Medical Insurance Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

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  • franklally
    franklally Posts: 471 Forumite
    I'm just looking at comparison sites for health insurance as our family Bupa policy is going up astronomically.
    I have seen this site advertised - has anyone come across it before?
  • franklally wrote: »
    I'm just looking at comparison sites for health insurance as our family Bupa policy is going up astronomically.
    I have seen this site advertised - has anyone come across it before?
    yes it is a broker site , :o
  • mikeyboy
    mikeyboy Posts: 287
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Hi,

    I posted on another area of the forum yesterday but didn't get any feedback, so will try here.

    I am looking to switch my health insurance and have come across a company called General and Medical https://www.generalandmedical.com. Has anyone had any dealings with this company? Any feedback?

    Thanks

    Ps. I am looking at the Altus plan.
  • Maybe somebody with some knowledge could assist -- my question is are BUPA at leisure to increase prices by whatever percentage they feel year on year.
    i wanted people to be aware that our premiums with bupa under a business policy has increase by 389 % over 5 years.Unfortuantely they have you by the short and curlies if you have pre existing conditions as you would be excluded on these should you move to an alternative supplier!
    knowing this they abuse you in the knowledge that there is nothing you can do.
    for 5 people (45,46,50,51,80, they are now quoting £36k ,they dont appear to be regulated in any way shape or form.


    any suggestions

    Bupa, like other insurers have to follow strict guidelines set by the FCA ( formally the FSA )

    These include 'Treating customers Fairly'
    Now, Bupa, like all other companies will assess each policy on a risk basis & apply a price.
    When you have a group policy that includes members in later life, it will be expensive. This is generally because the underwriting offered to a group policy can be much more appealing than an individual plan, IE MHD - Medical History Disregard'.

    Options available will be down to claims history, postcode of each member ( some addresses have higher costs due to the costs of those local hospitals etc )

    It may also be worth looking at removing some of the older members of the policy, specifically the 80 year old. Most insurers offer 'Switch' policies, so as long as this member hasnt had a very detailed medical history, you may be able to save money this way. £36k for a company plan for under ten members is very expensive.
  • franklally wrote: »
    I'm just looking at comparison sites for health insurance as our family Bupa policy is going up astronomically.
    I have seen this site advertised - has anyone come across it before?

    Most 'comparison sites' are actually brokers in wolves clothing. PMI is a product that realistically should be advised. So when you look at comparison sites, it will most likely throw you towards a broker.

    Some brokers only have a panel of insurers, so make sure you check who they work with.
  • claire21 wrote: »
    I want to get a private medical policy for my family. Me 43, DH 54, kids 13, 11 and 9.
    I really dont know where to start when looking at one policy o the next.
    My 2 closest fiends are going through breast cancer, one on the NHs and one with a works policy.
    None of us have any medical conditions, I just feel I want the most comprehensive cancer cover I can after seeing what my friends have gone though.
    Money is not so much of a problem and I would rather have more cover than i need as knowing sods law we would get the thing that wasnt covered fully.

    Can anyone help please?

    Cancer cover;

    Simply Health - new update from 1st July, you can either have a £50k pot ( wont go far ) or full cover
    Axa - 'Full cancer cover' upgrade available
    Aviva - Full cancer cover as standard
    Pru Health - Full cancer cover upgrade available ( this costs about £1 extra per month!
    CS - Full cancer cover
    Exeter Family Friendly - Full cancer cover
    April - Limited cancer cover

    The limitations mentioned above will be either a capped allowance ( not a good idea at all ) or due to the length of treatment you can have, most of the standard policies will allow up to 12 months treatment for any one drug. However, many insurer small prints will state unlimited cancer cover ' when used within the guidelines of the manufacturers/specialists etc' now, these drug manufacturers will likely only liscence the drug for 12 months, which means the insurer in theory would only have to stand 12 months treatment of the drug. Read the small print.
  • out2lunch wrote: »
    I have been with AXA PPP for 25 years my annual cost has gone up excessively and I need to find out if they are ripping me off. How do I find this out or re-negotiate the annual cost when I have got some health issues which are covered by AXA but will not be covered by any other company?

