Private diabetes care cover

[O_DP_T1]

Hi all,

Has anyone here got their diabetes care covered by a private medical insurance, every time I try and do an online quote they exclude any kind of long term condition and any related appointments or treatment. I was wondering if there is a way to tailor a policy that could cover Type 1 diabetes and any complications that may occur in the long run.

If anyone has any tips they would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[noblehead]

Insurance companies are out to make money just like any other business, so there's a reason why they'll exclude pre-existing conditions like diabetes.

Dealing with them in the past they always load the premiums for Life Insurance for a mortgage (but not car insurance); @O_DP_T1 it might be helpful if you say if your UK based or not.

Tips, with insurance of any kind it's best to shop around and not go with the first quote.

 

[Fleegle]

I think there is very little chance you will find a private medical provider to take on such a high risk.
Mine kicked and screamed when I was diagnosed half way through a policy year and only agreed to let me see a consultant reluctantly. They made it really clear it was a one off and that further treatment for T2 was not covered.

 

[ringi]

You may get it on some employer provided health insurance, you would never get it on a policy you can choose to take out yourself as everyone with diabetes who are expecting problems would take out the policy......

Private health insurance companies do everything they can to exclude anyone who may take out a policy due to a need for health care.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Be careful too as certsin things will be excluded if they can link them to diabetes.. ie kidney damage, even de quervains tensonitis which I have was also suggested by Consultant as linked to diabetes.....

They have a lot of get out of jail clauses in so even if employees offer it the fine print needs to be read,

Sometimes though. Like for me, I have paid privately for the appt to see surgeons and they have put me back tgru nhs as they are able to do this for certain illnesses. Ie I had chronic bowel problems and an 18 week wait to see consultant. I selected best consuktant I could find and was happy with but the investigations would have been £000's.... so he put me back thru nhs as urgent tho.
Appts arent cheap. I just had one for my hand with ortho surgeon. My silly GP put me to a rheumatology nurse and appt was for end sept, so not even with correct person or consultant. I paid privately for appt direct (not thru gp) with orthapaedic surgeon and op now taking place on nhs on day after the silly gp appt with wrong person....

 

[O_DP_T1]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses, yes I am UK based. The problem is the waiting times to get seen or an appointment for diabetes related queries, part of me is thinking may be use a private clinic and pay for the investigation work and then get the treatment done on the NHS if possible and on time.

 

[noblehead]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses, yes I am UK based. The problem is the waiting times to get seen or an appointment for diabetes related queries, part of me is thinking may be use a private clinic and pay for the investigation work and then get the treatment done on the NHS if possible and on time.

Can I ask if your under the care of a hospital diabetes clinic?

 

[DCUKMod]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses, yes I am UK based. The problem is the waiting times to get seen or an appointment for diabetes related queries, part of me is thinking may be use a private clinic and pay for the investigation work and then get the treatment done on the NHS if possible and on time.

I have seen two Endos this year; one NHS and one semi-privately. I say semi-privately as he sort of mixed and matched the "outputs" of the consultations. (My private medical insurers are baulking at paying for this as they claim it's diabetes related, whereas nobody else seems to, including the Endo consultants, but that's another battle stored for another day).

The Endo I saw asked after our discussion who was paying the bill, and I explained. He suggested he write to my GP to order the tests, and that he would include next steps, conditional on certain results, or I could go back to see him. He literally requested something like 20 tests from that consultation. That was a massive saving!

I have seen him again (second consultations are cheaper, but not necessarily shorter - mine haven't been) and again, he requested further investigations to be done on the NHS. I'm awaiting the results of those, literally, now (I'm not good at waiting!), but it is then likely I'll be heading off to a different discipline to a Rheumatologist he has recommended.

So, I think in brief what I'm saying is if you are self-funding, it could be worthwhile swapping the visits around - pay for consultations as a potential way to hasten the required tests. If yo are happy with your existing Endo, you could use that to interleave with his NHS care? If you would prefer someone else, you can ask for the referral to be to him/her, and if it goes well, your GP can sort out the hospital cover for you, for continuity.

Under the NHS you and/or your GP can ask for a person specific referral, rather than a general service referral.

If you want to find your chosen Endo and where they practice privately, just ask Dr Google. That worked for me.

Good luck with it all. I hope you get things sorted without having to call too deeply on your pockets.