BUPA's get-out clause for cancer

[MovingForward4423]

Has anyone had any experience with Bupa cancer cover in the UK? Bupa Cancer promise is that it is not limited by time or costs. However, after one year on Ibrutinib, they have decided to increase my premium by 50%. And it gets worse, each year I am likely to face 50% increases because I lose my no-claims discount every 12 months until I reached a maximum undiscounted premium. So basically, and right now CLL has no one-off treatments other than FCR. Bupa sees Ibrutinib as a one-off yearly treatment, rather than a single claim that simple is ongoing. So my future with Bupa is to simply be priced out of treatment. So much for Bupa's cancer promise!

[BluMts]

My conclusion about Bupa is very different from yours. I've found them a very fair firm to deal with.

Yes, my premiums have gone up a lot as you say correctly, because like you, I've lost my no claims bonus and cannot get it back as long as I am continually on treatment. Which is a bitter pill, but logical and in their terms. Before my CLL treatment started, I'd used my policy once in about a decade and a half for an overnight stay in hospital. My policy only covers hospitalisation and some diagnostics, unless one gets cancer. So losing the HUGE no claims bonus was a shock.

By the way, their health insurance premiums have also risen for everyone due to the increasing costs of health care, just look at the rocketing costs as more and more superb sophisticated drugs hit the market. And bear in mind that our anual premiums are a low fraction of just the drug cost (not to speak of the other costs). On your account in Bupa online you can see a breakdown of what's they've paid out on your behalf. Premiums also rise as we get older. And seems that really picks up once you hit 70. But, as you say, it is loosing the no-claims bonus that's the killer!

At the time of my policy renewal after claiming for CLL treatment, I really freaked out at the premium change and phoned Bupa in panic and some indignation. You did this too I think? They explained the rise and at the end of the conversation they asked if I'd like a written breakdown of how my new premium was calculated. This was useful. Have you had this? If not call and ask for it.

I am aware that unless the UK Govt. adds more funding to the NHS by introducing a contributory scheme for those over a certain income, the NHS will not be able to pay for all new drugs that save lives or at least extend them. I am humbly grateful to Bupa for offering better coverage than I've seen from other firms. Once you have cancer they will cover you ... endlessly to death. Not so with all insurance companies. I really hope that when you've got over the shock of the increased premium and had time to absorb it all, that you'll feel more at rest on this matter. By the way they are a non-profit organisation. I consider my self lucky to be in the position that up to now I can pay the premium. I try not to worry about whether I will be able to continue doing so, but realise that's a real worry for most of us. Take care.

[MovingForward4423 in reply to BluMts]

I am very grateful to Bupa for the access to drugs for first-line treatment. However, unlike Aveva they treat a claim as annual to drive up the premium to a level that is unsustainable for many. My costs are due to rise to 12,500 per year... most people with cancer struggle to work or have reduced income. So unlike you, I think Bupa's cancer promise is flawed and frankly a lie.

[BluMts in reply to MovingForward4423]

Oh well, different experiences. My mind boggles at your figures.

My annual rises while in treatment for nearly 5 yrs (including age, loss of no claim bonus and general rises across the board ) are less than half your 50% figure. My initial premium was one of the lowest in the market.

I won't be replying here again, so will say, I've found Bupa an excellent company and so have other people I know very well who've had more upmarket policies than mine. Usually with insurance policies anywhere, ones no claim bonus is lost for the year in which one claim is made unless you have no claims protection. I've not heard of no claims protection with health insurance? I have a couple other different types of insurance with Aviva and that's the rule I've found there. However in the case of taking Ibrutinib this would not be important as the insurance company would receive a claim at least, monthly, every two months, or at most every 3 months for drugs, expensive tests and doctors fees. So this could never be considered a single claim in a year. We claim not for an illness but for treatment.

[Phil4-13]

🙁Horrible increase on needed care. Sandra🙏

[Michaeljohn50]

Sorry to read about your horrendous increase. Bupa have funded my CLL care since 2002, including O&V recently, without any issues. In the same timeframe they have funded a hip replacement 7/8 ankle and lower leg surgeries following a fall off a ladder, a partial knee replacement and other minor procedures. They will not pay for "maintenance", repeat steroid injections for example, even if the rationale for the injection is to avoid or delay surgery.

I have benefitted from a "no claims bonus" very occasionally, usually in the form of a reduction in the next year's premium increase. I am not aware of an ascending no claim percentage scale as experienced with motor insurance.

My policy renewed in February ,11 months into the O&V treatment, with a premium increase of around 10%. Any increase is unwelcome but given the costs incurred and the inevitable one year older add on, 10% didn't seem too bad, not sure what next time around will bring. (pause to feed to feed visiting vixen)

So, all in all, I am happy with Bupa so far. It has been a calculated decision to renew each year, as a retired person living on pensions and savings but the peace of mind has been incalculable. There are obvious financial trade offs. But,being able to find an excellent Consultant and then be able to choose when to start the optimal CLL treatment makes me a very lucky person. If only this was the case for many, many more people.

Michael