How to use private medical insurance through Practice Plus Group

How private medical insurance works with Practice Plus Group

If you’ve got private medical insurance but aren’t sure how the process works when it comes to accessing healthcare, this section provides a detailed overview.

Put simply, the process is as follows:

• You ask your GP to refer you to a specific Practice Plus Group consultant for your treatment
• Check with your insurance provider your specific treatment is covered under the terms of your policy
• If you get the green light, give us a call or complete an online form to get yourself booked in for a consultation with us
• Following your consultation, you’ll be booked in for treatment (if needed) at a time and place that suits you.

At Practice Plus Group, we work with the bulk of the major private insurance companies but please do remember that policies and insurance providers vary. Some will provide financial cover for specific treatments while others won’t, particularly if your condition began before you took out health insurance.

A step-by-step guide to using your insurance

The previous section provided an overview of the insured patient healthcare journey. This section gives a detailed step-by-step account of how to access private healthcare with Practice Plus Group if you have private medical insurance.

Step 1: Get referred

The first step for insured patients is to get an appointment with your GP. Most health insurance providers need a referral from your GP before proceeding with a claim. During your GP appointment, he or she will be able to refer you for treatment – if needed. Make sure you ask to be referred to your nearest Practice Plus Group hospital.

Step 2: Confirm your cover with your insurer

Once you have your GP referral, it’s time to get in touch with your health insurance provider. When you’re in touch with them, you’ll need to confirm whether the specific treatment you need is covered under the terms of your private medical insurance policy.

Step 3: Get your authorisation code

If the treatment you need is covered under the terms of your private health insurance policy, you’ll be given an authorisation code. An authorisation code appears differently depending on your insurance provider but it is typically a mixture of letters and numbers (although can sometimes just be numbers). It provides hospitals, consultants, and insurers a way of managing a claim, while providing patients an opportunity to track when their treatment has been authorised and financially covered by their insurer.

Make sure you keep your code handy; you’ll need to let us know what it is during the next step.

Step 4: Book your consultation with Practice Plus Group

The next step is to get in touch with us! You can do this by calling up on 0330 162 9379 or completing an online enquiry form. If you choose the second option, one of our friendly advisors will be in touch within a couple of days.

When you’re speaking to one of our team, you’ll be booked in for a private consultation. To do this, you’ll need to quote the authorisation code from step 3.

Step 5: Treatment, surgery, and aftercare

Once you’ve had your consultation and know that treatment is needed, you’ll need to get back in touch with your insurer to let them know. They’ll make you aware of any limitations around your treatment not covered by your policy.

Please be aware that you may still need to pay any excess. You can check what this is by getting in touch with your insurance provider.

Which insurers does Practice Plus Group work with?

At Practice Plus Group, we work with all the insurance providers you’ve heard of (and some you might not have!).

The following is a definitive list of the insurers we work with:

• Allianz
• Aviva
• AXA
• Bupa
• Healix Health Services
• National Police Healthcare Scheme
• Vitality
• WPA

 That may seem like a long list but the process to access private healthcare is similar across the different providers. You’ll need to check your treatment is covered under your policy, get an authorisation code, and book a consultation at a time and date to suit you.

Please remember that cover varies between policies and providers, so you’ll need to check the exact requirements with your insurer before getting in touch with us.

Do you need a GP referral to use private medical insurance?

Some insurers allow patients to access treatment without a GP referral. Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are one common example, as many providers offer direct access for these types of issues.

However, the majority of health insurance providers – not just the ones we work with – will need a referral from your GP before they can issue you with an authorisation code. As we’ve seen earlier in this blog, you need this code to be able to book a consultation and start your treatment.

Once you’re in touch with your insurance provider, do remember to check what’s covered under the terms of your policy. Cover varies depending on the insurance provider and you may not be able to access private healthcare with us through your insurance if your condition isn’t listed.

What is an authorisation code and why does it matter?

An authorisation code provides hospitals, consultants, and insurers with a way of managing a claim. It also gives patients an opportunity to track when their treatment has been authorised and financially covered by their insurer.

It appears differently depending on your insurance provider but is usually either a set of letters and numbers or just a sequence of numbers.

Will Practice Plus Group bill my insurer directly?

At Practice Plus Group, having private healthcare via your medical insurance is simple. Once you’ve had your consultation with a specialist, your treatment will begin – if needed. At this point, we’ll send your insurance provider the invoice to cover the cost of your treatment stipulated in your policy.

This may not cover the full cost of your treatment, so please be aware you may need to pay an excess fee. This varies depending on policy, provider, and the type of treatment you need, so be sure to check with your insurer before booking in with us.

Why choose Practice Plus Group for insured treatment?

From fast access to care to flexible treatment times, let’s take a look at the reasons to choose Practice Plus Group for your insured treatment.

• Fast access: all our private patients are seen for their initial consultations within 1-2 weeks of making their booking enquiry. Treatment – if needed – takes place 4-6 weeks after this.
• Your choice of consultant: You’ll be able to choose which consultant carries out your initial appointment and treatment. When making your decision, be sure to check out how much experience the consultant has, their qualifications, and how many procedures they carry out each year. This consultant will be there to support you every step of the way through your treatment.
• Flexible treatment times: With Practice Plus Group, we know that life gets busy and plans can change. That’s why all our private patients have the option to choose a consultation and treatment time that suits them. We have numerous hospital locations across the country, so pick your closest and give us a call!

James Wood, Content Specialist