Health Insurance Ending

joe1234_2

My (company-supplied) private PPP health insurance expires in about a months time due to losing my job recently. This policy is "previous history disregarded"

I have an ongoing health issue that I have not had treatment for for about 3 or so years. It's not major but causes a lot of pain. (Don't get me wrong, if need be I could use the NHS but when I had a similar op 5 years ago under the NHS it took them approx 18 months to organise the op and it was then cancelled twice!)

It's been getting slightly worse these last few months (probably stress of lack of job!). There is a possibility that I might need an operation at some point (I had one 3 years ago privately and about 5 years ago under the NHS) though it's not that bad at the moment.

I am more than happy to continue with this health insurance company and pay myself, though I don't think I am able to buy "past history disregarded." ?

I have 2 options:

1. Go to see the specialist now - danger is that if I do this now, and say in 6 months I need an operation, that this is going to be more difficult as I have alerted the health insurance company. Assuming I can not buy a "previous history disregarded" policy then it means that I would not be able to have the op privately.

2. Wait for a few months. Then try to see the specialist under the new policy that I will hopefully have subscribed to. As this appointment will be several months into the new policy - and potentially a few years since my previous problems in this area - then there is an increased likelihood that I would be able to get the op privately.

Any knowledgeable views would be appreciated - thanks.

dunstonh

Go to the current provider and ask them if they will continue your coverage on an individual plan on the same terms. Some do have continuation benefits and are able to slide you from one plan to another in cases like this.

arethusa82

When you say you lost your job recently, was it beacuse of your illness? Is the provision of a PHI included in the terms of your employment contract? My wife has been off sick for 8 years, and is still receiving payments from her PHI, and will do until she is 65. The employer cannot dismiss her because the PHI is part of her conditions of employment. the insurance company offered her a lump sum in lieu of payment (30k). Needless to say, if it was accepted they would have save iro £200k in the long term.

To get back to my original point....take some legal advice concerning the terms of your employment contract.

Good Luck

smartiepants

My Husband who is an independent broker in this business says, contact AXA PPP and you should be entitled to "GROUP LEAVER" cover on the same medical history disregarded terms but probably at a higher premium. You must contact AXA PPP as soon as possible.