Healthcare cashplans 2009 discussion

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Healthcare Cashplans (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/healthcare-cash-plans)
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[nikki1520]

Just noticed Westfield have a special offer waiving the exclusion period at the minute - I'm very tempted!!

[Gemmzie]

I've had a BSHF (formally Foresters) health plan for a few years now. I pay quite a high premium but as I've had several hospital admissions and don't get paid sick (part-time worker) so it's really helped me out. I've broken even or made a profit every year.

[Amimarsh]

WE have been with Medicash for many, many years, and it is rare that we do not get back mostof what we pay out.

[silvergirl]

I have had a Westfield plan for several years now. They are helpful, quick and I have never had any cause to complain about their service. It's excellent and well worth it. Highly recommended

[tots19]

I have been with Westfield since 1978....OMG thats 31 years. I've never had a problem with my claims. Although in all fairness, I don't stay with them to 'make' money - I don't think anyone should. But they're there when I need them. I don't often claim for optical or dental treatment, unless its something major, as many claims from many people will result in higher premiums. But I do claim for expensive treatments, like Chiropractor therapy.

[lpoolt]

I was looking at the BHSF value plan for individuals. I would be getting the plan to reimbruse dental and opticians costs. However, I'm confused.

On this page: http://www.bhsf.co.uk/personal/choicestables.jsp?type=v it says that 'Value plan benefits are paid at 50% reimbursement of the receipt value up to the maximum benefit every benefit year, unless otherwise stated.' So does that mean that if I have dental treatment and it comes to £100 that they'll only pay £50 (50%) back?

If this is the case then why does it say further down the page beside the dental benefit '100% reimbursement of the cost up to the appropiate maximum'? Isn't this saying that it'll basically pay me back anything I have paid on treatment up to a maximum of £100 in a year?

I'm confused as the two things seem to be contradicting each other unless I'm just reading it wrong?

[flippingheckerslike]

Does anyone know the best healthcare plan for claiming for the costs of homoeopathy and acupuncture?

[1jim]

I was looking at family cover,,,are the payout limits per person or total maximum that can be paid out between all the family?

[grecians]

I have a policy with WPA, only one month qualifying period. Also one can get cover for Cancer Drugs, cover abroad and cosmetic surgery - seems to offer quite a bit more than most cash plans although WPA did not get a good listing!

[georgia1]

I was looking at the BHSF value plan for individuals. I would be getting the plan to reimbruse dental and opticians costs. However, I'm confused.

On this page: it says that 'Value plan benefits are paid at 50% reimbursement of the receipt value up to the maximum benefit every benefit year, unless otherwise stated.' So does that mean that if I have dental treatment and it comes to £100 that they'll only pay £50 (50%) back?

If this is the case then why does it say further down the page beside the dental benefit '100% reimbursement of the cost up to the appropiate maximum'? Isn't this saying that it'll basically pay me back anything I have paid on treatment up to a maximum of £100 in a year?

I'm confused as the two things seem to be contradicting each other unless I'm just reading it wrong?


As I understand this, the benefits listed are paid at 50% reimbursement unless it says otherwise (ie unless it says something different), which in the case of dental treatment it does. You can get 100% reimbursement up to a max of £100 for that.

Incidentally, if you primarily want cover for dental and optical bills you might also like to consider Engage Mutual. They also up to 100% cash back for both of these - for dental up to £110 a year and for optical £125 (gold level cover).(The £125 for optical is over 2 years, so presumably if you claim it all in the first year, you can't claim again in the 2nd year. However, this only applies to the optical cover, not the dental. Probably if you don't go to the optician more than once every 2 years it's not going to be an issue).

This level of cover costs £10.50 a month and they are offering a £10 Love to Shop voucher if you take out a policy. There's also £25 cash back through Quidco at the moment. I have no connection with them other than having just done some research into Healthcare cash plans for myself, prior to Martin's article and taking out one of these policies because it seemed to suit my needs best.
HTH

[JHWilts]

Be aware that if you start claiming a lot and for all of the benedits the Company reserves the right to cancel your policy and / or move you onto a policy that might not be as good.

[daphnelaurier]

Could someone tell me which health club they would give discounts on (nottingham area)?

I'm tempted to join but need more info to make up my mind :confused:
Many thanks

[phiwinuk]

Can't say that I can see a plan on Westfield that matches what's mentioned in the newsletter. Given that I'm mostly looking for something that pays back on routine dental care it doesn't look brilliant.

