Bupa or Benenden

They do cash plans - which are cheap. They also do restricted medical cover which is nothing like the Bupa cover.....all you gave to do is compare the benefits yourself and do the math (s).

If you are working in government - do you know about CSHealthcare? Might be better.........!

gordiegem wrote: »

I currently pay £100 per month for BUPA health insurance through Government employment for cover for myself and my 2 children. My existing Bupa policy also has a £100 excess per person each year. Have looked briefly at Benenden which I could get through my employer and it is so much cheaper (£6 approx per month). Has anyone changed from Bupa to Benenden? Any feedback appreciated.

In my 10+ years as an independent PMI broker quoting for individuals and companies week in and week out, i have not come across this company.

But yes as others on here have already said, if you are swapping a £100 policy for a £6 policy. Common sense tells you it is probably not going to be covering the same things. Comparing a car with a bicycle maybe. Its good value for money arguably, but in insurance sometimes the cheapest policy proves to be the most expensive when they don't pay out! You need to know what you are and are not covered for.

You need to asking yourself what sort of things do i want cover for? For most people who take out medical insurance its all the big things first i.e. In patient: heart, cancer, orthopaedic operations (i.e. hip/knee replacements) and all the associated costs of these. Others will want more comprehensive cover i.e. Out Patient treatment,consultations, physio, chiroprators etc and even dental and optical cover.

A quick look at Benenden Key Facts confirms my suspicions. This could potentially have more holes in than swiss cheese. You will need them to clarify a few points.

I have had a very quick look and underlined a few areas of big concern:

1. The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited (Registered No: 480F) is a mutual not-for profit friendly society owned by and run for our members.
2. Membership is only available if you work, or have worked, in the public sector, for a registered charity or other approved organisations whose aims and objectives are deemed compatible with those of the Society.
3. The Society is not a private medical insurer. We provide healthcare services on a discretionary basis, except treatment for TB, which is a contractual service.
4. Our services may vary according to the needs of the member, the resources available or over time.
5. Significant exclusions to our services are: appointments with podiatrists, radiologists, dentists, opticians or complementary therapists; IVF treatment; treatment for mental health problems; cosmetic, breast, plastic, sterilisation, nerve, dental or maxillofacial surgery, or surgery for transplants; surgery for arterial, cardiac or complex orthopaedic problems; diagnostic consultations with consultants who do not have an NHS post or who are not registered with a royal college such as the Royal College of Surgeons or Physicians.
6. Some of our services have a six-month qualifying period.

Some area's of concern here for sure that if i were you i would want to clarify.

In particular i would want to know what is their stance on cancer cover? Bupa, Pruhealth and Exeter Friendly are excellent for cancer and cover palliative care i.e. they cover whole of cancer care from beginning to end. No limits on cancer drugs and even cover hospice care etc

Aviva for example in some instances will only cover cancer drugs for 6 months. When a drug like herceptan or avastin can cost typically between £1500 - £2000 per month and a course of drugs may take 10 - 18 months to complete. This could leave you with a nasty shortfall.

I would ask this company and ideally get it in writting the following:

a) Do they cover the costs of private hospitals for the operation and all the other costs (i.e. hospital costs, whilsts you stay there for cancer and other operations i.e. heart operation , knee replacement, double hip replacement, breast reconstructions etc?

b) Regarding cancer cover what do they cover? Do they cover the basic things such as operations, anethatist fee's etc Hiow about cancer drugs (for how long?), hospice care ?

c) When they say they will not cover " complex orthopaedic problems" does this include say knee and hip replacements for example?

gordiegem wrote: »

Would I be able to join CS healthcare with existing conditions that BUPA covered?

What Im really looking for is cheaper Health Insurance provider which will cover any previous medical condition?

It depends what those conditions are.

But probably not if this application form is anything to go by:

http://www.cshealthcare.co.uk/pages/PDF/PROPOSALFORM25_11_09.pdf

Most insurers offer you CPME (continued personal medical exclusion) underwritting also known as switch underwritting. Typically they ask you three or four questions i.e.

1. have you ever suffered from heart conditions or cancer?
2. Have you got any treatment, tests or results planned or pending?

If you answer no to their three or four questions they take you on a like for like basis i.e. they match whatever exclusions you currently have with Bupa. So if Bupa have covered a condition in the past then so will your new insurer. You are no worse off (personal exclusion wise than you were before).

Looking at CS healthcare's application form they want you to apply using FMU (Full medical underwritting) which is an old form of underwritting and anything you declare i.e. answer YES to (and the related conditions of anything declared) will probably be excluded from cover.

If you have existing/past medical conditions and are looking to switch you need propper advice.