Private Medical Cover

pterri

I had AXA private medical cover through work, apparently I can continue that cover without having to declare any pre existing medical conditions. Anyone done that and have any views on whether it provides a useful discount over separate cover? I only used it twice when working but my creaking bones may need a little help in avoiding queues for medical treatment (there’s a whole question about the ethics and funding models for the NHS but let’s not go there) 

Marcon

pterri said:

I had AXA private medical cover through work, apparently I can continue that cover without having to declare any pre existing medical conditions. Anyone done that and have any views on whether it provides a useful discount over separate cover? I only used it twice when working but my creaking bones may need a little help in avoiding queues for medical treatment (there’s a whole question about the ethics and funding models for the NHS but let’s not go there) 

The main reason why continuing medical cover can be valuable is that existing conditions aren't excluded. If you take out a fresh policy, then either they will be excluded, or (depending on what the conditions are) the premium will reflect that you are seeking cover for them.

Other people's experiences aren't going to be relevant, given the number of variables. Best bet is to get some quotes elsewhere and see how they compare.

Cobbler_tone

I’ve been pondering this but yet to fully explore the terms and costs upon retirement next year. I’ve used mine a fair bit (£250-£10k a year, on average probably £1k) but have seen costs of £450+ a month. If that turns out to be the case I will self fund.  I have found BUPA getting more restrictive and access to certain treatment harder, with definitely longer wait times, or at least increased travel to get in. No doubt linked to the failing NHS. I’ve had branch block injections (£2k - took 3 months from first call) and the consultant told me to go to my GP as it can be done on the NHS with a 9 month wait….by him.

It’ll be something I make a balanced decision on. e.g. IMO paying £10 a month to protect your dog against a £5k op seems more sensible than £450 a month for a £15k op. If I was that desperate then I would pay, not forgetting you are relying on the NHS for true emergencies.

It currently costs me just under £50 net a month. I will definitely stump up a couple of hundred quid a year for instant GP access, who can write private prescriptions. That’s great value when you can’t even get past a receptionist or online form to see your own.
I haven’t decided what I class as ‘sensible value’ is yet. 

westv

It's something I will have to think about when I retire. From memory it costs my company something like £3.5k a year to cover my wife and me. We have never needed to use it so far though.

ali_bear

Similar here, did have company paid-for medical insurance, now I'm shopping around. It is cheaper because I have no pre-existing or on-going medical conditions, even if the BMI is at pre-hibernation levels. 

squirrelpie

It might be worth looking at what Benenden has to offer.

MallyGirl

I got a quote for continuing with BUPA but it was £450 pcm as I had claimed for a knee injury in the last year. In the end I have gone with AXA and that knee is not covered for arthritis related issues for 2 years but everything else is - at a cost of £166. Still a lot of money but I have had a few claims over the years - this includes cover for my 23 yr old daughter who is still in full time education 

cfw1994

westv said:

It's something I will have to think about when I retire. From memory it costs my company something like £3.5k a year to cover my wife and me. We have never needed to use it so far though.

I think mine was similar with BUPA.  Never really made any serious use of it.

We decided to NOT take any cover (although do pay monthly for a dental plan).
I am always faintly suspicious that they will weasel out of payments 🤷‍♂️

It is a brave leap to take, and none of us know the future: could be a terrible decision down the line, but having stepped away from work at 56, those monthly payments would add up substantially over the years.
One friend self funded a knee op last year. 

Anything serious will go through the NHS*, & in contrast to many, we have never had trouble getting a doctors appointment.


As someone said, this is very individual.  We do our best to keep very active, although the garden gym can be utterly exhausting - in the past week, we have taken down a couple of small trees, a large rotting tree platform, created around 35 x 360l bags of waste - most fed to the friendly pigs up at a local farm.  Very good for the soul 💪



Thank goodness for chain/pole/reciprocating saws….although we struggled to keep the batteries charged up 😂


*yes, I appreciate the private experience can be much more pleasant.

ali_bear

Do you need it? I'm not sure if you've accessed the NHS recently. 

I did make a claim on Bupa several years ago. Long story short I was in need of open abdominal surgery, although I didn't know it at the time. Saw a consultant privately and was on the table a month later. If I had just gone on the NHS waiting list it would have resulted in a much worse outcome with a significant possibility of death. 

gm0

The employee referral continuity route can be super expensive. It is not better. Same product.  Walk up new policies marketed to consumers are a huge amount cheaper - in many cases.   The key benefit is for those people who are in the middle of a "pre-existing" condition for whom continuity is essential. They have to pay the huge premium to "maintain" cover.  

If you are well and not taking any drugs presently the employer referral route is close to a scam. At least based on my experience of it. it's nowhere close to "market price".  So if you drop out of corporate cover world.  Then you either buy it - at market price - or you rely on NHS.  

pterri

gm0 said:

The employee referral continuity route can be super expensive. It is not better. Same product.  Walk up new policies marketed to consumers are a huge amount cheaper - in many cases.   The key benefit is for those people who are in the middle of a "pre-existing" condition for whom continuity is essential. They have to pay the huge premium to "maintain" cover.  

If you are well and not taking any drugs presently the employer referral route is close to a scam. At least based on my experience of it. it's nowhere close to "market price".  So if you drop out of corporate cover world.  Then you either buy it - at market price - or you rely on NHS.  

Just off the phone to Aviva, they will ring back so I can go through deets but I’m dubious. Thanks for the heads up