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Anyone know the cost of a private hysterectomy??

38 replies

Becaroooo · 22/04/2012 21:08

My dh pays for me to be covered by BUPA under his company scheme. I am due to see the Gynae on weds. I have a feeling (long long back story I wont bore you with) that he may recommend a hysterectomy.

I have 2 questions really...

  1. How much would it be
  2. Would it be covered under the policy?

TIA

OP posts:
hippoCritt · 22/04/2012 21:24

I'd guess about 4500 to 5000. It will be covered if you haven't consulted anyone re the problem in previous 7 years. If its a new problem it's fine. Of course myinformation may be out of date. Good luck with your appointment.

Bluepetticoat · 22/04/2012 22:43

hippo those figures you give are not exactly right- because all policies are different.

The scheme I belong to will not cover you for an on going chronic issue if you had it for 2 years before you started the policy with them.

This is to stop people starting a policy with a new insureres with the sole intetion of having a chronic condition covered. Most private insurance covers for acute conditions, not something on going for years and years which you knew about before you took out the policy. "Knew" about really means you have had previous, recent consultations.

As to cost, the figure you give is too low imo, Again, it all depends who does the operation and which hospital.
I had a gynae investigaton- hysteroscopy- in the King Edward 7 hospital London with a private consultant which was paid for under my policy and the total bill was over £3000. That was as an out paitient - 30 mins procedure-without an anaesthetic.

The fee to the insurers is not usually an isue- they have limits and most drs work within those. You need to check beforehadn that your dr is registered with them and the hospital ( which is graded according to costs) is covered in your policy.

hippoCritt · 22/04/2012 22:54

I guess prices vary by region, I was going by price quoted last year. I have bupa cover but can't find details on their website to determine their definition of pre existing conditions if OP has previously sought help.

SwimmingWithBowLeggedWomen · 23/04/2012 08:21

Corporate medical insurance varies, depending how much each company wants to pay for the cover - some cover pre-existing conditions, some don't, so you need to call BUPA to find out. The Acute / Chronic thing is a very complex issue, and has resulted in a fair few court cases where insurers have been sued for denying cover. As a rule, things like MS, ME, ongoing depression are not covered but they generally pay for initial investigations, diagnosis and then issue a notice of withdrawal of benefits, which then means that condition is excluded. IME, it is very unlikely that any gynae issue is defined as chronic at this point, especially if a hysterectomy is a cure.

Nearly all policies carry an excess, you usually only pay once, but if your treatment spans a renewal date, you may need to pay twice, depending how the policy is set up.

Some medical insurers (and quite probably BUPA) have a list of preferred hospitals, where they have negotiated set fees for your stay. If they do have a list, you really need to try and get treated at one of their selected hospitals, as it can get expensive if you don't. They also have pre-negotiated fees for the surgeon and anaesthetist depending on the complexity of the operation, and the specialists know that they should bill within these limits.

I would also check if they are any limits on things like Out Patient investigations - most policies are unlimited, but there are a few where you get say £1,000 per year. Sounds like a lot, but have a few consultations, couple of scans and some blood tests and it quickly adds up.

BUPA do a pre-authorisation service, if you phone them prior to the consultation, they will be able to get a claim going, and get everything approved in advance. They will also arrange direct settlement with the hospital and specialists, so you won't be out of pocket at any point.

Finally, be aware that some costs are excluded - when I worked for a medical insurer, we didn't cover "Out-Patient drugs" - anything that was prescribed at consultation / discharge on private prescription, as it was considered that you could get these on the NHS. Also additional expenses at the hospital like telephone calls, internet access would be unlikely to be covered.

Becaroooo · 23/04/2012 09:48

Thank you.

Problems began after the birth of my ds2 in Sept 2008.

I am pretty fed up of it all tbh and at this point would even consider a hysterectomy of it would cure me. There are options...for example it wouldnt have to be an abdominal op and I could even have a spinal rather than a GA.

OP posts:
Ungratefulchild · 23/04/2012 09:56

I had a private hysterectomy last year. It was keyhole surgery. I've no idea how much it cost but there was no excess to pay.

Ben10NeverAgain · 23/04/2012 10:04

Hi Becarooo

I had a spinal with slight sedation for a gynae op 4 weeks ago. It was definitely a great option for me as I felt much more like me so much quicker.

The cost of my private op in a Spire Hospital on AXA PPP rates in the SE - anterior and posterior repair was

£600 for surgeon
£2500 for hospital - 4 nights plus theatre costs, drugs etc
plus loads for pre-op bloods, chest x-ray due to previous medical condition, post-op bloods due to an infection, swabs, etc.

Everything was covered except for the cost-share (we pay 15% up to a max of £350 per year) and the post-operative drugs some of which are surprisingly expensive when you are used to the NHS.

Hope all goes well on Wednesday :)

Becaroooo · 23/04/2012 10:11

Hi ben

I really want to avoid a GA if I can and have been reading up on options and I could theoretically have a vaginal hysterctomy rather than abdominal. I think i would recover much quicker and be home quicker which is important to me.

I am not sure its offered on the NHS.

Am so scared Sad

OP posts:
Becaroooo · 23/04/2012 10:13

do you think I could ring bupa and ask re: hysterectomy even though I havent seen the gynae yet?

OP posts:
Ben10NeverAgain · 23/04/2012 10:16

My mum had a vaginal hysterectomy on the NHS years ago but I know that hers was GA.

They actually suggested that I had my surgery under spinal due to my lung problems. Apparently lots of ladies have gynae surgery under spinal.

I would say that if you have private insurance and you are covered for this then to go private merely for the private room. You get peace and quiet.

