Private healthcare...

[MonkeyTennis34]

I'm considering signing up for private healthcare but I know very little about it.

No idea how much it costs.

I'm 54 and healthy.

Anyone got any recommendations?

DD is covered under Bupa and I’m fortunate to have a work policy with Aviva. Out of the two Aviva are far easier to deal with and have better customer service but on the other hand I can’t really complain as Bupa have paid out for 2 operations in the past year with 0 difficulty! No idea how much the Aviva costs but DD’s Bupa is almost £60 per month. I wouldn’t feel comfortable or safe without private health insurance nowadays - it’s become a necessary expense in my opinion

Alternative Private Healthcare Cover | Benenden Health

I only signed up at the time due to a health problem and it was said they take on existing health problems and you only needed to pay a monthly dd for 6 months at the time.

I haven't fully used it but both times I spoke to them they were helpful and reminded me the time I was pretty distraught I could use the mental health service for getting support with a mis-diagnosis.

Benenden are great for simple + common things but anything more complex and you’d need to go back to the NHS or pay for treatment/surgery yourself. It’s very good + useful cover for the little it costs, we used to have it but it’s not a substitute for ‘proper’ health insurance. They’ve also recently changed the Ts&Cs - you now have to wait a full 2 years to be able to claim!

Have healthcare through work. Was Aviva , which was excellent when I needed it; company moved to Bupa.

A friend at the local Private Hospital says Bupa are harder to deal with, for the consultants to get approval from etc, and the Bupa process has taken longer than Aviva.

Shop around - try Money Supermarket. Be sure to declare all pre existing conditions.
Sorry cannot give you any cost indication, but it’s unlikely to be cheap.

Have used AXA, Aviva and bupa through work in recent years.

AXA we had to pay up to £300 a year on a cost share but they did cover everything after that.

Aviva a nightmare to get through to - 40 mins on hold, but everything covered.

BUPA seem fine so far, though the anaesthetist wasnt covered, however we are under continuity of care from the change from Aviva so covered at least for 6 months for all costs.

These are all work policies 'medical history disregarded' undoubtedly one of my husbands best benefits.

Thanks all.
I need to do some comparisons and see if it's affordable for us.