BUPA vs. Aviva vs. Pru etc.

Jimbo Mahoney

Jimbo Mahoney

Jimbo Mahoney

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18 Oct 2002
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I'm considering private health insurance, but does anyone have any advice on how to decide which company to go for?

Obviously insurance "service" is one those things that you only experience when you *need* it, so it's hard to get feedback.

I've tried the obvious Google searches for reviews etc., but is there anything else I can do?

Thanks
 
My parents are on BUPA. When my dad needed a hernia op. he got great service.

Consultant in the next week, surgery the week after (15 months wait on NHS).
Private room
Check up by the nuse every 15 mins after surgery
Sky TV
Room service for food with menus of different things you can choose, there was even a tea and biscuit trolley going round at one point. If my dad wasn't in a surgerical gown I would've thought the place was a hotel !

All we need to give the hospital was his insurance policy number and everything was taken care of.
 
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I'm considering private health insurance too, I am getting a call from Bupa on Sat.

Any idea on average costs for family cover (2 adults 1 child), I know it deppends on circumstances but it would be good to have an average figure in mind.

CB
 
If you are going into the insurance with pre-existing conditions Pru are probably the best, as after 2 years they will cover you for anything. However with most others you need to remain completely free of those conditions for like 5 years (or maybe it is 2 can't remember) for them to cover those.

I can give you a number for someone who sorted ours out, a very nice chap working for a broker. Let me know and I'll send you his details via your trust.
 
BUPA are spot on in Cheshire, i've never needed to use my cover however my Dad and Mum have used them within the last year and they got to see who they needed to and have the tests / scans within a week.
 
Just remember.....

It's usually the same NHS guy that does the slicing and dicing - so if they are bad at your local hospital (or have a reputation for maybe not doing a good repair job) - they aren't going to be much better at your local Private Health hotel ;)

Have you considered AXA ?

And before you consider - make sure that your chosen has just as good Psychiatric, physio, Dental/Othodontics reasonably near etc and not just the usual MOT/Breakdown coverage.
 
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Massive waste of money, especially if you have a pre-existing condition.
Remember, if anything goes wrong the first thing that they'll do is phone 999 and get you carted off to A&E.
The only benefit I can see is a more comfortable surrounding when you're recovering, but I didn't really mind the ward I was in the other year. Though I did have my friends bring me in proper dinners.
 
PASONIX said:
Just remember.....

It's usually the same NHS guy that does the slicing and dicing - so if they are bad at your local hospital (or have a reputation for maybe not doing a good repair job) - they aren't going to be much better at your local Private Health hotel ;)

Have you considered AXA ?

And before you consider - make sure that your chosen has just as good Psychiatric, physio, Dental/Othodontics reasonably near etc and not just the usual MOT/Breakdown coverage.
Click to expand...

They are the same surgeons and consultants. All Consultants can do private work, but they also have to do their share on the NHS. The main advantage of private health care is that you skip the queue. i.e. 15 months vs 2 weeks.
 
Ahleckz said:
The only benefit I can see is a more comfortable surrounding when you're recovering, but I didn't really mind the ward I was in the other year. Though I did have my friends bring me in proper dinners.
Click to expand...

Hmm not really thought is it?

You get to skip the que, you get to see the person you need usually the same week or in some cases the next day, you get the operation or put on the machines you need ASAP, in some cases this could save your life, rather than waiting months, in which time your condition (unknown to yourself) has got worse and treatment can't do much for you.

Being put in a nice CLEAN place is just another added benefit of paying.
 
One thing I forgot to add above is if you don't have any pre-existing conditions definitely go with BUPA, they have the best customer service from what I've seen.

PASONIX said:
Just remember.....

It's usually the same NHS guy that does the slicing and dicing - so if they are bad at your local hospital (or have a reputation for maybe not doing a good repair job) - they aren't going to be much better at your local Private Health hotel ;)
Click to expand...

Going Private is more than just that though, obviously it is the same guy but he will be able to give a much more thorough check up and most importantly you have to wait a hell of a lot less before you get scans/treatment done.
 
£2k doesn't sound that bad considering what each employed person pays in taxes towards the NHS...if the latter wasn't there to piggyback off of, as well as a gazillion different regulations, there'd be more competition and lower prices.
 
I've got BUPA through work and have easily used more than the tax I have to pay for having it. Tbh.. It would prob have been worth my while paying for it myself if work didn't provide it (though I wouldn't like to know what my premiums would be now...).

Thing is you really want to know what private health care facilities are nearby in order to establish whether it is worthwhile. I live in London so its a complete no-brainer to get it whereas if you live in say a poor area up north it might not be so worth while.

I doubt there is much to chose from among the various insurers, just check that the private hospitals/facilities you are likely to use are covered by them and go for the best value one for you.

I got an MRI done for my dodgy knee within a couple of days, it would have been a 6 month wait on the NHS at least. Also you'll find your GP is more likely to refer you to a specialist if you're covered by BUPA etc... mine was about to give me a knee support and some pain killers and tell me to come back if it wasn't better in a couple of weeks - I told him I was with BUPA and he suddenly changed his mind and referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. Had an appointment within a couple of days, MRI scan couple of days later and discovered my patella tendon was more than a bit screwed....

If I'd been with the NHS I'd have had to book a second appointment 2 weeks later with my GP, tell him it wasn't better, then go on a waiting list to see a surgeon, perhaps get some x-rays, then if the surgeon thought it necessary I'd maybe get an MRI (which would take at least 6 months) etc... Overall for minor stuff, injuries etc.. Private is much better. For anything critical NHS is fine and you'll get to recover in a private ward after anyway...
 
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