can pre-agree - as we were not ny DH phoned and they said go ahead with it and we will sort out the details afterwards - we did - and they did - eventually!

thanks, ill check with buba, was looking on their site and childbirth was excluded??

surreylady - do u know who your insurer is ?

Until recently, most private healthcare policies excluded anything to do with pregnancy and childbirth as it was a poor risk. I have had a PPP policy (a good one through my dh work) for many years. In the last month, we received an updated policy that said there had been changes due to sex discrimination legislation. From what I understood, they could no longer exclude illnesses/conditions that were prgnancy related as that would be disciminatory against women.

So in my updated policy, csection would now be covered for certain medical reasons. They do not specify the reasons and I think you would have to call to confirm. But this is a big change from before.

BUPA has, for at least the last few years, covered c-sections where they are medically necessary - but you do need to check what your policy covers re pre-existing conditions and whether the reason for your section is one or not. I found a document years ago which set out how many sections BUPA had covered and it was a fair few.

Childbirth and pregnancy complications in general are normally excluded (although this may have changed with the sex discrimination changes Ilanak describes, although I don't know) but a medically necessary section is often covered.

It was a corporate policy - at the time as I recall it was Norwich Union (so now Aviva)

Hi deo357,
BUPA definitely to provide cover for medically indicated Caesarean section. The amount of cover may vary from policy to policy and although the main bulk of the charges are covered I do warn Pt's that there maybe shortfalls in what BUPA cover which they will will then need to cover eg.

• BUPA will only cover a certain number of nights post-op stay
• the Portland charge £750 for an epidural (+£50 per top-up!) whilst BUPA will only pay £150 for the epidural
• BUPA will only renumerate £549 to the Obstetrician for the CSection and in-patient care, many Obstetrician's will charge more than this for the CSection.

BUPA should directly be able to tell you the amount they will cover on your policy.

For this reason a number of my patients have tranferred to have their Elective CSections at St. John & St. Elizabeth's where the overall respective costs are cheaper than the Portland's fees for a CSection.

Yes I do remember now that not all of my epidural cost was covered, I think maybe only 50% of it, saying that I've had previous problems with BUPA not covering the cost of my anesthetic for an unrelated operation, so maybe just a general BUPA thing rather than just relating to c-sections ?

Hi
I am very glad I found this thread. I found out on Friday that I am pregnant again with my second child. I have BUPA insurance and was told by them that they would cover a private caesarean due to medical reasons. My baby daughter passed away in April a day after delivery, and so this time I want to go down the private route. I am certain I have enough medical grounds.

My question is, can you have ante-natal care on the NHS and a private delivery? My preference is for the Chelsea and Westminster.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you so much for starting this thread! In the last five minutes I have arranged to have my cs privately. I had no idea it was covered!

Hi Pinkjenny

Are you having your ante-natal care on the NHS?

Yes I am.

sh77 - why do you feel you would need a private caesrean delivery if you are happy to have NHS antenatal care?

The reason I am asking is because you should be able to have a CS on NHS and not have to go privately.

Thanks for the thread, I also had no idea it would be covered. Very handy to know