    Use a broker, some companies will allow switch from one company to another whilst maintaining cover for pre-existing criteria, they mostly have criteria though, no claims in 12 months, not seen a consultant in 12 months, no heart/cancer issues ( excluding highpertension - high blood pressure, cholesterol etc ) others will allow a move but will exclude anything that you have had in the last 12 months.
  • stephenni1971
    stephenni1971 Posts: 895 Forumite
    Use a broker, some companies will allow switch from one company to another whilst maintaining cover for pre-existing criteria, they mostly have criteria though, no claims in 12 months, not seen a consultant in 12 months, no heart/cancer issues ( excluding highpertension - high blood pressure, cholesterol etc ) others will allow a move but will exclude anything that you have had in the last 12 months.

    Quiet day at the Office is it?

    Answering 2 year old posts is hardly going to bring in much business is it? ;-)
    I am a Financial Adviser specialising in Mortgages, Protection, Health and Medical Insurance. I also write wills. All information posted on this site is for discussion only, and should not be taken as advice.
  • lloydyd
    lloydyd Posts: 168
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Hi all, I need some advice on my healthcare. I currently have 2 policies. One covers the investigation side of things and the other covers the proceedures.

    My investigation one is with Simply health and the proceedure is with Pru. I did this as it made my monthly payments cheaper, my premiums combined are around £130 PCM for me (38) dw(39) DS (11) DD (8) and DS (4)

    Im not happy with either policy. My DW is going in for an op tomorrow and the grief we had to go through (getting refferal letters and going back and forth with the GP and the insurer) caused so much hassle.

    My question is, is there a policy that I can get that will avoid this. I have heard of policies that ask all of the questions (covering pre existing conditions) up front so that you dont have to worry if you are covered or not. I know the insurer will do everything they can to get out of approving a claim, but when you are ill you just dont need the hassle and stress.
  • lloydyd wrote: »
    Hi all, I need some advice on my healthcare. I currently have 2 policies. One covers the investigation side of things and the other covers the proceedures.

    My investigation one is with Simply health and the proceedure is with Pru. I did this as it made my monthly payments cheaper, my premiums combined are around £130 PCM for me (38) dw(39) DS (11) DD (8) and DS (4)

    Im not happy with either policy. My DW is going in for an op tomorrow and the grief we had to go through (getting refferal letters and going back and forth with the GP and the insurer) caused so much hassle.

    My question is, is there a policy that I can get that will avoid this. I have heard of policies that ask all of the questions (covering pre existing conditions) up front so that you dont have to worry if you are covered or not. I know the insurer will do everything they can to get out of approving a claim, but when you are ill you just dont need the hassle and stress.

    Yes i understand you have a cashplan with Simply health which covers you for the smaller things and your PMI is with Pruhealth. I do exactly the same for my family and i am a specialist PMI broker. Makes financial sense, more cover for less premium and your NCD (no claims discount) isn't affected for small claims on the cash plan too.

    The underwriting you are referring to is FMU = Full medical underwriting. They ask you a lot of medical questions and anything you declare is likely to be excluded. Members who join on FMU are usually less likely to be checked out at the point of claim than the common rolling Moratorium underwriting = Any medical condition that existed 5 years before your policy start date will not be eligible to be claimed on until you go 2 years advice, treatment and symptom free on.

    On rolling Moratorium underwriting for new claims the insurer will almost always want a letter from your doctor stating that your condition didn't exist 5 years before your moratorium start date. Some people find this frustrating.

    You need good advice as i have no idea:

    1. when you tok out your policy and whether your moratorium is the fixed moratorium type or Pru's older better fixed moratorium which wipes your medical history clean after 2 years.

    2. What the medical condition your DW is claiming for and if you want it covered when you move insurers ? As this may well be difficult depending on what it is. i.e. if you declare it on FMU they will exclude it.


    You can find a broker here

    amii.org.uk/find-a-specialist-broker/[/url]

    A bit of a lottery i'm afraid some are really good and some not so good.
    I am an independent whole of market health insurance consultant.

    Anything posted on here is for discussion purposes only and should not be classed as professional advice.
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