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Can you get health insurance for IBD in the UK

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/14/2022 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
It's so sad that they are trying to destroy the NHS over here in the UK. I am broken hearted about the government here. They just want to make money so they are now trying to privitse the NHS.

I actually looked at individual health care plans and none of them cover IBD. My company doesn't either and I don't know if they do at present.

I'm not a millionaire so i think if the UK goes fully private and I can't get cover I'd just let myself go. I know it's not a nice thing to say but my husband and I don't earn much and it would be better to do that than lose our house. He doesn't have IBD and he has spine issues but he doesn't need so much treatment. So that is more survivable.


It's sad I know..

I'm sorry this post sounds depressing but the reality of Britain going private is looming.

Are there any other members on this forum from the UK? Do you know of companies who cover IBD? Bupa doesn't. AXA doesn't even vitality health doesn't 😥

Thanks all for reading xx
Posted 9/15/2022 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Strange that they don't cover IBD. I don't know anything about insurance in the UK but am bumping this up so hopefully someone sees it who has some knowledge
Posted 9/15/2022 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
NCOT has had her medications paid for, I know we have some others same thing. How were you notified they would not pay for your medication? I am sorry that you are having to deal with this.
Posted 9/15/2022 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
General and medical allow up to 2 pre existing conditions including Crohn’s or UC. There are limits to what they will pay out. It’s on my list for when I am well enough to work more hours to be able to have spare cash to pay for health insurance 🤣
I was told by an IBD nurse that because the NHS is run by different trusts in different regions they have different approaches to funding biologics. I had to fail azathioprine and 6mp first but as I understand it my trust are reasonably relaxed about funding biologics. So it might be a case of move house rather than pay for private Health Insurance.
I think where private insurance would be helpful is if you wanted more frequent tests/ colonoscopy etc. In terms of emergency care you’d be looking at NHS anyway regardless of whether you had insurance.
It might be worth thinking about what you want a private health provider to offer that NHS wouldn’t. If you are running out of treatment options for example you might be better off tracking new research and volunteering for clinical trials (the most promising in my view are the Crohn’s map vaccine trial at St Guys, phage therapy at Mount Sinai in New York, Qu Biologics in Canada and there is an interesting development for autoimmune diseases in general using CAR-T therapy in today’s Guardian website page)
My only other thought would be approach an insurance broker to see who else would provide a policy but I expect you are then paying for the info
Posted 9/19/2022 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. I'm actually starting to flare up this week. I'm on Mezavant 1200mg Azathioprine; and salafolk suppositories. I think I'll have to call my IBD nurse from the NHS. I was supposed to have a colonoscopy but they haven't posted any paper work to me and I haven't got invited. My IBD nurse said she'd put me in for one but I bet they delayed it as I wasn't the biggest priority on the waiting list, but now that I'm flaring I think I should have one as soon as possible. Delta I know the NHS set up different trusts to run the NHS so it's not nationalised. I think it was a move so they can privatise it. Such a shame I love the NHS. I was offered a clinical trial through the NHS about 2 months ago, but I wasn't sure about it. The trial was to remove the appendix because it is a belief it can cause more flare ups in ulcerative colitis, but I read the research and I can't see enough evidence to support that thereroy, so I didn't go for the trial. There are insurance brokers I found on the Crohn's and Colitis foundation site, but I think my best bet for now is to stay NHS and chase this colonoscopy. Thanks all xx
Posted 9/20/2022 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I had my appendix removed about a month after I was diagnosed with UC (due to appendicitis). Didn't help my UC.
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