Private medical cover

[Rick101]

Hi,

Can anyone give me some pointers with regard to medical cover?

I'm specifically looking for cancer cover. Only 1 family member I know thats had it but as black male (that eats a LOT of meat!) I think I'm at a higher risk.

Have been on the Bupa website and treatment cover for me and mrs came in at £50 odd pm with a £500 annual excess.
I had a reasonable DB pension so that should help with finance if I had to finish work, what I'm looking for is the best treatment and aftercare I can get if I need it.

I already have a work health cover plan, subsidised at £16pm with refunds general costs such as prescriptions, dentist, massages etc.

I know very little about healthcare and am assuming Bupa is the main private provider. Is there any benefit going through a broker to buy or using a different company?

Thanks

[Rick101]

Bump, anybody?

Must be some PH types to posh to use the NHS.

[2.5pi]

Hi Rick

I used http://www.drewberryinsurance.co.uk/private-health... i dealt with a chap called jeremy cornford.

He was very knowledgeable indeed, tel number 01273 646481

Good luck!

[Rick101]

I'll have a look, thank you!

[Silent1]

if you want proper cover then go with AXA PPP or WPA over bupa, bupa have gone down a lot in the past few years.

[so called]

I've got an AVIVA policy but I didn't look into the details for cancer.

[Biglips]

Silent1 said:

if you want proper cover then go with AXA PPP or WPA over bupa, bupa have gone down a lot in the past few years.

I agree that AXA PPP or WPA probably leaders at the moment. Like all insurance read the small print carefully about what you are entitled to and match to your needs.

Edited by Biglips on Thursday 29th January 22:39

[Biglips]

Silent1 said:

if you want proper cover then go with AXA PPP or WPA over bupa, bupa have gone down a lot in the past few years.

I agree that AXA PPP or WPA probably leaders at the moment. Like all insurance read the small print carefully about what you are entitled to and match to your needs.

Edited by Biglips on Thursday 29th January 22:40

[Catz]

Your Bupa quote sounds cheap, although I suppose it depends on a lot of factors to determine price.

Mine is £134 pm! I don't pay it luckily.

Looking at the cancer treatment cover on it I notice it's all "out-patient" care and nothing seems to be mentioned about aftercare.

[Mr Pointy]

Read the policy documents carefully to see what it covers & for how long - this applies to all illnesses, not just cancer. In general health insurance covers acute conditions, not chronic ones so while it may cover you for the initial treatment if you need expensive treatment or drugs to keep you alive for the next ten years they won't be covered. Just a heads up in case you thought it was all-encompassing.

[numtumfutunch]

does the NHS cover cancer?

[DeuxCentCinq]

We get Simplyhealth free through work. They're tricky with their loopholes, but can't fault the treatment.

[croyde]

Unfortunately having had skin cancer and a heart attack (just call me lucky) private cover is a bit of a waste for me but my ex had it only a year when she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer.

As harrowing as it was the one thing she didn't have to worry about was having to wait for essential tests like MRIs and arguing with the GP over the best drugs to be prescribed. It took a lot of the stress out of a ultra stressful time. I think she was paying about £100/month.

The scary thing is that under her private care she got treatment that our NHS GP actually said that she would not have got as it was so expensive if she had been treated by the NHS.

I'm not dissing the NHS outright, after all I'm poor so rely on them, as they have a lot on their plate, but if it had not been for private treatment my kids would not have a mum.

I'm not saying it's right but it's an unfortunate fact of life. There is a lot of amazing treatments out there but you are unlikely to get it unless you are rich or insured.

[Rick101]

Do these plans pay you the cash or just give you the medical assistance.

I'm looking for the later really.

[NorthDave]

I'm with PruHealth and found the whole thing to be great when I needed a knee op. Not sure about cancer cover but might be worth a look.

[Rick101]

Thanks all,

Always like to close a thread if I can.

Used Paul Bradley at Dewbury, thanks for the tip off.

Agreed 2 singles policies (to save ncb if 1 claims) with Pru Health.
Have gone for a basic core cover policy with a £250 excess. The only add on is full cancer cover over the base cancer offering.

Works out about £56 a month for the two of us. Near on £700 for nothing, but hopefully come the time that we do need it, it will provide as it's supposed to.

Cheers for all the advice.

Edited by Rick101 on Tuesday 10th February 17:15

[Bobley]

If you have cancer the NHS will come good for you. Mrs B is a GP and has been through the cancer mill unfortunately. From GP to surgery was under 2 weeks and there was biopsy in between. Your GP has nothing to do with cancer care (as I said, she's a GP) all they do is look after you in general terms (i.e. antibiotics, referral to psych etc). Her consultant was a well known industry expert who sat on various research panels (I googled him obv). You will be dealt with quickly.

Wouldn't you be better off putting the money into a life insurance policy with critical illness cover? At least then, when you come out of the other end you can concentrate on recovering and not need to go back to work for a long time.