Transferring private health insurance from oz to uk.

[Pam W]

Hi has anybody any experience with this. I have had private health insurance for many years in oz but I wonder if it can be transferred to uk when I move there. I have a health condition that was dx here in oz and requires specialist supervision but not hospital stays etc. many thanks

[kmmr]

Hi,

 

I've no direct experience on this, but I'm going the other way. HCF recognise Norwich Union (now Aviva) and offer continious cover for pre-existing illnesses, so perhaps they return the favour?

 

HCF said they had a list of 8 UK providers where they link up, but he wouldn't tell me what they were, just that Aviva (referred to a Norwich Union on their list) was one of them.

 

Slight amusement as I tried to correct the Aussie guy who called it Nor Which Union.

[Pam W]

Thanks for that. I talked to bupa today and they said anyone who has had private health insurance in oz gets whats called a continuity certificate that allows them to continue their private health cover and apparently it applies across all private health. I just want make sure they do cover existing health conditions.:biggrin:

[DonnaBB]

Hi Pam, we transferred from BUPA UK to BUPA Australia and kept all our pre existing conditions. We will be doing the opposite in a few weeks time and BUPA has confirmed that all our pre existing conditions will remain. The only thing is ensure that there is no lapse of cover in between when you are transferring. You may end up paying a slight overlap between the two policies depending on how organised you are but small price to pay to maintain any pre existing I think. Oh, BUPA also said we have to transfer within 30 days of landing. Not sure if this applies to all other private health insurers.

[Pam W]

Thanks for that, very reassuring to know. How did you find prices between uk and oz.

[DonnaBB]

Similar-ish in terms of premium but main difference is in the UK I have found is if you are covered for the particular health issue, you don't pay anything (up to limit). In Aus, I haven't quite figured out how it works but I pay a "gap" if I need to see a consultant each time. But (depending on the cover you get), you can claim on dental and optician (including contact lenses and glasses) costs in Aus.

[Pam W]

Yes I'm getting the impression that uk health funds give you more bang for your buck.thankyou so much for replying it's been very helpful

pam

[Incata]

We were with BUPA in the UK and then transferred to BUPA in Australia.

 

BUPA Australia has the extras policy which you don't get in the UK so it helps if you want to see a physio or an osteopath etc etc.

 

However, in the UK, once you have paid your excess (same as in Australia - you choose how much excess you pay), all your hospital costs are covered, as well as all your consultant fees (outpatient as well as inpatient) and all the anaethetist fees. I like the fact that I get the referral, I can generally see a consultant privately within a week and the cost is fully covered by my private healthcare. I also liked that if I needed an MRI, complex blood tests or scans I did not have to worry about a "GAP" as it was all covered by my policy.

 

Personally I thought the UK policy was better as I knew that once I had paid the first 100 GBP (excess applies per year, not per claim), everything else was covered. In Australia for various surgeries for myself and the children, we have had to pay GAPS on anaethetist fees, costs of X-rays/Scans and excesses for the hospital (only $25 per stay but still, you would expect it to be included).

 

I also found the private hospitals I had surgery in in the UK a lot more luxurious than the hospital the kids and I were operated on in Australia. The private hospital we were in in Perth was at best, basic, yet the staff thought we would be impressed by them having automatic beds - as though it was a relatively new concept over here.

 

The cost overally is about the same for a family of 4 for the level of cover we have.

 

We have been assured by BUPA that if we move back to the UK, all our pre-existing conditions will be covered straight away, as they were when we came out here.

[Pam W]

Thanks very much indeed ,very helpful

happy new year too