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My daughter has persistent abdominal pain keeping her off school and the GP thinks it's a psychological issue (which I don't necessarily disagree with). Obviously mental health services are stretched, and so are physical ones - we were meant to get a referral for an ultrasound - but we seem to be fitting into a gap between the two.
I can get Aviva health cover through work, at a cost, but I want to know if it's actually going to be decent with mystery conditions or are they going to go all USA and fob us off so they can avoid paying out? What are your experiences?
Our work Aviva cover includes all pre-existing conditions when you sign up for it (we only get one opportunity per year to join). A close colleague is currently receiving treatment for a mental health condition through Aviva and it was reasonably easy to arrange.
There's a big banner at the top of the blub saying existing medical history is disregarded so you're covered.
Do you get immediate cover though. I’m sure there was some exclusion 3/6month exclusion when I joined a company scheme.
Our daughter has been suffering with the same. Belly pain comes and goes. Has your GP done a blood test? Ours has done, nothing noticeable came back, except for slightly low blood sugar. They put it down to a virus that seems to affect the lymph nodes.
I've had AXA cover with work for a few years and used it for myself, wife and baby (now toddler). As far as the 'mystery illness' goes, the little lad had unknown digestive issues from 6-9 months and AXA were happy enough to investigate this with two paediatrician visits for diet and intolerance advice. IIRC we did have a GP referral but it was rather vague.
Also worth noting that certain AXA policies offer a 'Doctor Care Anywhere' where you can speak to a GP on the phone and get a referral that way. I did just that this week for suspect Cubital Tunnel and booked in with a consultant next week. The cynical part of me thinks that the GP's on this service are keener to refer than an NHS GP and I suspect you'll get a referral no problem this way.
As above before you sign up check if pre-existing conditions are covered. It's generally standard if your employer has a large scheme but there's a myriad of options an employer can select when choosing private healthcare for their employees. It's cheaper to exclude pre existing conditions or add a moratorium (waiting period) for existing conditions
(This is what I do for a living)
the Aviva cover will give you the chanc to use the yearly Blood test which can pick up various things (as i've recently discovered), you then get to talk those results through with a GP on line really quickly and he/she can also refer you really quick as well. Not sure if that would cover family members though as i just have a personal cover.
Also, if you think it may be phsycological, has she seen an ELSA type person at school?
Boarding Bob is bang on the money. Tis also what I do for a living.
It says pre existing conditions are covered but I don't know about a moratorium.
Also, if you think it may be phsycological, has she seen an ELSA type person at school?
No, noone at school just the GP. We talked to a mental health person and since she isn't in immediate danger of self harm she's presumably on a long list somewhere.
@prezet it's constant pain, lower abdomen.
Is there a temperature? Could be a UTI, or if it’s bottom right it could be a grumbling appendix. My daughter says hers is around the belly button.
A blood test would rule out a large number of possibilities.
If you can get a remote GP appointment they should easily be able to refer you to the local hospital to get one.
wife works for AHC and is involved in corporate policies amongst other stuff. If you have a really specific question I can ask her, she may decline to comment but I can always ask
and yes they are good, win lots of awards etc... and seem to treat their people well.
Check you are covered for pre-existing as others have said, policies, especially corporate ones do vary
We have a Aviva and it’s utter shite compared to AXA before in my experience.
Kryton - interestingly my Aviva cover is better than my wife’s previous AXA cover (or her current bupa cover) BUT you can’t really compare policies like that Aviva cover varies with size of company, option the company selects etc.
molgrips - Aviva cover with Med Hist disregarded should start immediately, although in my view it’s a bit sneaky to wait for an issue before taking out the policy! From what I can tell from colleagues it is good for diagnostics but your gp (or avivas online gp) has to refer you to the right specialism eg. Gynae, endocrine, mental health, gastro enterology, etc.
it’s a bit sneaky to wait for an issue before taking out the policy
It's called anti selection. However unless the policy has medical underwriting and exclusion of pre-existing conditions, there shouldn't be a problem
Is there a temperature? Could be a UTI, or if it’s bottom right it could be a grumbling appendix. My daughter says hers is around the belly button.
Doctor tested and prodded everything three times, nothing came up hen e the suggestion of a psychosomatic cause.
although in my view it’s a bit sneaky to wait for an issue before taking out the policy!
Surely that's the natural response to an issue? The big question is, will I cancel it once the issue is fixed? 🙂
However unless the policy has medical underwriting
What does this mean?