Recommendations for private health insurance

[Jamima]

Just as above really. My ongoing investigations are becoming too costly and I’d like to find a specialist. Not sure if this info needs to be pm?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I'm not 100% sure what you are asking!

Do you want the name of a specialist? In which case any answers identifying individuals must be via Private Message.

Or do you want the name of an insurer who will take you on? I think replies to this could be reasonably open so long as they do not appear to be advertising of any sort.

(It would help those thinking of replying for4 you to add your country to your profile. )

[Jamima in reply to helvella]

Thank you Helvella. I’d like the name of a recommended insurance company and then I’ll look for a specialist.

[Jamima in reply to helvella]

I think UK is already on my profile.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jamima]

It doesn't show on your post! You have to choose your country in Where do you live? and not hide it for it to appear on your posts!

[Jamima in reply to helvella]

Apologies, I'm wasn't aware I'd hidden it. How do I un-hide it?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jamima]

Unclick the tickbox next to it.

(I think - I don't want to change mine to find out for sure.)

[Jamima in reply to helvella]

Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Insurance doesn’t usually cover pre existing conditions

[Jamima in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slowdragon. I’m not diagnosed with anything other than CFS.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jamima]

Companies do vary but some will expect a detailed health history. Symptoms, even without diagnosis, can be a problem.

The one sort of insurance that often provides cover even for pre-existing complaints is company insurance for employees. Most others won't touch anything pre-existing.

[Jamima in reply to helvella]

Ok, thank you.

[CoeliacMum1 in reply to SlowDragon]

I thought that and can’t say how things are now. We’ve had private insurance for couple of decades now, I had asthma before started it but it’s allowed but blood pressure related isn’t all I can assume is it’s due to parents having it as I don’t have it, isn’t that weird…my husbands were work pays for it and we have had various changes in companies over the years… but that’s never changed .

They all have seemed ok we have very comprehensive cover and actually have another cover to cover initial excess, so really lucky.

[Jamima in reply to CoeliacMum1]

Thank you CoeliacMum1.

[Rapunzel]

Hey Jamima

You'll find most Private Medical Insurance (PMI) will only cover acute conditions. Both CFS and hypothyroidism are chronic conditions and to my certain knowledge, you will not get cover for chronic conditions beyond the identification/diagnosis of the condition. Furthermore, as helvella has mentioned, you will not anyway secure cover for a condition existing at the time of application for PMI.

Some PMI available via your employer, if you have one, may include a moratorium on existing conditions, but there are often hefty exclusions and the PMI is usually self-funded by your employer ( they don't pay premiums to an insurance company, rather the supplier (typically Spire/BUPA)will bill your employer for the total cost of medical expenses on a claim by claim basis) and will be treated as a benefit in kind by HMRC to you.

[Jamima in reply to Rapunzel]

Thank you Rapunzel.

[Framboise]

I've had a lot of help from BUPA. As long as you are not already diagnosed with a thyroid problem you can ask for a consultation and then expect that the consultant will stabilise you on whatever treatment is chosen. GPs don't then have to pay any attention to a private consultant (mine haven't in 21 years!), but you may be able to self treat and just see the consultant when you feel something isn't quite right and the hormones need tweaking. This is how I've managed. Most health insurances don't cover a chronic condition, but if a chronic condition has an acute phase then they will cover that. Sometimes I've been fine but just wanted blood levels to be checked etc., and then I've paid for the consultation myself. It sounds as if you've already been paying yourself though, in which case perhaps a health insurer could provide more costly investigations.

[Jamima in reply to Framboise]

Thank you Framboise. I understand that it won't be carte blanche but just wanted to get an idea of how it works and if it might work for me. Yes, I've been paying so far, also pay for blood tests, cortisol tests and other female health checks the NHS don't routinely cover. Your post is helpful, I'll look at BUPA. I'm interested in more pituitary tests and don't think I can do that without a medic signing off. Haven't seen my GP in almost 3 years, called yesterday as I have a really nasty stomach bug lasting longer than usual, receptionist told me 'I can't make appointments, you have to do an e-consult.' This isn't ok, and as I've discovered over the past few years, I can't expect my health to remain stable as I age, so I'd like some sort of back up plan. Thank you.

[CoeliacMum1 in reply to Jamima]

I always thought you needed your GP referral and on seeing my endocrinologist and telling him what struggle it’s been getting a referral, he mentioned you can see a private GP, I assumed he meant through our insurance. Now we did have this highlighted as an option over the pandemic to see and have access to a GP but no idea if this standard procedure, you may find something when looking up these companies in their literature… we’ve used Bupa & AXA both been fine.

[Jamima in reply to CoeliacMum1]

Many thanks CoeliacMum1, I'm not in any way blaming GP's, I imagine their workload is onerous, but I'd like to see one face to face at least once in 3 years. I'll have a look at private GP options too, that may be a better option. Thank you.

[Framboise in reply to Jamima]

You do usually need a GP's referral, but BUPA also have their own GPs and phone lines to arrange consultations for some conditions direct. It's worth seeing if you belong to any organisation, or have had any occupation ever, that gives a discounted rate. I also paid for a number of tests the NHS wouldn't cover, it's annoying but I suppose I have to be thankful I'm able to. I also have to say that, if you get anything worse later on, health insurance can make a huge difference to the treatment, as we've found since my husband had a stroke. Emergency care is superb, but the peripherals take an age to happen. It really shouldn't be like this!

The business of online and phone consultations with a GP is disgraceful. My mother is 97, very independent but also very deaf. She walked to her GP surgery last week to ask for an appointment and was given a phone one - despite the GP calling her in at the last one as she couldn't answer anything, and despite my having asked them to annotate her notes and only ever give her a face-to-face appointment. Craziness!

[Zods]

I’m with Axa I can’t recommend them enough. They are a bit pricey but defo worth it. Great customer service, never quibbled any claim. Always got my visits preauthorised, so the clinic claims it straight through Axa so I don’t have to part with any money first. When I have paid for visits first and submitted my invoice they paid me into my bank account within 2-3 days. Thanks to being able to go private I found out I had Hashimoto and various vitamin deficiencies and saw an endocrinologist, who carried out a thyroid biopsy. When I was told by various NHS GP’s there was nothing wrong. I am finally feeling I have got some of my life back. Hope this helps.