Bupa Health Care

[LoveACuppaTea]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned before but I was wondering if anyone is PG and has bupa health cover? Just wondering what to do as I've only found out today I'm PG.

Thanks xx

hiya - I can help with this as I actually work for them. Whats your question

oh perfect!

Im just wondering what I do :S The cover is through DHs work and says I have to make an appointment with my normal doctor and they refer me to a specialist or something? Im just wondering what happens with any scans and things that happen during pregnancy then what happens when Im giving birth? Do I go to the maternity hospital where I live or will there be a special hospital I go to? Thanks! xx

i would also be greatful if you know of anything on the bupa website i may have missed that could help me!

I was covered by BUPA when I had my two. Nothing is covered unless there is a problem.

Forceps (at the time) was only covered if it was 'rotational', but all of my normal care was through my GP.

Having said that, we knew that DS was going to be born with 'a problem' and BUPA were excellent and supportive when DH contacted them about it. They automatically cover a baby from birth, although you have to notify them.

Hope it all goes well, and that you won't need BUPA!

And Debbiecakes - can you please tell the powers that be at BUPA that a cleft lip and palate does not end after the first couple of ops. Last time I had to get authorisation for DS I was in tears because of the lack of understanding shown by BUPA. They just don't seem to get that plastic surgery for CL & P is not normal plastic surgery or orthodonistry, purely for cosmetic reasons.

Sorry - - moan over!

ah i see so i still do everything NHSy? Including the birth? No fancy hospital room?!

Sorry - no! At least, not unless you want to fork out for it!

awwww :( oh well! back to my biggest worry (atm) being a baby swap in the hospital

For some reason, no private healthcare policies in the UK seem to cover 'private birth'? Unless, as others have said there is a complication at birth and you can be referred..

I looked into taking out health insurance a while ago when we were thinking of starting a family, and no policies covered normal pregnancy. Strange, as in other countries this isn't the case. My mum had private health insurance in Dublin and was intitled to a private birth...

Do Bupa healthcare only cover Bupa 9or whatever their new name is) hospitals?

If yes then I have looked into paying privately and no Bupa hospital offer private births from what I can find anyway.

With both my births in NHS the baby never left mine or DH's side or sight and I was in for 2 days with both.

But I can only speak from my experience but it did make it impossible for a swap to have happened.

dont they go to a big room where theres just lots of babies lol or have I been watching too much TV?

They did many years ago, but not now you don't get the luxury of sleep all babies are kept with mothers on the ward.

oh good!

Should say though, it is different if there is a problem with the baby, they don't stay with the mother then, but not sure what the set up is as thankfully I haven't experienced this.

eek well fingers crossed! I'll just get DH to mark it with a pen when it comes out!!

bupa international health insurance (not the normal crappy one) covers antenatal (4k) and delivery (15k for cs) regardless of whether one has a medical condition. costs around 136 a month. 10 month moratorium from when you take it out.

"For some reason, no private healthcare policies in the UK seem to cover 'private birth'?"

This is totally out of order. I was covered by my employee medical insurance (Cigna) and I payed more than when I switched cover to my dh Dutch insurer. Everything pre- and post-natal is covered, including home birth, where they pay for midwife PLUS, wait for it, a small allowance to me for every day I am not being in the hospital. Small amount but I nearly fell of my chair. Plus private "breastfeeding support" for someone to visit for 2 weeks.

I have no idea how the Dutch manage to do it with smaller premium. I think we should demand more of these UK insurers if there is any way at all.

sorry for all the spelling mistakes

Our Aviva policy (admittedly a very extensive one) covered my first section and Axa PPP covered my second one, although not to the same extent and my husband's firm generously paid the difference. Both deliveries were at The Portland.

I have private insurance through DH's work (Axa) it's a pretty good policy as I have used them for other "conditions" - they don't cover normal pregnancy but will cover complications. I had a MMC and needed an ERPC and to be honest they were great - I could choose the Consultant I wanted and had it done when I wanted at a private hospital - they covered all the costs as well as all extensive blood tests and scans/consultations post op so can't complain really :)

Hi Guys - sorry didn't realised there had been replies and was over on the Teenage forums !

