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Frequently asked questions about Bupa business health cover

 

Questions about providing Bupa health cover as part of your staff benefits package

How does an employer benefit from providing Bupa health cover? Hide

Providing private health cover can increase the value of your employees’ salary and benefits package. Offering the scheme as an employee benefit may also increase loyalty and help to reduce sickness and absence levels.

Does Bupa health cover offer any tax benefits to the employer? Hide

As an employer you will obtain corporation tax relief for the full value of the premium. Your employees’ taxable benefit may be on a lower value as some of the benefits provided by Bupa health cover may attract a P11D dispensation. Please consult your relevant tax district for more information.

What can employees claim for? Hide

The core benefits of the scheme provide extensive cover for a wide range of in- and out-patient treatments including:

  • treatment and consultants’ fees
  • cost of hospital accommodation
  • diagnostic tests and x-rays
  • MRI, CT and PET scans

In addition to these core benefits, extra options are available which allow you to increase your employees’ level of cover to include:

  • optical benefit
  • dental benefit
  • prescription benefit
  • a higher standard of hospital accommodation
  • family cash benefit

Because Bupa health cover is designed to be flexible and suit the individual needs of your business, you can also choose to reduce the level of cover which means you don’t have to pay for benefits your employees are unlikely to use.
Some terms and conditions apply so please refer to the membership guide where you’ll also find the full list of health care benefits available.

How does the excess work? Hide

You will have a named account manager who’ll be your first point of contact for the administration and running of the plan. To get your policy up and running, you’ll need to supply us with:

  • the names, dates of birth and family status of eligible employees (by family status we mean single, couple, family or single-parent family)
  • your company bank details (if paying by monthly direct debit)
  • the date you wish cover to commence

Don’t forget to let your account manager know if any members of your scheme have existing cover with Bupa.

What else can Bupa offer? Hide

In addition to flexible, cost-effective health cover, we can also offer you and your employees access to services such as:

Bupa Positive Health , a confidential, interactive online health and wellbeing resource

Bupa HealthLine , our confidential 24/7 phone service answered by qualified nurses

Both have been designed to help keep your employees in the best of health, for more information simply give your account manager a call.

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Questions about the cover provided by Bupa

Are employees covered for cancer treatment? Hide

Yes. We give members full cover and support at every stage of their condition. We offer extensive cancer cover, where each member has access to specialist oncology nurses, treatment at our unique network of specialist cancer centres, new cancer drugs and care in the comfort of their own home.

What conditions aren't covered by Bupa health cover? Hide

Although the following conditions are excluded from the policy there are some exceptions, so please refer to the membership guide and your membership certificate for further details.

Excluded medical conditions and treatments include:

  • treatment for ageing, menopause and puberty
  • AIDS / HIV
  • allergies
  • birth control, conception, sexual problems or sex changes
  • chronic conditions
  • complications from excluded conditions
  • treatment resulting from contamination, wars, riots or terrorist acts
  • convalescence care, rehabilitation or general nursing care
  • cosmetic, reconstructive or weight loss treatment
  • dialysis
  • experimental drugs and treatment
  • HRT and bone densitometry
  • intensive care (other than routinely needed private day-patient treatment or in-patient treatment)
  • learning difficulties, behavioural and developmental problems
  • pregnancy and childbirth
  • screening and preventive treatment
  • sleep problems and disorders
  • speech disorders
  • temporary relief of symptoms
  • out-patient drugs and dressings
  • physical aids and appliances
  • pre-existing conditions for underwritten members: By underwritten members, we mean a member who, as part of their application to join the scheme, was required to provide details of their medical history condition for the purpose of underwriting.
We have offices in Jersey and Guernsey. Does the policy provide cover to travel to the UK mainland for treatment? Hide

Yes. If you have chosen to include travel to, and treatment on the UK mainland within your benefits we will pay eligible costs up to the maximum amount set out in your membership certificate. Before arranging any travel or treatment, please contact the helpline.

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Questions for members of company health insurance

Does Bupa provide cover for pre-existing conditions? Hide

If you’ve never had health insurance, we’ll need to base our decision on your past four years’ medical history. So, if you have symptoms which you know could cause problems in the future, we may need to exclude them under the policy as a pre-existing condition. If you’re transferring an existing policy to Bupa, we’ll consider continuing your existing exclusions or treatment based on your claims history with your current insurer and the rules and benefits of your chosen scheme.

Will I receive cash benefit if I need to stay in an NHS hospital? Hide

We pay £50 NHS cash benefit for each night you receive in-patient treatment provided free under the NHS. We only pay NHS cash benefit if your in-patient treatment would otherwise have been covered privately under your benefits. Some terms and conditions apply so please refer to the membership guide for more information.

Can I cover my family, too? Hide

Yes. If your company has chosen family cover you can include your spouse/partner and any dependent children up to the age of 21 who live with you at your address. This age rises to 24 if they’re still in full-time education but we may ask for proof of continuing education.

Does the policy cover accidents and emergencies? Hide

While we don’t provide cover for accidents and emergencies we will provide cover towards follow-up treatment as long as it’s not for a pre-existing condition and has been referred by a specialist consultant or GP.

How do I make a claim? Hide

Bupas claims process helps you make an informed decision when choosing a consultant approved by Bupa. We can work with you to find a consultant most appropriate to your treatment, and make sure all your costs of consultation is covered.

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Next steps

  • * Lines are open 8am to 8pm Mon - Fri and 9am to 5pm at weekends. Calls may be recorded and may be monitored.
    † Bupa Positive Health and Bupa HealthLine are non-contractual benefits and may be amended or withdrawn at any time.
    3 CBI - On the path to recovery: Absence and workplace health survey 2010.

Contact us

  • Telephone

    To discuss your needs call

    08457 66 11 15*

    quoting W01
    Lines are open
    Mon - Fri : 8am to 8pm
    Sat : 9am to 1pm

Absence calculator

In 2009 sickness absence cost companies an average of £595 per employee3.

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