[candy26]

Hi, I am currently in full swing of a fixed brace to straigthen my teeth. I am having it done privately and paying as I go. I arranged prior to treatment with the consultant the price of £4000.
I have had the brace on for 3 months and can expect another 3-9 months.
Does anyone know if I can open a plan which I am able to claim back some of the costs??

[katie-lou]

I currently pay monthly for dental treatment to a private dentist which covers the cost of twice yearly check ups, would I be able to claim anything back for this?

[eric the red]

WPA is an excellent option. Their HTU cashplan was Insurance Product of the Year across the board, not just for private medical insurance plans. If you take WPA's HTU (Health Top Up) plan level 2 at £15.00 per month, or £180.00 per year, you can claim up to a massive £3,070.00 per year. That is a Value Rating of 17.05 by my reckoning.

[RegularJoe]

While these are good plans, one of the oldest is missing!
HSF health plan is a good value plan and covers the whole family including as many children as you have for one low price. I currently have a plan that costs just £6 month and I can claim (if needs be) up to £1400 a year!!!!!

[mooner76]

I'd say check the percentage payback amount... are you getting 100% or 75% or 50% payback on your claims

and also the total you could claim on certain benefits... I get loads on Physio from Westfield - over a grand a year... it's a lot less on some of the other plans i looked at - they've got immediate benefit at the minute which is a bonus as well

[Alexjl]

A lot of these plans pay out to cover opticians and dentists (a service I use twice yearly so would definitely claim back every year.) If I was registered with 4 plans could I claim 4 times for my dentist and optician bills (once on each plan) all of which equal higher than my premiums on each plan, therefore I would be profiting on each plan each year? (Is this legal or fraud? I don't want to do anything illegal.) Would I need to supply original receipts, not copies.

[mooner76]

If I was registered with 4 plans could I claim 4 times for my dentist and optician bills (once on each plan) all of which equal higher than my premiums on each plan

don't think this would be legal dude... plus quite a bit of admin / pain for you

[Alexjl]

Are you sure it's illegal? If the policy is paid for then the cost should be underwritten. I would understand if there were requirements for original receipts or if it said somewhere in the small print or if someone could explain how exactly this is illegal.

I'm not worried about the admin.

[jessicamb]

I dont see how it could be illegal. The T&Cs will require an original receipt though.

[Skint_Catt]

My colleague gets the total cost of her contacts back through one of these Healthcare schemes (not sure which one at the mo) but I can't find one that pays out more than £100 a year - which wouldn't cover the cost of the ones I'm about to get :confused: Can anyone help?

C xx

[Skint_Catt]

Does anyone know the best healthcare plan for claiming for the costs of homoeopathy and acupuncture?

This looks pretty good
https://www.healthsure.co.uk/cash-plan-application/

[RoxyK]

I currently use Healthsure and have found them great. Didn't see them mentioned in the best buys though.

[Skint_Catt]

Bump - any more suggestions on the best optical maximum?
Thanks :o

[gord115]

Has anyone noticed how Westfield has increased it's prices by around 12% with no extra on payouts?

[sunshine55]

Can you belong to more than one of these plans thereby recovering all your costs?

I already belong to AXA ppp cash back and wondered if I could also belong to Westfield.

I now wear glasses and contact lenses, see a podiatrist and a oseopath.

I always get more than my £115pa costs back.

sunshine55

[sunshine55]

just read the recent posts, the only thing I seem to remember is that when i JOINED axa i had to declare any other private insurances!

[MASHER154]

I have been with Westfield Health for just over a year,with 6 months of this being a qualifying period and now they have sent an email saying the premium is rising with no higher payouts and you will only get 75% of the payment instead of 100% on every thing othe than Dental and Optical. I think this is a con and can anyone reccommend an other policy that is good and pays out 100%.

[jessicamb]

I have been with Westfield Health for just over a year,with 6 months of this being a qualifying period and now they have sent an email saying the premium is rising with no higher payouts and you will only get 75% of the payment instead of 100% on every thing othe than Dental and Optical. I think this is a con and can anyone reccommend an other policy that is good and pays out 100%.

