Private healthcare/insurance. BUPA a good choice?
Discussion
Hi all
Looking to get private health care for me and my daughter.
I'm 42, no health conditions other than on TRT. Had laser eye surgery and appendix removed in the past but that's it. Active, healthy, 90kgs/180cm.
She's 8, no health conditions.
BUPAs coming in a £52pm for comprehensive cover with 'extended' hospital cover which puts somewhere 15 mins away in scope.
What do i need to know? Any experiences? Any tips?
Thanks
Looking to get private health care for me and my daughter.
I'm 42, no health conditions other than on TRT. Had laser eye surgery and appendix removed in the past but that's it. Active, healthy, 90kgs/180cm.
She's 8, no health conditions.
BUPAs coming in a £52pm for comprehensive cover with 'extended' hospital cover which puts somewhere 15 mins away in scope.
What do i need to know? Any experiences? Any tips?
Thanks
I've been lucky enough in the past to have BUPA coverage through work as a perk.
It's been highly useful from running injuries to more serious matters. It's comforting to know that if I had something life-threatening or life-changing, it would be looked at privately.
The only thing to be aware of (which you are OP) is they can't cover pre-existing conditions, which has sadly meant my wife hasn't been able to fully utilise it.
They (BUPA) are always easy and pleasant to deal with, never had issues with claims or anything like that.
It's been highly useful from running injuries to more serious matters. It's comforting to know that if I had something life-threatening or life-changing, it would be looked at privately.
The only thing to be aware of (which you are OP) is they can't cover pre-existing conditions, which has sadly meant my wife hasn't been able to fully utilise it.
They (BUPA) are always easy and pleasant to deal with, never had issues with claims or anything like that.
ucb said:
it's a paywall - what does it say please?Tye Green said:
ucb said:
it's a paywall - what does it say please?Bupa is facing a mass rebellion by anaesthetists demanding higher fees for private work, as the UK’s largest medical insurer competes for doctors to treat a surge in patients turning to private healthcare at a time of record NHS waiting lists.
Hundreds of anaesthetists sent letters to Bupa on Friday informing the company of their decision to resign from contracts, according to two people familiar with the revolt. The letters provided 30 days’ notice.
In a statement, James Sherwood, general manager for Bupa UK insurance healthcare management, said the company had “carefully considered” how to balance affordability for customers with the doctors’ demands.
“We want to reassure customers that we have an extensive network of anaesthetists so that all treatment continues as planned,” he added.
However, one doctor described the offer as “derisory”, suggesting the dispute was far from over. “We are instituting a free market for professional fees around the country, as there should be,” the doctor said.
The anaesthetists have said they are still willing to treat Bupa patients but not through the contracts, according to those familiar with the dispute.
I've had AXA through work for years. Never used until the last 18 months. Aside from a minor hiccup, which my surgeon sorted no issues.
The thing to watch however is that they do try to lock you into Nuffield hospitals. The issue I had was that the surgeon wanted to perform the procedure at a NHS hospital, AXA were arguing to do it at a Nuffield 15 mins down the road. The surgeons intervention solved it easily.
The thing to watch however is that they do try to lock you into Nuffield hospitals. The issue I had was that the surgeon wanted to perform the procedure at a NHS hospital, AXA were arguing to do it at a Nuffield 15 mins down the road. The surgeons intervention solved it easily.
Ref the issue with anethetists, I’m with AXA through work although had bupa before, apart from the time taken to get hold of AXA on the phone they have been excellent. They paid for a very expensive and complicated specialist operation for my son without any issue….apart from the anethetist.
Before the surgery he contacted me separately and said he would hold me responsible for the full payment of his fee (£1600) if AXA did not pay him in full. My surgeon mate said this was a rip off and a usual fee for an anethetist was circa £500 max. I went to and fro with AXA who would just say “we will come to an agreement” although after much pressing from me they finally gave me something in writing saying they would pay for the costs of the surgery….which I assumed would mean in full.
So we went ahead and just before Christmas I see in my account they have paid a load of bills for the surgery and only paid him £450 instead of £1600. He is now very unhappy and threatening me with legal action unless I pay him - I’m spending hours on the phone to AXA trying to explain that either they pay him in full or I’m going to court (or paying him myself). It was a nightmare tbh and I very nearly paid to make him go away, but AXA kept telling me it was their issue and nothing to do with me.
