An important part of deciding on private healthcare is the cost. Hospitals and treatments can vary in prices, and so it’s important to do some research to understand where costs may arise and how to approach paying for treatments. Read our guide to funding private hospital treatment and what questions you should consider.
How to fund private treatment yourself
If you’re paying for your own treatment, the hospital will send details of the treatment you’re booked in for and how much this will cost. Hospitals may offer a fixed price package for your treatment, which includes Consultant and anaesthetist fees, scans and equipment, the cost of readmission if needed and even follow-up consultations.
If the hospital doesn’t offer a fixed price, they should provide an estimate of the cost of your treatment. This means there may be additional costs for consultations, tests, or sundries which you’ll have to pay for.
They should also send guidance on how to pay and by when. You won’t be able to have your treatment until it has been paid in full, and the funds have cleared. This includes paying for your own treatment or if you’ve taken out finance to pay for your procedure.
You should ensure that you read this information carefully and contact the hospital if you have any questions.
More information on paying for your own treatment can be found here.
How to fund private treatment through health insurance
Before you contact a private hospital to book your initial consultation, you must check with your provider that your policy covers the treatment you need. Once this has been approved, you can contact the hospital with your policy details and authorisation code.
Not every provider covers all aspects of treatment, or specialist equipment such as crutches and wrist braces, which means that you’ll have to pay for these services yourself. You should check the limits and exclusions with your insurer before you contact the hospital.
Some providers will allow you to pay upfront for your treatment, then claim it back from them. However, it’s important to agree this with your insurer before you start on your treatment journey.
It’s also worth remembering that, accessing treatment through private medical insurers can be different from the self-pay route, as you may have to complete additional paperwork before being given the go ahead to book your procedure.
More information on accessing treatment through private medical insurance can be found here.
How much does private treatment cost?
Private treatment costs vary between hospitals and depend on specialty. Procedures which require more than one initial consultation, need input from several Consultants or are lengthy procedures requiring a lot of theatre time and medication will be more costly.
For this reason, it’s important that you go through a comparison process before committing to any treatment.
Contact us about private treatment at Benenden Hospital
If our guide has helped you make a decision around paying for private healthcare and you’d like to discuss treatment at our CQC rated Outstanding private hospital, call our Private Patient team on 01580 363158 by Livechat or by completing our online enquiry form.
Published on 13 September 2022