BUPA

I've been reading through the past topics on Private insurance... but seems kind of out of date

Anyways, the company has just decided to have BUPA- but I don't think I understand the point of it - it doesn't cover any of these conditions:  
 
ageing, menopause and puberty
AIDS/HIV
allergies or allergic disorders
birth control, conception, sexual problems and sex changes
chronic conditions
complications from excluded or restricted conditions/ treatment
convalescence, rehabilitation and general nursing care
cosmetic, reconstructive or weight loss treatment
deafness
dental/oral treatment (such as fillings, gum disease, jaw shrinkage, etc)
dialysis
drugs and dressings for out-patient or take-home use
experimental drugs and treatment
eyesight
HRT and bone densitometry
learning difficulties, behavioural and developmental problems
overseas treatment and repatriation
physical aids and devices
pre-existing or special conditions
pregnancy and childbirth
screening and preventive treatment
sleep problems and disorders
speech disorders
temporary relief of symptoms
treatment in a hospital that is not a Bupa Heartbeat hospital
unrecognised providers or facilities

I've got my obvious, pre-existing condition that I keep moaning about- and well, while isn't diagnosed, is stilll a pain in my ars*... and I'm sure they'd call it "pre-existing"  
 
So why would you pay £50 /month for something you can't even use? To just speed up the process??? Yeap, the NHS is really slow, 1 month for a simple ultrasound doesn't cut it for me, but is it really worth the extra £50 a month???  I don't get it???

We don't have a BUPA hospital remotely close to here, so it would still be our local NHS hospital that I'd use (privately) and since I've spent a lot of time in that, I find it clean, safe, etc, some of the other arguments for going private... I guess the only thing would be a private room instead of a ward?  (Though I have heard that we can pay a bit more for a private room out of pocket, if its available, on the NHS, priority given to those with very serious conditions though).    

Please enlighten me

(lots of confused faces in my post, because I am!)
  
I should also say that we have a health care scheme too that we can claim things back, so if I went private pay out of pocket, I can claim some £££ back...  so even more confused!

  

Given the list above, the only thing I would want it for would be in the event I contracted a serious acute disease or had an injury and needed important (but not emergency) surgery, I could get in to see a specialist much quicker than on the NHS.  But at £50/month, I'd give it a pass.

Given the list above, the only thing I would want it for would be in the event I contracted a serious acute disease or had an injury and needed important (but not emergency) surgery, I could get in to see a specialist much quicker than on the NHS.  But at £50/month, I'd give it a pass.

That's what I thought...

I guess cancer would be a very good reason for private insurance, but it seems to me that the NHS has decent suspect cancer targets and decent cancer care, except for in the case that they won't pay for prolonging your life by 6 months for highly expensive cancer drugs for really agressive cancers...

That's what I thought...

I guess cancer would be a very good reason for private insurance, but it seems to me that the NHS has decent suspect cancer targets and decent cancer care, except for in the case that they won't pay for prolonging your life by 6 months for highly expensive cancer drugs for really agressive cancers...

Even with cancer if you have BUPA they send you back to the NHS for treatment.  You would get diagnosed faster though. 

Even with cancer if you have BUPA they send you back to the NHS for treatment.  You would get diagnosed faster though. 

So the only benefit is queue jumping

You can get some stuff done on BUPA.  My husband could have gotten his hernia repaired, but that is a one off thing.  Cancer is considered  a chronic condition maybe?  I can't remember now, but a booklet about it.   

Interesting... 

Thanks

I don't think it will be worth it for me, but I'm still weighing the options

So the only benefit is queue jumping

That's my take on BUPA, the only time I ever agreed to having BUPA membership was when it came free as part of a salary package (so not totally free, but free all the same)

At my last job I had BUPA coverage, and I never used it. When I was hospitalised I had excellent care on the NHS in a ward. Turns out, after speaking to HR, I was entitled to claim back some money with BUPA, I got £100 a night for using an NHS Hospital! So in essence BUPA paid me...

At my last job I had BUPA coverage, and I never used it. When I was hospitalised I had excellent care on the NHS in a ward. Turns out, after speaking to HR, I was entitled to claim back some money with BUPA, I got £100 a night for using an NHS Hospital! So in essence BUPA paid me...

yup, therein is the major benefit of BUPA.

But pretty much it's used for queue jumping non-emergency stuff, so if you need xrays or scans or diagnostic stuff, there's no waiting. It does good minor operations as well, hernia repairs etc.


 

Yes, claiming back for NHS stays is a nice little perk. You also have some more freedom with choosing consultants, whereas with the NHS, you may be stuck.

It actually can be good for cancer care (assuming it is much like WPA, who I worked for). A lot of the care will be done on the NHS, but a lot can also be done thru BUPA.

It may also be good for things like PT, accupuncture, osteopathy, etc. Check to see if you company is allowing that. I saw a chiro when I had WPA and it was great.

Basically, the point of private health insurance in the UK is for 'better' 'faster' care of short term things - accute illnesses or injuries. Cancer is the exception. Your rural location may make a lot of that a non-issue. But, I do think that you could travel to a BUPA hospital to get care there if you wanted or your condition allowed it.

Is it worth it? Hard to say. Your pre-existing condition, especially lacking a Dx, will make things a little tricky - what do they exclude your from? Any and all abdominal pain? If their underwriters are any good, no. But you have to be careful. Read the fine print.

PM if you have any other questions. I hated working for WPA but I did learn a lot!

Thanks- I may investigate a bit further