Payment options

There are a number of ways to manage the cost of your treatment at a BMI Hospital. However, the two main options are:

1. Through a private or company paid medical insurance policy

2. Paying for treatment directly through one of our self pay schemes – ideal if you do not have private medical insurance

Other options include cash plan and employer assistance schemes:

Cash plans pay out contributions towards hospital treatment. Details of cash plan schemes can be found on the British Health Care Association (BHCA) website, the trade body for the majority of health cash plans and associated plans
Employer assistance schemes are used by employers who recognise that in certain circumstances it is more economical for them to fund private hospital treatment, than to fund your sick pay and pay someone else to do your job, whilst you are awaiting publicly funded hospital treatment

Private Medical Insurance

BMI Healthcare provides treatment to patients that hold policies with most major Private Medical Insurance (PMI) providers (it does not offer its own medical insurance scheme). The best place for independent advice on PMI is the Association of British Insurers (ABI). All reputable insurance companies are members. The ABI publish a free guide to purchasing medical insurance, designed to help you understand more about how private medical insurance works, so that you can make an informed choice before buying a policy.

The guide has been awarded a Crystal Mark for Clarity, approved by the Plain English Campaign.

If you do opt to take out private medical insurance, do remember to check beforehand that your local BMI hospital would be covered in the scheme.

http://www.abi.org.uk

How to make a claim

Always check with your insurance company whether you are covered for each aspect of treatment beforehand – you are responsible for the bills if your policy doesn’t cover it. Your insurance company will guide you through the process for making a claim. If you are in a company scheme, you will need to check whether you are covered for the treatment you require with the scheme co-ordinator and follow the scheme’s claims process.

Insurance companies require a GP referral letter to be completed before they will consider funding any treatment. Companies then normally request completion of a claim form by consultants or GPs, for which some GPs make a nominal charge.

You will normally need to check cover at each stage of your treatment. For instance if you have an outpatient consultation and the specialist recommends surgery, you need to notify your insurance company. Some insurance policies have limits on such things as outpatient cover e.g. scans, physiotherapy, so it is good practice to keep a check on how much of your cover you have used.

Paying for your own treatment

It’s never been easier to access the high quality of care and treatment available at a BMI hospital. If you choose to pay for your own treatment our “Option” packages provide an easy route to affordable fixed price surgery. You can also apply for your own personal payment card, the BMI Card.

Growing numbers of people are opting to pay for their own treatment because it is fast, affordable and convenient. From a consultation or scan, through to diagnostic investigations, physiotherapy, minor or complex surgery, each can be paid for directly by you.

If you need surgery our Option packages offer you the peace of mind of knowing, in advance, exactly how much your treatment will cost. After seeing your consultant and having had your personal needs identified, you will be given an inclusive, fixed price quotation. This will detail exactly what is, and isn’t, included in the price.

Option packages include

All hospital charges incurred during your stay that are related to your reason for admission, including: accommodation; patient meals; theatre and nursing care; tests, drugs and dressings; physiotherapy; consultant operating fees
Take home drugs for up to five days, or antibiotics for the prescribed period
The removal of stitches, dressings or plaster by the hospital

Option packages do NOT include

Outpatient consultations before your admission
Post-operative consultation if required
Diagnostic investigations and tests before your admission
Personal charges such as visitor meals and telephone calls

No extra charges will be made by the hospital if you stay longer than anticipated if this is due to a clinical reason related to the stated procedure.

No extra charges will be made by the hospital for any tests or treatment arising within 30 days of your discharge from hospital that, in the opinion of your consultant, are directly related to the stated procedure.

Full details of what is included in your Option package will be confirmed in a written quotation. Click here for details of the Option terms and conditions.

Accessing self pay treatment

With the exception of health screening, physiotherapy and some cosmetic surgery, you will need a GP referral letter to access treatment at a BMI hospital. Some BMI hospitals offer a private GP service if you require a second opinion, or if you need faster access to a GP.

GP’s normally provide good independent advice on which consultant to choose, but your local hospital can advise you further of the options available to you. Your local hospital can also provide estimates of pricing for the treatment you require. Quotations can only be given once a consultation has taken place and your individual treatment needs have been identified. We will then provide you a written quotation with details of what is and what is not included in the price.

If you know now what treatment you require you can complete our contact form here or call your local BMI hospital.

Terms and Conditions

Payment methods

Treatment in a BMI hospital offers you exceptional value for money. Our ongoing, independent survey shows that over 91% of our self-pay patients say that we meet or exceed their expectations in terms of value for money.

Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, BMI Card*, bankers draft, Building Society cheque or personal cheque. Many hospitals also accept cash payments. We ask you to pay for your Option package on or before admission. In the case of personal cheques we need to receive your payment at least five working days before your admission to hospital.

*The BMI Card, our own payment card, offers up to six months interest free credit for health care purchases, provided you are a cardholder before treatment commences. You normally need to allow three weeks before admission to process your application.

Click here for full details and terms and conditions of the BMI Card.

BMI Card

Helping you manage the cost of private medical care

The BMI Card is a unique credit card that allows you to spread the cost of health care, allowing you or your family to benefit from treatment at your chosen BMI hospital at a time convenient to you.

Designed to meet your needs
If you need an operation but do not have private medical insurance, most BMI hospitals offer a Self Pay Surgery scheme that will include the consultant surgeon and anaesthetist fees. If the consultants charge separately, these amounts may be debited to your BMI Card account, by prior arrangement with your chosen BMI hospital.

If you have private medical insurance, the BMI Card will allow you to manage the costs of treatment not covered by your insurance, which might be, for example, health screening, maternity care or cosmetic surgery.

Six months' interest-free credit for health care purchases

If the purchase is paid in full within six months, it will be entirely interest-free. Your minimum payment each month is 5% of the outstanding balance shown on the BMI Card statement, or £25, whichever is greater, (or the outstanding balance shown on the statement if less than £25).

Attractive interest rate

The interest rate and APR for any health care purchase will be 0% for the first six months starting with the date of debiting the purchase to your account. Thereafter, interest will be charged on the remaining balance of the account at a current rate of 0.79% per month (variable) APR 9.9%.

Choice of credit limit

You may choose your credit limit up to a maximum of £12,000. This facility is limited to applicants aged 18 years or over and living in England, Wales or Scotland, and is subject to normal credit checking procedures and our conditions below.

We reserve the right to request a bank reference for any application. With your permission we may contact your bank or building society, which must be inside the European union, for a reference and to confirm your name and address. BMI Healthcare reserves the right to refuse any application at its absolute discretion.

Payment of your account

We offer a Direct Debit facility for payment of your account.

No annual charge

The BMI Card has no annual charge or membership fee.

Your security

The Credit Agreement is regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. A written quotation is obtainable on request.

How to apply

To apply for your BMI Card, please download the terms and conditions and complete the application form.

We normally need 2 - 3 weeks to process an application, but please allow postage time in addition.

BMI Card is a credit facility offered by BMI Healthcare Limited, 66 Chiltern St London W1U 6GH. Credit is offered for an initial period of six months on an interest free basis and thereafter at a typical APR of 9.9%. A minimum payment is required each month from the start of the loan equivalent to 5% of the outstanding balance or £25 whichever is the greater, or the outstanding balance shown on the statement if it is less that £25.