Benendon Healthcare

[Putthatbookdown]

Anyone know anything about them apart from the fact they are not for profit and seem to have hospitals in out of the way places?

Yes - we're with Benenden, I describe it as sort of "limited" private health care. You can either be seen at their own hospitals, which we happen to live within an hour or so drive of, or they give you £x to have tests at your own chosen private hospital, but you need to read small print etc carefully, there always seems to be lot of exclusions! We are with them as DH is a civil servant, they are normally for any government employee but I think they are changing that now and going public.

Does that help?

Yes it is discretionary not medical insurance per se I think it is just there in case the NHS lets you down and you get a diagnosis quicker.
They keep changing what they do and do not offer but things may improve now they are public as I imagine the public will have to pay more
Years ago friends of mine swore by it as basically they got it all quicker and if they had waited on the Nhs she would have probably died !!
Also it is cleaner but I still think a referral to a Specialist hospital is the answer on the Nhs

Personally, I think they are a waste of time. My parents have paid for cover with them for years. About two years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour but needed an MRI. He was referred to Kings, but they messed up his appointment and the next appointment was in six months. They decided to call Benendon to arrange the MRI - they wanted £1,000!! I called a local BUPA hospital and arranged a private scan for him for £250. In 20 years, they have never used the cover for anything else, but are reluctant to cancel the cover.

That seems ridiculous if they cannot help what is the point? £1000! You hear all sorts of stories A friend had to have an endoscopy and she got sent there immediately. 2 other people I know went there straightaway too for neurology and a knee replacement It is all very confusing but it is not medical insurance like Bupa etc that is for sure

I've had a colonoscopy paid for by them at my local private hospital, it was a bit hairy (no pun intended!) as I wasn't entirely sure they would pay right up to last minute - you have to pay the bill yourself and they reimburse you. Anyway, that was fine, and they have literally this morning agreed an MRI for DD aged 9, again at our local private hospital. So I am generally pleased, but as I say, you do get palpitations thinking will they really really reimburse me this time!

My ex found out he was infertile, but his diagnosis involved MRI scan, ultrasound scan and a "super specialist" (what he has is so rare we needed to go to London). Bennedon covered everything- I think it was about £1500 in total. They were great especially as fertility isn't usually something they will cover- but ex argued it was for medical reasons and not so much his fertility.