To be fair to AXA they eventually used some discretionary payments to pay this bloke in full, they also sent him some legal stuff about harassing patients too (!). I can see both points of view as he knew getting paid was going to be a nightmare hence why he used me. He was a ****** **** though
Before the surgery he contacted me separately and said he would hold me responsible for the full payment of his fee (£1600) if AXA did not pay him in full. My surgeon mate said this was a rip off and a usual fee for an anethetist was circa £500 max. I went to and fro with AXA who would just say “we will come to an agreement” although after much pressing from me they finally gave me something in writing saying they would pay for the costs of the surgery….which I assumed would mean in full.
So we went ahead and just before Christmas I see in my account they have paid a load of bills for the surgery and only paid him £450 instead of £1600. He is now very unhappy and threatening me with legal action unless I pay him - I’m spending hours on the phone to AXA trying to explain that either they pay him in full or I’m going to court (or paying him myself). It was a nightmare tbh and I very nearly paid to make him go away, but AXA kept telling me it was their issue and nothing to do with me.
To be fair to AXA they eventually used some discretionary payments to pay this bloke in full, they also sent him some legal stuff about harassing patients too (!). I can see both points of view as he knew getting paid was going to be a nightmare hence why he used me. He was a ****** **** though
Stick with Bupa/Aviva and AXA at a push.
Most of them have a digital doctor which is really handy when you can't get an appointment at your local GP.
Watch your outpatient limit if your policy has one, as these can be maxed quite quickly.
Get blood tests done on the NHS instead of as an out-patient as these can be costly.
Insurers now offer pathways for common treatments like mental health and where you need physio which you can use straight away without a GP referral so gives you even quicker access.
Service levels to claim are not great throughout the market but due to the state of the NHS, demand for private healthcare is outstripping insurers resources and access to treatment is taking longer and you may no longer be having it a week or so after referral like you used to.
I can't think of any personal PMI policies that cover pre-existing conditions unless you were offered a continuation option coming off a company group scheme when leaving, however I may be wrong. If they did I'm guessing it's going to be massively expensive.
I'm not aware of issues with anaesthetists either as normally insurers have a package price on treatment which would cover all aspects of it once authorised.
The insurers normally have a contract with the hospital and will have worked out a fee for treatment, consultants etc which they will pay up to and which the hospital will need to adhere to and not overcharge members.
Most of them have a digital doctor which is really handy when you can't get an appointment at your local GP.
Watch your outpatient limit if your policy has one, as these can be maxed quite quickly.
Get blood tests done on the NHS instead of as an out-patient as these can be costly.
Insurers now offer pathways for common treatments like mental health and where you need physio which you can use straight away without a GP referral so gives you even quicker access.
Service levels to claim are not great throughout the market but due to the state of the NHS, demand for private healthcare is outstripping insurers resources and access to treatment is taking longer and you may no longer be having it a week or so after referral like you used to.
I can't think of any personal PMI policies that cover pre-existing conditions unless you were offered a continuation option coming off a company group scheme when leaving, however I may be wrong. If they did I'm guessing it's going to be massively expensive.
I'm not aware of issues with anaesthetists either as normally insurers have a package price on treatment which would cover all aspects of it once authorised.
The insurers normally have a contract with the hospital and will have worked out a fee for treatment, consultants etc which they will pay up to and which the hospital will need to adhere to and not overcharge members.
Siko said:
My surgeon mate said this was a rip off and a usual fee for an anethetist was circa £500 max.
The surgeons point of view may be slightly coloured by the fact that their fees are usually more than three times that of the anaesthetic fee. Doctors should be charging what they see as suitable for the proposed patient and procedure and people should be able to choose from a selection of alternatives 'providers'.
The insurance companies are simply trying to screw a profit from all
GT03ROB said:
The thing to watch however is that they do try to lock you into Nuffield hospitals. The issue I had was that the surgeon wanted to perform the procedure at a NHS hospital, AXA were arguing to do it at a Nuffield 15 mins down the road. The surgeons intervention solved it easily.
How does this work? Does the insurance co pay the NHS for use of the hospital?alscar said:
Might be worth a call with a decent Healthcare Broker - I have used Usay compare and Healthcare clarity in the past with some good results.
My wife and I were both with Axa last year but I switched to BUPA on renewal.
Combined premiums went down about £1k.
Yep, we used Usay too, seemed worthwhile.My wife and I were both with Axa last year but I switched to BUPA on renewal.
Combined premiums went down about £1k.
Defcon5 said:
GT03ROB said:
The thing to watch however is that they do try to lock you into Nuffield hospitals. The issue I had was that the surgeon wanted to perform the procedure at a NHS hospital, AXA were arguing to do it at a Nuffield 15 mins down the road. The surgeons intervention solved it easily.
How does this work? Does the insurance co pay the NHS for use of the hospital?Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff