Help from those who know
Private health care
| Company details | Policy details | Conditions covered/criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Aviva Healthcare 0800 051 1524 www.aviva.co.uk |
Some policies | • GP referral or specialist referred only • each acupuncturist has to register individually • deal with queries on case-by-case basis • practitioner has to register, form available on website: www.aviva.co.uk/health-insurance/ practitioner-zone.html |
| AXA PPP 0800 783 1279 01892 503001 – specialist recognition www.axappphealthcare.co.uk |
Cash Plan only | • Patient pays BAcC practitioner and gets re-imbursement from AXA/PPP £60 per session fee |
| Benenden Healthcare Society 0800 414 8011 www.benenden.org.uk |
Health cash plan only | • self-referral ok • each claim analysed on an individual basis and if practitioner holds a relevant qualification, they would pay the claim and on a case-by-case basis |
| Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund 0800 622552 www.bhsf.co.uk |
Three quarters of all policies | • self-referral • BMAS and BAcC members only |
| Bupa 0800 600500 – provider management www.bupa.co.uk |
Discretionary benefit on some policies under review: policy specific |
• no cover for pre-existing conditions • no cover for long-term and/or chronic conditions – acute flare-ups only on case-by-case basis – exclusion on temporary relief of symptoms • must be a registered medical practitioner; hold BMAS certificate of accreditation; have been in continuous substantial practice; up to date with CPD; complete application form • Bupa provides recognition for providers who are fully insured members (qualified medical acupuncturists) on their insurance policies. However, there are cash plans which may cover for acupuncture by providers who do not have full recognition by Bupa, eg health addictions cash plan accepts BAcC members |
| CS Healthcare 0800 917 4325 www.cshealthcare.co.uk |
Some policies, depending on module chosen (therapy and care) |
• GP referral or specialist referred only • BAcC and AACP members |
| Engage Mutual Assurance (also formally PHSA) 0800 169 4321 www.engagemutual.com |
Health cash plan | • GP referral only • each claim analysed on an individual basis and if practitioner holds a relevant qualification, they would pay the claim on a case-by-case basis |
| Exeter Family Friendly 0300 123 3200 www.secure.exeterfamily.co.uk |
Four out of five policies | • GP referral or specialist referred only – no self-referral • practitioner has to register – form available on website – and they check qualifications • no list of providers available |
| General & Medical Healthcare 0800 970 9442 www.generalandmedical.com |
All policies but limited benefit | • GP referral or specialist referred only • must be accredited by a governing body but no list of providers available |
| Healthshield 01270 588555 www.healthshield.co.uk |
All policies | • self- or GP referral • BAcC, BMAS, and ATCM members |
| HSF 020 7202 1381 www.hsf.co.uk |
All policies | • no referral required • BAcC member or TCM practitioner • no requirement to belong to any particular association but practitioner must send copy of qualification with receipt |
| Medicash 0800 011 2222 www.medicash.org |
All policies | • self-referral ok • practitioner must be registered with professional body such as BAcC, AACP, and BMAS, ie qualified and insured |
| National Friendly 0800 195 9246 www.nationalfriendly.co.uk |
All policies | • GP referral or specialist referred only • BAcC members accepted • no list of providers available |
| Pru Health (now Vitality Health) 0800 092 9400 www.pruhealth.co.uk |
Some policies | • GP referral or specialist referred only • BAcC, AACP, and BMAS members |
| Sovereign Health 01274 841130 www.sovereignhealthcare.co.uk |
Healthcare cash plan | • BAcC, BMAS, and ATCM members |
| Simply Health (includes BCWA, Leeds Hospital Fund and Medisure) 0800 294 7302/0800 854929 providerservices@simplyhealth.co.uk www.simplyhealth.co.uk |
Depends on the policy | • GP referral only • AACP, BAcC, ATCM, and BMAS members only |
| Westfield 0845 605 6531 www.westfieldhealth.com |
Most policies | • GP referral only • BAcC or BMAS members only |
| WHA 0292 048 5461 www.whahealthcare.co.uk |
All policies | • self-referral but for medical conditions only • no cover for pre-existing conditions (except see final bullet) • practitioners must have proper qualification and insurance • NHS top-up scheme will pay up to £200 of treatment by BAcC members without need for GP referral or stating what condition treatment is for (so allows pre-existing conditions) |
| WHCA 01905 729090 www.whcaorchard.com |
All policies – Orchard Healthcare Plan |
• self-referral • treatment administered by ‘a qualified person registered with an organisation recognised by WHCA’ |
| WPA 0800 298 9588 www.wpa.org.uk |
Acupuncture allowed on most policies (therapy benefit optional) |
• GP referrals only • no cover for pre-existing conditions • BAcC and BMAS members only |
Insurance companies: policies underwritten by other companies
| Company details | Policy details | Conditions covered/criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Health-on-Line 01202 544445 www.health-on-line.co.uk |
Some policies, up to £1,000 per year – only if option 3 therapies had been chosen AXA PPP |
• GP referral or specialist referred only • must be performed in one of their listed hospitals – AXA PPP approved |
| Insurety 0800 028 0849 www.april-uk.com |
All policies Aviva |
• GP referral or specialist referred only • AACP or BMAS members |
| Saga 0800 015 0226 www.saga.co.uk |
Some policies AXA PPP Cash policy run by Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund |
• GP referral or specialist referred only • BMAS only – same as AXA • BMAS or BAcC members |
| Secure Health 01277 626444 www.securehealth.co.uk |
Depends on the policy and modules chosen by the policy holder (therapy module) |
• GP referral or specialist referred only • only deal with policy administration – contact the underwriter for details |