OK and more than happy to help on some questions but I don't want to be battered about why things are or aren't covered. And I can't comment on individual issues. If I know the answer I will help or point you in the right direction - but if you ever have an issue with whats covered/not covered and why please call the customer service line as someone should always be able to explain this to you. If you are unhappy with the answer, ask to speak to one of the managers. They will have no issue in trying to help you where possible - but sometimes this may mean explaining something is not covered - but they should be able to tell you why

And a) you should always check with your insurance company (inc Bupa) before going ahead with anything. b) of course I can't comment on why insurance companies do or don't cover etc etc.
c) Your own cover will depend on what insurance policy you have.

But for the most part pregancy is not covered by any of the UK companies. So scans, midwife appts etc will not be covered.

C section which is medically necessary is covered. But People get confused between "elective" and "emergency", and assume Bupa only cover emergency.

1. emergency is just as is says - an emergency
2. elective can mean one of two things

a) You have chosen to deliver this way b) The c section is medically necessary but pre-booked so to speak.

Bupa will normally cover if you need have to have a caesarian for medical reasons- whether emergency or not. My guess the reason pregnancy is covered in other other countries is because they don't have the NHS - in most cases you have no choice but to go private. It's also why some of the International policies will cover it

Bupa do not just cover at their hospitals (in fact not theirs now anyway and called Spires). They cover treatment in hospitals registered and recognised by them. Hospitals, have to go through a stringent check to ensure they meet certain standards. The hospitals you can use are again dependant on which policy etc etc etc.
Also need to take into account the country in which treatment is taking place - plain fact is some countries are a LOT more expensive for medical treatment. USA for example is many many times more expensive for medical treatment there, so a policy which covers the US will undoutably be more expensive.

Best thing is to enjoy your pregnancies, if there is god forbid an issue. It helps if you have as much info as possible before you call. i,e, consultants name, hospital etc - if at all poss the anaes name (but often you won't know this one)

The way to think about medical insurance is the same way as with any insurance i.e. your car insurance would not cover your annual service or MOT. Your House insurance would not cover general maintenance (sorry not the best analogy I know LOL).

Debbiecakes what I am about to say is not directed at you or anybody here. The assumption that other countries do not have "nhs" equivalent, and that is why they cover everything, is not right. Dutch do, albeit it is differently organized.

I think maternity care provision is just not a priority in this country be so NHS or private and that is why the standard is so low or not existent.

As I said bemybebe.............. My guess the reason pregnancy is not covered................., and I said in "most cases" so it wasn't assumption, just a guess. I, of course, have little knowledge on state medical care in other countries.

I think you're right that maternity care is not a high priority, but thats not just a private sector issue. Although my own experience of NHS maternity care in the UK was excellent, so I guess it depends on where you are etc

I thought you would take it personally, please do not. It is not the first time I hear "yeah, but the do not have the N.H.S"... No-no I do not blame only private sector for ignoring mothers and babies. NHS is terrible too. There was a very frightening article in The Independent on 4 April. Here is an abstract

"Fourteen NHS trusts have significantly raised baby death rates which are up to twice the national average. Shortages of staff, a rising birth rate, lack of training, inadequate equipment and poor leadership are leaving women in childbirth exposed to unacceptable risks. ...The 14 NHS trusts with high baby death rates ringing alarm bells about their safety are highlighted in a report by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries, but they have not been named. National death rates for babies had fallen over the past decade, the report said, but it found wide variations between regions ranging up to 50 per cent. The safety of mothers was also being put in jeopardy, it said. More than nine out of 10 women who died from pre-eclampsia ? a condition causing potentially dangerous high blood pressure affecting one in 10 pregnant women ? received inadequate care, it said."

I am actually probably going to the local NHS hospital (long story why), but I am taking an independent midwife with me to act as support and advocate. I am due in Sept and was already told that it is a busy month in maternity with all the 'holiday' babies, so I should 'be patient'... whatever it means.

I live in Surrey, so not exactly middle of nowhere and my family's experience of NHS was good only in respect to our GP, anything hospital related was absolutely dire. Of course once you start comparing NHS to Liberia, it is different, but then we pay neither 'Liberian' amounts in taxes, no in private insurance premia.