The engage mutual one mentioned above pays out at 100%

http://www.engagemutual.com/res/downloads/HCP_General_Benefits.pdf

[plzhelpmesave!]

hi
Was looking to get some contact lenses next week - just made appt at D&A. Will try westfield to see if i can get money back. ANyone know if you are tied into a minimum contract period?

Might as well make my dentist appointment as well!

UPDATE _ Just spoke to a v helpful woman at westfield who says that as long as i apply online and set up DD to go out before 14 July i willbe covered for treatments from 1st July - payment for July will be taken with August payment.

So gonna go for it! Does it make sense to order and pay for 6months lenses in one go and claim once rather than claiming each month? Also need quite a bit of dental work doing, so may go for a more expensive plan... will have to talk to hubby tonite!

thanks

[scamplad]

A lot of these plans pay out to cover opticians and dentists (a service I use twice yearly so would definitely claim back every year.) If I was registered with 4 plans could I claim 4 times for my dentist and optician bills (once on each plan) all of which equal higher than my premiums on each plan, therefore I would be profiting on each plan each year? (Is this legal or fraud? I don't want to do anything illegal.) Would I need to supply original receipts, not copies.
you can only claim on one plan for each treatment though i think you can have more than one plan if they offer different benefits. you need to supply original receipts which are not returned and to claim from more than one for one treatment would be illegal.

[1jim]

Hi
Im struggling to work out if these plans are worth having or not
I would be looking for cover for 2 adults and 2 children,
Both adults wear glasses, so have an eye test (approx 10-£25 each every 2years) and probably each spend £250 on glasses every 2years so £550 max on optical care every 2years
Both have NHS dental check ups at least every year and havnt needed anywork dental work for a good few years
so mainly looking for a policy that would pick up cost of optical care, is there a plan that would pay out more than we pay in?
sorry to ask but my head is starting to spin looking at all these plans

[silverjill0]

I have a policy with WPA, only one month qualifying period. Also one can get cover for Cancer Drugs, cover abroad and cosmetic surgery - seems to offer quite a bit more than most cash plans although WPA did not get a good listing!

I am looking for cover abroad as I am away a lot- who are WPA?
Thanks

[silverjill0]

I am looking for cover abroad as I am away a lot- who are WPA? or are there many others who provide this type of cover?

[single_lonely]

hi, were planning to have another child in the next few months.
which plan gives the most back when the child is born
(i dont mind paying more for 12 months if i get a better return,
i will reduce after ive claimed though)

anyone help?

thanks

[No1Joker]

hi, were planning to have another child in the next few months.
which plan gives the most back when the child is born
(i dont mind paying more for 12 months if i get a better return,
i will reduce after ive claimed though)

anyone help?

thanks

http://www.medicash.org/healthcare/Quote.aspx

The Platinum Plus pays £1500 for a £39/m solo plan

You have to be with them for a year though. So start "trying" after 4 months

[No1Joker]

Before anyone jumps into a plan with BHSF you must be aware of how their "benefit year" works. It is not a simple 12 months.

Firstly there is a 13 week No-Claim period, then your 12 month enetitlement doesn't start until you claim the 1st time for each element. The the next year doesn't start until you claim again. So for example,

You apply on 1st January 2009.
13 Week No Claim period until 2 April 2009
First Dental receipt sent on the 6th May 2009 which uses the whole entitlement
First Optical receipt sent on the 9th June 2009

Your Dental enetitlement begins again on 6th May 2010 NOT 1st Jan or 2nd April and that subsequent year only starts when you claim again. So you have to claim on the 6th may else you're not getting the full benefit in a 12 month period.
BUT ... that doesn't mean you Optical begin again on the 6th May, that is delayed until 9th June 2010 because it is based on the first recipt again. Same with all the other benefits.


This is from HERE (http://www.bhsf.co.uk/Getdoc?k=choices)
Benefit Year Each individual benefit type e.g. dental, therapies,
etc. has its own separate Benefit Year which is 12
calendar months from:
1 the first date of admission for hospital inpatient,
hospital day case surgery or hospital
parental stay for which benefit is claimed;
2 the date of the first receipted account for
charges made for dental, optical, health
consultation, therapies, health screening
surgical appliances, hearing aids, home help
or home nursing benefits;
3 the date of birth on the birth certificate(s) or
the date of adoption of a child qualifying for
maternity benefit.
Upon the expiry of a Benefit Year the new Benefit
Year for that benefit type will commence from the
next claim received in accordance with items 1 -
3 above.


