Medical insurance

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Barrysue
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Medical insurance

Post by Barrysue »

Hi there
My dd is starting at Millennium in September & they have recommended medical insurance
I just wondered if anyone else has taken any out , is it really necessary?
Thanks
islandofsodor
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by islandofsodor »

I personally think it is vital. For my daughter it has meant that following a couple of injuries she has been able to be seen straight away by a specialist dance physio rather than waiting weeks/months for the NHS. Friends children have been able to access specialist when dance injury related operations have been needed.
2dancersmum
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by 2dancersmum »

I agree that medical insurance is vital - DDs vocational college insisted on it - either the school policy or taking out private medical insurance (much cheaper). Your first call should be to the college to find out which physios they use/are closest to the college as you obviously must choose a policy/company that will be accepted should your DC need any treatment. Then it is a case or research .
DH rang up various insurances companies and just talked things through with them as we really were fish out of water when it came to the world of private medical insurance.

In the end, when DD was 16 we went with AXA PP Healthcare. The policy was in my husbands name as DD was under 18 but the only person it covered was DD as 'family member'. We chose the 'essentials cover package' and opted for some 'add-ons' to cover physiotherapy and outpatient care. Price varies according to which add ons you select or opt out of with each insurance company as well as if you choose to take any 'excess' . It is well worth a few phone calls to get your questions answered. DH found them all very helpful (after all they would like your business) - they emailed copies of policies and he then discussed on the phone.

When DD did need physio AXA were very easy to deal with and very prompt in their responses. In DDs case physio was not following injury but something one of her teachers picked up and thought she should check out before it caused her any problems. After DD turned 18, the price with them rocketed and DH phoned around again and found similar cover with Aviva at a similar cost to her original cover.
The cheapest way is if one of the parents already has BUPA cover through their work as you can normally just add on DC as family members.All of the companies we enquired at, price depended on age, did not cover existing injuries and were by doctors referral for any treatment. Medical insurance means that your DC can seek out advice and be treated, far more quickly than waiting on the NHS for scans, appointments etc -
jennifer1972
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by jennifer1972 »

Is anyone else currently researching private medical insurance? Any tips would be appreciated! :D
lbm1e14
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by lbm1e14 »

Hi,

No particular tips other than as suggested above - make phone calls and shop around for appropriate cover. I've got no idea about prices but clearly this is an added cost to what is already a big financial commitment for most families. That said from personal experience it is worth looking in to. Our DD had an incident during a freestyle dance session which damaged her back. After a few weeks it still wasn't fully healed. We're lucky enough to be able to have BUPA cover through my job for the children as well, so she was able to see a sports consultant privately with no wait. He then decided on an MRI scan to be on the safe side which she had two days after her appointment with him. Results will be discussed at a follow up appointment with the consultant this week. This would undoubtedly not have happened in anything like those timescales if we'd waited on the NHS.

Another anecdote. DD has a friend who had an incident with her leg at one of the big dance colleges and had an x-ray on the NHS. They found nothing despite the pain so she carried on as dedicated dancers do, only for her shin area to swell up some weeks later. Turned out that the angle of the x-ray had not revealed a spiral fracture and she had done massive damage by continuing to dance. She had private cover and so was able to get access urgently to experimental treatment. Fortunately all has worked out well and she has now graduated and has an agent.

I mention all this not to criticise the NHS. Our other DD is an NHS physio. I just wanted to point out that injuries will happen. Most will be dealt with admirably by the NHS as they will be low level. But waiting times may be significant for some advanced care even if rarely required.

Also you should be clear on what support your chosen college offers by way of access to specialist physios and other specialists even if on an ad hoc paying basis.
Barrysue
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by Barrysue »

Just wondered if any of you have had quotes??
I have had axa on the phone today with a quote of £37 a month ...seems quite a lot to me , it's based on our home address ...apparently it's the address where you would vote , not your term time address...we live near Bournemouth & my dd is going to millennium in London
I asked about physio, chiro, osteopath treatment etc, but it still needs a gp referral ....just wondered if this is the norm
Thanks & good luck to everyone with their a level results tomorrow x
lbm1e14
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by lbm1e14 »

Hi,

Most private cover will only kick in on a GP referral. Usually they only have to say you need treatment and what that is. Even if it's for a second opinion. They don't have to confirm that you couldn't get it quickly on the NHS.

Also make sure you are clear about whether or not the cover will cover existing conditions and problems. For obvious reasons cover which does will be more expensive.

You should read the Ts&Cs in detail before signing up. It is so important that you know what is covered and with what limits if any.

Consider whether or not the provider offers cheaper premiums if you accept to pay an excess for each claim.

I can't comment on the price you've been given as DDs cover is part of a family cover through my employer.
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2girlsmum
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by 2girlsmum »

Now DD has chosen her course I'm going to have to sort out some medical insurance for her so I am grateful for all this information, thank you.
TalyaB
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by TalyaB »

I have Aviva healthcare (through work, so I don't know how it compares cost-wise etc. or what the benefits are like compared to other providers) but for anything joint or muscular-skeletal, they have a direct 'Back to Better' service where you call up and can see a physio without going via your GP.
beanie-bean
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by beanie-bean »

Make sure you read the small print and ensure you have the level of cover you want. Most insurance companies have different levels of cover to suit your buget but it is important to have everything you need. I have Aviva cover tbrough my work and like TaylarB it covers me for physio appointments without a GP referral. However the level of cover i have means that for anything else I have a £180 excess to pay. My DD is covered by Cigna through DH's work and although she has to be referred by a GP for everything including physio, there is no excess to pay. She's had her ingrown toenails done under GA, and more recently she was referred to a dance injury specialist where she's had 4 appointments with him, and MRI scan and a course of physio sessions with a physiotherapist of our choice. I've had no excess to pay, I just have to call them for approval 1st. In my oppinion my DD's cover is far better than mine, and I have found that a GP is more than happy to refer once we mention that we have private insurance.
lbm1e14
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Re: Medical insurance

Post by lbm1e14 »

beanie-bean wrote:Make sure you read the small print and ensure you have the level of cover you want. Most insurance companies have different levels of cover to suit your buget but it is important to have everything you need. I have Aviva cover tbrough my work and like TaylarB it covers me for physio appointments without a GP referral. However the level of cover i have means that for anything else I have a £180 excess to pay. My DD is covered by Cigna through DH's work and although she has to be referred by a GP for everything including physio, there is no excess to pay. She's had her ingrown toenails done under GA, and more recently she was referred to a dance injury specialist where she's had 4 appointments with him, and MRI scan and a course of physio sessions with a physiotherapist of our choice. I've had no excess to pay, I just have to call them for approval 1st. In my oppinion my DD's cover is far better than mine, and I have found that a GP is more than happy to refer once we mention that we have private insurance.
Totally agree. Our cover for DD through my employer is similar to your DH's but also physio is limited to 10 sessions per annum and there is a cap of £1,000 per annum on all outpatient care/physio. There is likewise no excess. GPs in the main are only too happy to refer privately as it isn't then purr their budget l
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