Recurrent miscarriages + BUPA

[90snostalgia2020]

Wondering if anyone has experience of getting their recurrent miscarriages (3+) investigated privately under standard UK BUPA coverage? I’m trying to find out what they’ll cover - and also understand what the experience is like. Did it end up being much quicker / any different to going the NHS route? Thanks

I did - had one appointment and then went back to the NHS. It probably wasn’t worth me doing it, but that was a reflection of the specific consultant I saw and also that I had an established relationship with my local RMC. A better consultant would have made a lot of difference.

The BUPA offering itself is worth exploring. I was told that my policy covered the same tests as the NHS plus NK cells - this is a new addition and a very pricey tests that the NHS doesn’t do. I also had a diagnostics ultrasound which was useful in reassuring that all looked ok post my latest miscarriage (which had been at 17 weeks this time).

I have a Tommys clinic near me and they are great once you get into the system. Which part of the country are you in?

It was super quick, I should add. I had a phone consultation the day after I contacted them, and then an ultrasound, all before the NHs clinic has even written to me with an appointment. If you’ve not been investigated at all before then I’d definitely recommend using your BUPA to explore it. Happy to chat directly via PM if that helps.

Sorry that you’re going through this, it really is the pits x

Thank you so much - that’s so helpful. Really appreciate you sharing your experience.

I had BUPA policy through work. It a standard clause in their policy not to cover "fertility investigations" or treatment and this includes miscarriages (unless you need a D&C).
It's rubbish and really employees should be given the option of paying additional premiums to increase their cover
Mine wouldnt even cover a HSG scan to check if my last tube was blocked after I nearly died and lost a tube to a ruptured ectopic. I went on to nearly die again when my remaining tube ruptured because they said it was a fertility investigation🤷‍♀️

I went through bupa 4 years ago to investigate recurrent miscarriage. Under the policy I was eligible for an initial consultation with a specialist (of my choice) which included a scan, but then any follow up appointment and treatment was not covered. The initial consultation was about £250 so that was all that was covered. My premium then soared the next year so in hindsight it wasn't really worth putting it through the insurance. Lots of luck.

In relation to your other question about the difference between private and NHS... there was a few months wait to be treated by the NHS recurrent miscarriage clinic so it was definitely quicker to go privately. The NHS couldn't find any issues with the tests they do so I was dismissed from the clinic with no help whatsoever, despite 4 previous miscarriages. I went privately and they do much more thorough testing which identified a couple of problems, I'm now pregnant with my second child so in my experience it was well worth going private.

I’ve not gone private but wanted to add my perspective of having gone through the NHS. My referral was quick - can’t quite remember - maybe 7/8 wks to get an appointment. Lovely knowledgeable consultant - really detailed long appointment. All my tests were normal and she tailored investigations to my circumstances (didn’t scan tubes as I said I wouldn’t consider IVF).

She prescribed me progesterone suppositories to use in subsequent pregnancies, recommend 0 alcohol and caffeine while TTC and baby aspirin as soon as I got my BFP.

Where she’s been amazing had been in my current pregnancy. She offered me a scan at 6 wks (which I actually declined) then scanned me at 9 wks and 15 wks. She’s keeping in touch and basically if I’m panicking she will give me a quick scan. She’s also arranged a couple of growth scans in 3rd tri. I’m currently 18 wks after 7 mc. I’m not convinced the clinic helped my fertility (think issue is probably old eggs and old sperm) but the support in this pregnancy has been amazing. Would you get such extensive and joined up care from your BUPA? Might be worth checking this out as engaging with your NHS service might give you better longitudinal care.

I have to say my experience of a NHS recurrent miscarriage clinic was totally different to @Moo678

5 month wait from referral to get into to see the specialist. Very basic i felt testing done - thyroid, blood clotting, autoimmune - no thinking out the box or tailored approach

Refused progesterone, steroids, blood thinners and aspirin when I asked

Wouldn't test for sperm dna fragmentation, progesterone levels, NK cells, karyotyping

Waved on my way with a call us when you next get a BFP and we'll scan you at 6 weeks and then every 2 weeks after that (by which point likely to late if it was a progesterone issue 🤷‍♀️) but in July when I did get a BFP I was told due to covid they wouldn't be doing any scans. (So you have to ask yourself what's the point of the clinic? - and this is at a very large specialist city hospital not a small regional by the way)

I was only seen when I told them my last 2 pregnancies were ectopic and I nearly died twice

You get what you pay for but I had the additional testing run by my IVF clinic who also supported both me and a friend when we got naturally conceived BFPs inbetween IVF cycles and gave us free scans and gave us progesterone, blood thinners at cost. I felt they were much more interested in helping us than the NHS even when they didn't need to since we hadn't conceived by way of an IVF transfer