Bupa Patient Cash
Bupa claims that this new plan is an industry first as a cash plan alternative to PMI. It offers three levels of cover and maximum annual benefits of:
Benefit Level 1 2 3
Consultations £150 £300 £600
Therapies (physiotherapy, osteopathy,
chiropractic and homeopathy) £150 £300 £600
Diagnostic scans £150 £300 £600
Hospital in-patient per night* £25 £50 £100
Hospital day-patient surgery** £25 £50 £100
* Up to 20 nights a year
** Per day, up to four days a year
In addition, customers have access to the Bupa Healthline helpline. The plan is available as a company funded, voluntary or flexible benefit. Prices start at £93.50 a year per employee for firms with more than 250 employees. There is no upper age limit.
The plan is also available to individuals, costing from £2.69 a week at ages 1-40 for Level 1 benefits, up to £26.92 a week for Level 3 benefits at age 71-79.
Plus points: Cheaper alternative to PMI that pays for consultations, therapy and scans and provides hospital cash benefits too; Fixed annual cost; Company funded employees not required to declare pre-existing conditions or to be underwritten.
Not so plus points: Will not fund private hospital stay;. Some treatment may cost more than the plan’s limit.
Website: http://www.bupa.co.uk.
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 7. Overall: 7.