Private health insurance

[Whathefisgoingon]

After a self funded trip to Nuffield today, I am keen to get health insurance for myself, DP and DS (2) so that I can go private for all issues moving forward.

I have no conditions currently but an investigative ultrasound scheduled for 2 weeks time. If I take out insurance today, would I be able to use it for that appointment?

In any case, looking for recommendations on who to go with and what to look for specifically!

thanks

@LIZS I mean, it says they have an endoscopy unit but an endoscopy is not covered.

I don’t understand this. How can they say it’s a covered hospital but not cover most of the services? So if you saw a consultant there, you would have to then go somewhere else for treatment, despite the hospital being able to do it?

They may define a "unit" and "centre" differently. Not all doctors practising there are necessarily covered by the policy.

Bupa cover does not limit you to Bupa hospitals. If you need to be referred you can ring up and they will find someone suitable at a local private hospital. Dh was treated at clinics in other providers' hospitals.

We use right to health and have been very pleased. They move us if necessary each year to get a better premium.

one thing I’ll say is you (maybe just I) end up going to the GP less as if you mention something just for reassurance etc and they note it down, if it ever becomes an actual problem and you want to change insurers at renewal time it won’t necessarily be covered.

Also, if you have no treatment or discussions/medication for your pre-existing conditions for two years from your policy start date you may be covered thereafter.

@samebutdifferentt oh my god, that had not even occurred to me, thank you!

so if I had an investigation on my current plan, then switched provider next year, whatever that investigation is would no longer be covered!

Surely not the case if you stay with the same provider though?

Yes, you’d need to stay with the same provider or if the case has been treated and closed it may not be a problem. It all depends on your policy but worth bearing in mind.

@samebutdifferentt it’s usually 2 years, isn’t it? The period of time which must have passed for it to no longer be classed as “pre existing”

Talk to your local private hospitals about which insurance policies they accept. Locally for us very few take vitality at all and those that do require significant top ups, likewise for bupa.

Axa are far more widely accepted, but even then at present with so many self payers coming through with better profit margins the insurance cases don’t get the speed of treatment they used to.

@Asdf12345 sheesh. I thought Bupa was a safe bet!

@Asdf12345 how do I even go about that? When I check the Bupa hospital finder, it shows most of the private hospitals and consultants in my area. Can it show that and the hospital still deny it?

We've not had any issue finding a local hospital/consultant with Bupa . If you have someone specific in mind just check. You just need prior approval and to pay the excess. You may be overthinking it.

I think you can do it, but it is better to discuss it in the hospital you're going to do it. It also depends on the pace, as different hospitals can have various policies. I started portland insurance about a year ago, and I can use it to cover my ultrasounds and some medicaments if I have a prescription. I used to live without insurance until I got pregnant. Pregnancy demands a lot of showing up to the hospital; moreover, there were some problems initially, and I needed to make an appointment often. The baby is fine and safe now, but I continue paying for insurance.

I can highly recommend www.myhealthprotected.co.uk they will compare the market for you and find you the most competitive rate for your needs, my family have been using them for years and they manage to lower our premiums every year (your plan is reviewed yearly) I have recommended them to many people, all have been very happy with their reviews.

Thanks all. I ended up going with Bupa.

we Started off with bupa, we are now AXA who have been great so far. Once your policy comes up for renewal I can highly recommend giving my health protected a call, they are able to negotiate a better rate for you than what you would get going directly with the insurers

Pretty sure my private insurance says you can't use it for the first 3 months or something...

Oh great a zombie thread 🤦🏼‍♀️

Hello,

I'm an independent Private medical insurance broker.

If anyone has any questions regarding PMI, their current cover or possibly looking to take a policy out. Please ask any questions you have! I have been in this industry for 6 years and worked for the NHS before that so I have a very good understanding of health issues and what insurer would be best. I work with AXA, Aviva, Bupa, Vitality and The Exeter Health and have full understanding of other policies with other insurers.

[email protected]

Please ask away

Have you always stayed with the same insurer?

@MrsPerfect12 If the second claim is in the same year you wouldn't pay the excess again, only if it rolled into the next year.

@PrivateHealthAdvisor you will pay excess again if you have a per claim excess

I’ve never come across a hospital that doesn’t take vitality. I have come across one consultant who isn’t covered but other that that all the hospitals and all the doctors are registered under vitality. For consultants they choose who covers them and pretty much all of them are covered by everyone. This is anywhere from central London to local private hospitals