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Whether you have your own private medical insurance policy or are covered through your work, our guide explains how to make a claim for treatment at a Circle Hospital, so you can get fast access to private healthcare when you need it most
Making a claim on your health insurance is easier than you think. With Circle Health Group, there are just three simple steps to accessing private treatment using insurance:
When you have an appointment with your GP, let them know that you have private insurance, and ask them to refer you to a Circle Health Group hospital.
If you have already chosen the consultant you want to see, you can let your GP know so that they can give you a specific referral letter. This should include the hospital and the consultant, as well as the recommended treatment you need.
They can also give you a more general referral letter that doesn't specify a consultant.
If your doctor has given you a referral letter, call our appointments advisor line on 0800 096 2906. Or if your doctor contacts us directly with your referral, we will get in touch with you, usually on the same day.
Don't forget to call your insurer after visiting your GP to activate your insurance. Have your referral details to hand when you call, as your insurer will need this information to confirm that the treatment you need is covered by your policy.
(If you find that the treatment is not covered by your provider, but you still want to go private, you can simply pay for your own healthcare.)
If at any point you're finding the process more complicated or confusing than it should be, we're here to help. Call us on 0141 300 5009 and one of our friendly team can help you get things sorted.
So, if you need private treatment, your PMI covers the costs. You can get fast access to expert care, safe in the knowledge that the price will be covered by your policy.
Personal private healthcare insurance is paid for directly. You might pay monthly instalments or an annual fee. Lots of people have cover through their work, in which case your employer will deal with the insurance provider. You might pay a fee each month for the policy, but this will likely come out of your salary before you are paid.
Private healthcare refers to hospitals and clinics that are not run by the NHS. Some of them do work very closely with the NHS, but they are run independently. You might also hear private hospitals referred to as independent hospitals.
Circle Health Group offers private healthcare at more than 50 hospitals and clinics across Scotland, England and Wales.
Find your nearest Circle hospital.
You'll find everything you need to know in our guide to private healthcare.
A lot of companies offer private health insurance to employees as standard, so you should check at work to see if that's the case. Ask around your family, too, as many people have a corporate health insurance policy that covers close relatives (for example parents, partners and children).
It is also common for people to have health insurance, whether personal or corporate, but not use it. There are many reasons for this (see below in our FAQs for more information), but in most cases it's best to take advantage of insurance if you have it.
Private health insurance is there to be used! If you don't have private medical insurance and are looking to invest in your health, you'll find more information on how to do so below.
However, if you already know you need treatment, but don't yet have health insurance, buying a new policy will not cover the treatment you need. Instead, take advantage of our pay-as-you-go healthcare offer, which includes options to spread the cost of treatment.
If you would prefer not to wait for an appointment with your usual GP, you can see a private GP via a video consultation to speed up your referral.
Once you have a referral, you should be able to use your private health insurance to pay for treatment at any of our private hospitals, with any of our consultants.
Once you have spoken to your private medical insurer, you can book your appointment with your chosen hospital or clinic. Just give us a call on 0141 300 5009 .
When booking your appointment with us, we recommend you have the following details to hand:
If your health insurer isn't listed, simply give us a call on 0141 300 5009, and we can quickly let you know if we work with your provider.
Most policies will cover:
PMI tends to cover 'acute' conditions, which means diseases, illnesses or injuries that are likely to respond quickly to treatment, returning you to the state of health you enjoyed previously. That can mean that long-term illnesses fall outside of your cover.
These days, many policies will also offer support for mental health problems and psychological treatments.
It's important to know that pre-existing conditions are not usually covered either. You will have to give a detailed medical history at the time of purchasing your policy and any conditions or problems you already know about will be excluded from the offer.
If you do want cover for an ongoing or long-term condition, it's best to speak to a provider directly, and they may be able to tailor the policy to accommodate your needs.
If your insurance policy does not cover the treatment you need, you can still go private with Circle Health Group.
We offer a pay-as-you-go option, known as self-pay. Within this offer are flexible payment options that make the costs of private treatment more affordable than you'd think.
Because you pay for health cover, you won't need to worry about the costs of private care at the time of treatment. Your insurance provider will liaise directly with our dedicated team to sort out everything to do with prices of treatment, and you can focus on getting better.
The benefits of private healthcare with Circle include:
If you're still uncertain, you can speak to an independent adviser, who will help you find the best insurer for your personal circumstances.
Answer the questions in the 'how much insurance cover should I buy?' section above, and think about your answers in terms of importance. Which elements are an absolute necessity, and which will you be flexible on?
It's always best to do as much research as possible into what is offered by different insurance companies and what their different products cover when it comes to medical treatment.
A quick internet search will help you find various price comparison websites that will help you narrow it down and identify which options could work for you.
There is also the option of using an independent adviser, who can look at a wide range of insurers and make a recommendation based on your particular circumstances.
Once you've chosen the right product for you, you'll need to complete an application. In it, your insurer will ask you some fairly detailed questions about your health. They may also ask your permission to write to your doctor.
Do make sure you complete the application truthfully and fully. If you're not sure whether to mention something, it's best to do so just in case. Remember, if the insurer feels you've left out or concealed something, you may find they refuse a claim in the future - or even cancel your policy.
Private healthcare costs in the UK depend on various factors, including:
You'll find more information on our guide to paying for treatment with Circle.
If you are looking for the cost of different health insurance plans in the UK, you can use an online comparison website, or you could speak to an independent adviser. The price of medical insurance will be different for every person.
We don't offer our own private health insurance to individuals, however you don't actually need private medical insurance to access treatment with Circle Health Group. You can simply pay for whatever treatment you need, as and when you need it.
Find out more about paying for your own treatment.
You can purchase PMI easily online, whether direct from a private healthcare provider or by using a price comparison website. You can also go to an independent adviser, who will seek out the best deal for your individual circumstances.
In general, private health insurance covers 'acute' conditions. That is; diseases, illnesses or injuries that are likely to respond quickly to treatment and return you to the state of health you enjoyed before the condition occurred.
Generally speaking, a new policy will not cover you for problems that you have now or have had in the past. However, insurers are becoming increasingly flexible in their approach to covering individuals and do ask that in this situation you contact them and they will discuss the various options available to you.
These may include:
All policies are different, but in general private health insurance is designed to cover treatment for curable, short-term illness or injury. It isn't for 'chronic' illnesses that are expected to need treatment over a long period. Most policies won't cover (among others) conditions such as normal pregnancy, drug abuse, organ transplants, dentistry, cosmetic treatments, infertility, mobility aids, HIV/Aids, kidney dialysis or A&E.
You will not be refused cover due to a disability. However, like any other 'pre-existing condition' you may find the policy excludes treatment that's needed because of that disability. But it must be fair and reasonable for the insurer to do this.
Private health insurance is a big reassurance if you receive a cancer diagnosis: you know you can get expert care at what is obviously a very worrying time. You'll find that some leading private health insurance providers will cover all cancer treatment costs, even if your illness isn't classed as 'acute'.
Your policy will come with a full document, together with a key features summary. This will make it clear what's covered, what isn't, and the financial limits for any claim. If you're not happy when you first buy the policy, you can usually cancel it within 14 days.
No, that is very unlikely. Most insurers now use a paperless system, which makes the process efficient and simple.
Your insurance premiums may go up if you make a claim. Details of this can be found in your policy. They may also go up over time, whether due to inflation or because you are getting older.
If you receive your private health insurance through your work, there will be no change to your contributions as a result of making a claim.