BUPA health insurance - advice please

Funkyfresh_2

Hi all,

New to the site, so I apologize if I've posted this in the wrong section.

I have a few questions regarding BUPA health insurance which I'm a little unclear about and was hoping someone here may be able to help.

Basically, I'm a 25 year old guy in good health (touch wood). I took out BUPA health insurance because I am involved in powerlifting/weightlifting and felt it was probably a good idea to take out health insurance in the event I ever sustain a serious injury..etc.

When I joined BUPA, they asked me if I had any pre-existing conditions.
I have a history of treatment with anxiety which I told them about and they explained that this would not be covered in the policy which I really wasn't too concerned about.

However, I had previously made an appointment to see my doctor a month or so prior to taking out the cover regarding a pain in my right knee. My GP told me he would refer me to see an NHS physio and was told I would have an appointment within 2-3 weeks. This didn't happen and I never pursued it any further since my knee seemed fine.
I didn't mention this when I took out my policy with BUPA as I didn't really think of this as a pre-existing condition as I hadn't actually received any treatment. Obviously if you are involved in any kind of sport, it's likely you will eventually experience little niggles/injuries from time to time.

Anyway, I got a phone call yesterday from the physio (completely out of the blue, after nearly 6 months) and I told them my knee was OK and didn't need to see them. I had assumed the matter had pretty much been written off after waiting for so long so I was very surprised to get a phone call half a year later! The physio told me they'd write back to the doctor to state I did not require treatment and that's that. To be fair, it was my fault in part for not following this up sooner or mentioning it to BUPA when I took out my policy. But I didn't see this as a condition as I had not received treatment and my GP basically just refered me to a physio since it's not his area to treat or assess injuries.

My concern now is, if in future I injure that knee or have any issues with it - will I be able to seek treatment through my BUPA insurance since there will now be a record that I have been to my GP and the fact there was a referral to the physio?
I'd hate to have to wait another 6 months just to see someone if I had to seek treatment through the NHS, which was basically my whole reasoning for paying to go privately in the first place.

The policy guide isn't very clear on this as I'm not sure if an injury is considered a pre-existing condition? Kind of like a cold or flu - it's something which can come and go.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
:-)

Quentin

It needs to be declared to your insurer as a pre existing condition. Explain the circs as you have here.

Funkyfresh_2

OK...so that basically means as it would be classified as a pre-existing condition, if I were to sustain an injury or require treatment on that knee, it wouldn't be covered through BUPA even though I've not actually received treatment for it?

Quentin

Depends on the basis of cover - discuss it with them if you want it covered immediately, but its unlikely - otherwise it may be covered after a certain period.

Brize

I'd echo what Quentin has already said - you need to declare the condition to Bupa and explain your reasons for the original non-disclosure.

As to whether the condition will be covered in future, much depends if you took out the policy direct with Bupa or through a broker. If you bought it directly, the likelihood is that the condition will remain on your policy as a permanent exclusion. Brokers have access to more flexible underwriting terms, but not so flexible that we can achieve immediate cover for a pre-existing condition.