Have ablation scheduled for 16 June, Bupa now tell me that the hospital where my consultant wants to do the operation is not on my hospital list. He is a Bupa approved consultant, based at a hospital which is on my list, but he is choosing to do the operation at another hospital. Bupa say they will not fund unless the consultant has a ‘valid reason’ for the location he is chosen.
Any help/advice with this situation would be much appreciated - it’s not doing my afib much good!!
Thanks
Sarah
I'd let your consultant know about this and see if he could do your ablation in a different hospital, even if you have to wait a few more weeks later to have it. Ring his secretary now and make her aware of the problem.
Jean
Thank you Jean, good advice, fingers crossed he can be flexible!
I am with Bupa - all my consultants are Bupa Fee Assured & they’ve done all my CVs & ablations at the hospital where I see them. Bupa probably won’t pay up for the things that aren’t covered - they’d probably only pay the consultant his fee but not for anaesthetists that aren’t Bupa assured, theatres, beds etc & send you a personal invoice for stuff they don’t cover. Did you by any chance see the consultant via the NHS then decide to go private to get the work done quicker or did you start off seeing them at a private hospital? Did you go via Bupa to see the consultant for the initial consultation - sometimes consultant may be just using one place as a consulting office only but that actual place may not be used for treatments. Check with consultant - I’ve had invoices for excess charges not covered, luckily low value. They ask for the name of the anaesthetist as if the consultant uses a preferred colleague they may not be Bupa fee assured etc. You’ll have to check with your consultant (may need to see another consultant if any of the above apply. Good luck
Thanks for your reply, very helpful for planning my next move!
it seems that your doctor is the one that needs to straighten this out and let him explain to them. It may very well be the quality of the equipment. I have part of my hospital system 15 minutes from my house. However, I must go to the one over an hour away. I know now that they have the latest and equipment there and they want nothing but the best when working on our hearts. Not all hospitals can afford the same equipment unfortunately. My hospital just got the latest of the latest when it comes to mapping, so who would not want to use that if they are skilled for it. I hope your doctor steps up and fix it says for you.
Thank you for your reply, that’s very interesting about the equipment, am hoping that’s the reason for the location he’s chosen and that Bupa will deem it to be a ‘valid’ reason!
pass it back to consultant?
I have always understood that if you email the consultant, he or she will write a suitable letter to BUPA and they will accept the claim.
Steve
I hope that this is already being sorted for you.
I have been with BUPA for over 40 years and have had to ask a consultant to change the hospital where he wanted to operate on one occasion and get BUPA approval for an anaesthetist that wasn’t covered up to a certain amount on another. They know full well how the various health insurance systems work, so you should get things sorted soon!
Just FYI you can see the list of BUPA approved hospitals online - basic, extended choice and extended with Central London.
Why would bupa even contact you ? They need to sort it out with the consultant,you don't pay the big bucks for that kinda crap!
Hospital or not? 
A Precise - a list of things that help - For Newbies.
Choosing a hospital for Ablation
To go to hospital or not?
Question hospital or not.
