Private healthcare with pre existing condition (arthritis)
Discussion
I want to take out private healthcare and have rheumatoid arthritis. Obviously I have declared this, cheapest quote so far is Bupa for £42 a month.
Does anyone have experience with making a claim when you have a pre existing condition such as mine? Guess my concern is if I have a problem ‘xy’ joint at some point down the line, will they do their best to wiggle out of it and not treat me?
Does anyone have experience with making a claim when you have a pre existing condition such as mine? Guess my concern is if I have a problem ‘xy’ joint at some point down the line, will they do their best to wiggle out of it and not treat me?
Thoroughly read the T&Cs & if in doubt talk to them.
I'm with AXA & one thing I've noticed is they can wriggle a little, but usually are not a problem when it comes to sorting things.
In the last couple of months had a situation that really didn't follow their procedures, on first speaking they felt they would not cover, but sent them the doctors letter & they agreed within the hour.
I do get the feeling however that the insurers approach people in company schemes a little better than individuals.
I'm with AXA & one thing I've noticed is they can wriggle a little, but usually are not a problem when it comes to sorting things.
In the last couple of months had a situation that really didn't follow their procedures, on first speaking they felt they would not cover, but sent them the doctors letter & they agreed within the hour.
I do get the feeling however that the insurers approach people in company schemes a little better than individuals.
On a individual policy you won't get cover for pre-existing conditions as you will have to be medically underwritten and won't have cover for those conditions.
I'm not sure if you can get moratorium underwriting insurance on a individual policy but that means you have to go a number of years without treatment/advice of that pre-existing condition before they will cover it. It's usually 5 years before joining then another 1 or 2 years after being on the policy. Different insurers apply it in different ways.
The only way you can have them covered is on a medical history disregarded policy but these are only available on larger company policies if you work for one and they provide it via staff benefits.
They won't be able to wriggle out of anything as they abide by FOS rules if you make a complaint and if it's something that is within terms and conditions they can't decline it if it gets to that stage. You may need to submit clinical proof though to back up your claim.
I'm not sure if you can get moratorium underwriting insurance on a individual policy but that means you have to go a number of years without treatment/advice of that pre-existing condition before they will cover it. It's usually 5 years before joining then another 1 or 2 years after being on the policy. Different insurers apply it in different ways.
The only way you can have them covered is on a medical history disregarded policy but these are only available on larger company policies if you work for one and they provide it via staff benefits.
They won't be able to wriggle out of anything as they abide by FOS rules if you make a complaint and if it's something that is within terms and conditions they can't decline it if it gets to that stage. You may need to submit clinical proof though to back up your claim.
Many employer schemes are now using underwriting.
Individual schemes can have moritorium underwriting and no individual scheme will cover existing conditions (apart from if you transfer from an employer scheme that hasn’t been underwritten).
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition so is not covered by PMI schemes.
If your joint problem in the future is caused by rheumatoid arthritis then it won’t be covered, if it isn’t then it will.
Individual schemes can have moritorium underwriting and no individual scheme will cover existing conditions (apart from if you transfer from an employer scheme that hasn’t been underwritten).
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition so is not covered by PMI schemes.
If your joint problem in the future is caused by rheumatoid arthritis then it won’t be covered, if it isn’t then it will.
Sheepshanks said:
Apart from cancer, medical insurance doesn't normally usually cover chronic conditions anyway.
Even bearing in mind premiums vary depending on age, level of cover, excess etc. £42/mth seems very low so doesn't seem to take account of any pre-existing conditions.
Cancer isn’t a chronic condition although, it can become one.Even bearing in mind premiums vary depending on age, level of cover, excess etc. £42/mth seems very low so doesn't seem to take account of any pre-existing conditions.
He hasn’t stated his age or cover levels or where he lives so nobody knows if £42pm is low or not.
craig1912 said:
Cancer isn’t a chronic condition although, it can become one.
He hasn’t stated his age or cover levels or where he lives so nobody knows if £42pm is low or not.
Feels like you're arguing for the sake of it?He hasn’t stated his age or cover levels or where he lives so nobody knows if £42pm is low or not.
Cancer isn't chronic...but it can become chronic.
It's usually covered anyway.I stated even more caveats on the cost than you did. I would imagine plenty of people think £42/mth is low - it's pretty close to the minimum some companies advertise ("from £1.25 per day"). My premium is £hundreds per month, so I certainly know that £42 is low.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 5th September 22:29
I have BUPA cover through work. It does not cover pre existing conditions. I am a type one diabetic of 42 years, so I am liable to suffer serious complications from that, but I still think it is a worthwhile case given everything else that could happen to me.
It is obviously a personal decision and your appetite for risk and how bad your arthritis might be
It is obviously a personal decision and your appetite for risk and how bad your arthritis might be
Sheepshanks said:
Feels like you're arguing for the sake of it?
Cancer isn't chronic...but it can become chronic. It's usually covered anyway.
I stated even more caveats on the cost than you did. I would imagine plenty of people think £42/mth is low - it's pretty close to the minimum some companies advertise ("from £1.25 per day"). My premium is £hundreds per month, so I certainly know that £42 is low.
No I wasn’t arguing, apologies if you took it that way.Cancer isn't chronic...but it can become chronic.
It's usually covered anyway.I stated even more caveats on the cost than you did. I would imagine plenty of people think £42/mth is low - it's pretty close to the minimum some companies advertise ("from £1.25 per day"). My premium is £hundreds per month, so I certainly know that £42 is low.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 5th September 22:29
My 22 year old pays £28pm, I pay £200pm (inc wife). I’m in my 60’s he’s in his 20’s. I’m MHD he’s Moritorium.
What I was saying is without further info nobody knows if £42 is cheap or not.
The initial drivers of price are age and where you live. You can then dive down into the various options (excess, out pat cover, psychiatric, underwriting etc.)
Agree Cancer is usually covered (although some policies it is a specific add on) but once again cancer is not a chronic condition and therefore is covered.
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