BUPA Private Healthcare
BUPA private healthcare (originally named the British United Provident Association), dates from 1947 and is now a major international healthcare organisation. BUPA has more than 10 million customers covering over 200 countries and is based in London.
In the UK, BUPA provides an alternative to the National Health Service, the taxpayer-funded scheme that provides free medical care to all UK residents. BUPA operates a network of private hospitals and clinics that provides an enhanced medical service to BUPA customers, either funded by private health insurance or self-paying.
BUPA Health Insurance
Most UK BUPA private healthcare customers have the benefit of BUPA's private health insurance cover. Such cover can be purchased individually, or be provided by their employer.
Individual insurance schemes include options allowing for specialist coverage for heart and cancer, private hospital treatment, consultant appointments before and after treatment, psychiatric treatment and out-patient complementary treatment.
Business insurance schemes designed to be offered by employers include similar options, linked to various benefit limit possibilities (e.g. outpatient cover for a maximum of £250 a year, £500 or £1,000). Other options can increase the number of hospitals that can be used, exclude certain treatments or stipulate that if NHS treatment would be available within six weeks, then that should be taken. These all have the effect of lowering or increasing premium rates.
BUPA has specialised in health insurance for over 60 years and is a well-known brand in the marketplace. BUPA does not have shareholders, reinvesting profits into the business.
Recent awards include 2009 Best Healthcare Provider – Corporate Advisor Magazine and 2009 Best Healthcare Provider – Money Marketing Financial Services Awards.
Services
As well as an extensive network of private hospitals, BUPA run over 300 care homes in the UK. These offer temporary care for those needing recovery from an operation or illness, or respite care, residential care for those who can't manage at home, or nursing and specialist care for those with dementia, Parkinson's or Huntington's disease, etc.
Home healthcare is another part of BUPA private healthcare. They can arrange nursing services, pharmacy and aseptic manufacturing, home delivery and monitoring/management of home patients.
Retirement housing is also part of BUPA's services, though Goldsborough Estates. They provide private retirement and assisted living properties, with 23 developments in the UK.
BUPA Hospitals
BUPA operate a national network of private hospitals throughout the UK. The BUPA Cromwell Hospital is the flagship hospital in the BUPA network and gives a good idea as to the types of facilities available. It is a 120-bed purpose built facility based in the Chelsea area of London.
Facilities at the BUPA Cromwell hospital include in-house GPs, health screening and walk-in family medicine services. They are able to call upon the expert services of approximately 400 leading consultants, with specialties including oncology, neurosciences, paediatrics and surgery. High-tech equipment on hand includes a Gamma Knife Perfexion, TomoTherapy Hi-Art systems, and a PET-CT scanner.
Aiming to maintain the highest standards, the BUPA Cromwell Hospital is inspected and governed by the Care Quality Commission and the Private and Voluntary Healthcare (England) Regulations.
BUPA private healthcare represents the sensible choice for those who will not compromise when it comes to maintaining their health.