BUPA & Crohn's

[Edwards667]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knew about getting private medical insurance in the UK. I spoke to BUPA and they said they don't cover Crohn's disease.

I basically want to pay for private medical care after dealing with the NHS for 6 years and being neglected for a massive part of that. My specialists and GP's ignore me when I ask for a blood test because I have inflammation in my legs and bowel and they claim they don't do home visits or blood tests at my local GP so have to go sit in A&E (Even though I've been under the same specialist for 6 years in my local hospital).

Does anyone know of private care in the UK to avoid the tediousness of the NHS?

 

[MsOJ]

If you live anywhere near London I can send you some contact details for where I go for NHS treatment.

 

[KayleighMeek]

Unfortunately because you have already been diagnosed with Crohn's disease it can make it really hard/expensive to get any private cover. I'm sure you will be able to find somewhere but will end up probably paying a lot out of your own pocket. Most insurers have moratorium underwriting criteria I found this site it gives a good explanation of it http://expathealth.org/healthcare-news/moratorium-underwriting-what-is-it/

If you do to private you will find that it will likely be the same specialist you already deal with as a lot of them do nhs and private work.
You can get bloods done at home by a nurse but usually they only do this if you are house bound. My local hospital has a venesection department that is very quick and no appointment needed I find it more convenient than going through my GP surgery. It's strange you have to go to a&e for bloods.

 

[DEmberton]

There was another thread recently about this. You've got two problems: health insurance doesn't generally cover chronic conditions, and also doesn't cover pre-existing conditions. My work cover waives the second restriction ("Medical history disregarded"), but I think (as far as Aviva are concerned anyway) that's only available for larger companies.

But they did pay for my surgery as that counts as acute, i.e. something that can be corrected, but they don't pay for my ongoing care, for that I see the NHS consultant.

There are private GPs, and of course most NHS consultants will see you privately too. But you'll have to pay, and with tests and drugs it'll soon add up.

 

[UnXmas]

My specialists and GP's ignore me when I ask for a blood test because I have inflammation in my legs and bowel and they claim they don't do home visits or blood tests at my local GP so have to go sit in A&E (Even though I've been under the same specialist for 6 years in my local hospital).

As was already said, most doctors who see patients privately also see NHS patients. If doctors do not see any medical reason to do a test, they're not going to change their minds if it's you/insurance paying for it rather than the NHS, and you're not going to get good insurance for a pre-existing condition.

I've been on a hospital ward where my surgeon saw me and some of the other patients on the NHS, and some of the patients privately. We didn't get treated any differently - and we spent a lot of time discussing it! Some hospitals have much nicer wards for private patients, but it doesn't sound like that is something that would help with your issues with the treatment you're getting.

Without insurance, paying for an initial private consultation will allow you to skip long waiting lists, as will having any tests done privately, but tests are expensive and the short waiting times are about the only benefit you will get from it.

Years ago when I was still well enough to consider going on holidays abroad, I realised that no insurance company was ever going to give me travel insurance. You can only get insurance if you're healthy.

 

[UnXmas]

My GP doesn't do home visits anymore either, except for house-bound patients. If you can't leave your house, they should arrange home visits for you if you tell them you need them. And my GPs generally don't do blood tests. Nurse practitioners at the GP surgery do the blood tests. There are also community nurses who visit patients at home for various reasons.