I wonder whether this has any effect on Martin's Calculations or his decision to "award" them a 1st place gold medal in his article.

[abby77]

A lot of these plans pay out to cover opticians and dentists (a service I use twice yearly so would definitely claim back every year.) If I was registered with 4 plans could I claim 4 times for my dentist and optician bills (once on each plan) all of which equal higher than my premiums on each plan, therefore I would be profiting on each plan each year? (Is this legal or fraud? I don't want to do anything illegal.) Would I need to supply original receipts, not copies.
Hi Alex- you wouldn't really be able to do this. Most companies would consider this to be "betterment" and they could prosecute you, so I wouldn't advise. You also need original receipts (not many companies would accept a photocopy). Hope this helps, Abby :A

[foncused]

Everybody's medical needs are different, this article really needs a calculator. Plug in your typical annual spend, get back a list of the best plans.

[No1Joker]

I totally agree, i think the T&C of some of the companies included with varying rates for optical hospital cover makes the OP article an unhelpful represetation of the products on offer.

[cymrulady]

Please advise! I have two dental cash back plans. Have asked this question of both providers and been given polar opposite information!

Can I quite legitimately make two claims for the same treatment as they are autonomous cash back plans? Provided, of course, they are back up by receipts and dentist signed claim forms?

Or, should I submit a claim to one, get the money and paperwork back and then submit a further claim for the same treatment to the other, enclosing a receipt and the remittance paperwork from the other company? Perhaps, the relevant percentage of the shortfall would then be met.

(One company pays out 70% of total cost (up to the usual ceilings) and the other, 50%.)

(One of the plans is Tesco dental which I thought was insurance although staff there said it was a cash back plan.)

Anyone any experience of operating two policies along these lines?

Thanks very much!

[No1Joker]

Each of your plans would have provided you with full T&C for their policy.

I would suggest you remain within these T&C. If you find you have to breach these T&C to get your cashback then you probably have the wrong plan, with the wrong company.

There are no one set of rules for cashback plans as different companies cover different aspects of healthcare in different ways. Contact each supplier and they will no doubt give you a definitive answer - it probably won't be one you want to hear though.

[janerenwick]

Just noticed Westfield have a special offer waiving the exclusion period at the minute - I'm very tempted!!

Nikki -
I have just noticed this too. What did you do?
Jane

[itsalongroad]

hi....guidance needed!

me, wife, 4 children - 1 of whom is 17 (18 in Jan)

wife, i and 17 yr old wear glasses, although got them in april so not really needing new ones yet

dentist. I just had filling, but a tooth has fallen out, and they said I can have a crown attempted for £180...

wife just been not due to go back until april

17 yr old, is in eductaion, and is due a check up in jan. she rarely has anything done (nice teeth!)

3 other kids..no dental costs, but 1 has glasses, and as always doesnt want the NHS ones, so I end up paying a few pounds on top

anyway, to the point. Is there a cashback plan which we can join that would cover my crown, and provide cashback for glasses etc etc, and is it worth joining now, as duaghter may be free for being under 18?

thanks alot

[nikki1520]

Nikki -
I have just noticed this too. What did you do?
Jane

Still sitting on the fence - not yet decided to go for it.

[janerenwick]

I've decided to go for it at £5.35, I think. I'll try for a year and see what happens.

[No1Joker]

hi....guidance needed!

me, wife, 4 children - 1 of whom is 17 (18 in Jan)

wife, i and 17 yr old wear glasses, although got them in april so not really needing new ones yet

dentist. I just had filling, but a tooth has fallen out, and they said I can have a crown attempted for £180...

wife just been not due to go back until april

17 yr old, is in eductaion, and is due a check up in jan. she rarely has anything done (nice teeth!)

3 other kids..no dental costs, but 1 has glasses, and as always doesnt want the NHS ones, so I end up paying a few pounds on top

anyway, to the point. Is there a cashback plan which we can join that would cover my crown, and provide cashback for glasses etc etc, and is it worth joining now, as duaghter may be free for being under 18?

thanks alot

http://www.medicash.org/healthcare/Quote.aspx

Check thru these plans, They pay 100% for adults and 50% for dependant kids under 16 or 19 if in full-time education.

If you like them... Have a look at this (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2090687)