It is really scary esp as for us we have to think about home all the time but it is a routine operation that they do all the time. They know how to look after ladies in the best way to minimise any risk for you.

If it is a hysterectomy then at least all of your bleeding problems will be over and you will feel so much better.

Remember you will be feeling much worse (and probably much more scared) due to the anaemia. Try and stay warm and calm (if you can) - I got v cold with anaemia.

x

Ben10NeverAgain · 23/04/2012 10:18

I would call them to confirm your cover. It will stop you worrying at least about whether it would be NHS or private.

I went to the gynae on the NHS and when I was in with him I was able to say that I wanted the operation there and then as I knew that I was covered under AXA for the surgery.

Becaroooo · 23/04/2012 10:22

Thank ben. Will phone them.

OP posts:
Ungratefulchild · 23/04/2012 12:58

I had a lovely room, great nursing and nice food (not that I ate much of it) but the private medical aftercare was a bit lax. The day after my op I bled all day from one of my key hole scars. They changed my bed linen 8 times but it took 12 hrs for the wound to be re stitched. By then I needed a blood transfusion.

Ben10NeverAgain · 23/04/2012 13:04

It all depends on the hospital I think Ungrateful. I had 3 ops in the last 6 months. The aftercare in our local Spire was amazing. The aftercare in the top London private hospital was unbelievably poor to the point that we had to make a formal complaint.

CMOTDibbler · 23/04/2012 13:11

I agree with it varying by hospital - dh has had crap care in a private hospital, I had an amazing experience in one last year, and we both had OK care in the same one at the end of last year.

AXA have been amazing for me over the last 2 years - so helpful on the phone, and my many, many procedures quickly and efficiently authorised - or not, with clear explanations about what was happening and why

Bluepetticoat · 23/04/2012 16:48

OP the important thing is to call your providers as soon as you can before you start any balls rolling.

As someone pointed out there are limits to cover. Our is £900 per person for outpatients appts. and tests- eg blood tests. Some blood tests can cost £400 so the money doesn't go far.

Also, the insurers will have limits of spend per operation and consultant's fees.

My dr charged something like £800 for my investigation but the use of the theatre and equipment in London was over £2K.

The whole point though about going privately is that you should choose your surgeon and the hospital based on their expertise and care. Check that the surgeon can do what you want and has good success rates. Ask about things like MRSA in the hospitals and the care etc.

Bluepetticoat · 23/04/2012 16:51

Ben10 just read your psot again- £600 for all that was very very good value! My gynae charged £800 just for doing a biopsy/ look at my uterus.

Bluepetticoat · 23/04/2012 16:53

OP one point- if you have an appt this wednesday and you want the insurers to pay for that, then you need to send them some forms/talk to t hem before the appt.

Becaroooo · 24/04/2012 07:26

Have got an authorisation code for the appt and it covers the consultation, scans, bloods etc.

Am very worried re: cost as only have £900 in the pot til end of may then I get another £1k (policy renewal)

I think will have to spend some money too Sad which we havent got really, but this has been going on long enough and I have had pretty rubbish experiences on the NHS wrt gynae issues in the past.

OP posts:
Ben10NeverAgain · 24/04/2012 08:00

My consultation was £140 which seems standard round here (SE), bloods around £250. Depends which scans they might want to do - U/S scan was around £400 I think. The cost for insurance is often different by a huge amount than if paying cash - the MRI scan for example was £150 more to the insurance than if I had paid cash.

Bluepetticoat · 24/04/2012 09:01

Stop worrying!!!

What you have written is perfectly normal. My policy covers £900 out patient appts etc.

If the dr suggests further scans, tests etc that would go beyond your £900 limit, all you do is tell him that, and make sure that any tests etc are carried out once the new allowance kicks in in June. This may depend on the costs though and if it was just £50 then you might want to pay it and get iit done with.

In other words, delay treatment for a few weeks.

It is again totally normal for hospitals to have 2 levels of fees for private paying and insured patients. it's a real cheek but it's what they do.

SwimmingWithBowLeggedWomen · 24/04/2012 12:07

Second what Bluepetticoat said about not worrying. When I had my hysterectomy I had 2 consultations prior to op, and one after. A lot of surgeons include the post op as part of their surgical fee (but not all, best to check). I had one lot of blood tests, and one ultrasound, all of which should come within your £900 limit. Most insurers don't deduct MRI / CT scans from that pot, they have a separate allowance as they costs tons.

Speak to the specialist about your policy limit, I bet he'll be happy to work around it so that if necessary, some of the tests wait until June. Also speak to the hospital when you go for tests, and check the amount they will bill the insurer. Loads of policies have limits, they'll be used to it.

Becaroooo · 24/04/2012 16:11

Thanks all

Will let you know how I get on x

OP posts:
Bluepetticoat · 26/04/2012 12:42

How did you get on?

Becaroooo · 26/04/2012 16:20

Hi blue

Sorry I didnt update yesterday...long long day and I felt very sore and fed up! Smile

So.

Saw gynae. He was nice. Did an internal. Said it was fine. Had 2 scans...abdo and transvaginal (do they always hurt btw??!) and go and see him again next weds.

He gave me the following options (which I already knew)

  1. mirena coil
  2. ablation
  3. hysterectomy

I am really not keen on the coil for various reasons...I have had issues with other hormones..POP, depo and cerazette...all of them made me worse and I cant see why the mirena would be any different?

I am not having ablation...at my age its very likly the lining would grow back.

I am favouring a hysterectomy but would like it dne under spinal and sedation and not sure thats an option.

Sigh.

Nearly fainted in the shops this morning. Feel awful Sad

OP posts: