It is easier than you think to access private hospital treatment. At Ramsay Health Care, we offer a range of ways to access treatment with us, giving you the flexibility to choose what option best suits you. You can either pay for your treatment, use your medical insurance or be referred for NHS funded treatment.
Why wait for treatment? When you pay for yourself you can access treatment quickly without having to wait.
If you want to pay for yourself and learn more about our consultants, treatment options and prices on the website, call us on 0808 258 2195 or contact us online to speak to one of our dedicated advisors. You can also research guideline pricing on our website.
Our experienced advisors will be able to provide information on your next steps, including pricing and consultant availability, and what you can expect when you are treated at a Ramsay Hospital.
We also host complimentary information events which provide you with the opportunity to ask questions directly to our consultants. Please note these sessions do not replace a full consultation but are a great way of getting more information.
Book an initial consultation to discuss your condition and treatment options with your chosen consultant. We can advise you whether or not you will need to obtain a GP referral before your appointment. Most of our consultants can see you without a GP referral.
If you have had previous tests or scans, please let us know at the time of booking and these can be obtained for review at your consultation.
If you are unable to quickly speak with your registered practitioner, you can access a private GP at Ramsay Health Care. Many of our hospitals have access to private GPs which will enable you to be referred to the relevant specialist if required.
We offer a range of flexible payment plans. We are partnered with Chrysalis Finance which allows you to spread the cost of your treatment with fixed, affordable monthly payments over a time period to suit you.
You are required to pay the full amount detailed in your quotation letter 10 days prior to admission. If your admission is scheduled less than 10 days in advance, you are required to pay within 24 hours of receiving the quotation.
As a private patient, you will have access to dedicated support throughout your journey with us and benefit from our private patient pledge. More details can be found: https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/patients/private-patients
Our range of self funding options let you pay in a way that suits you and your finance. All-inclusive TotalCare package, is a single one-off payment at a pre-agreed price that delivers direct access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance. Our Pay As You Go option allows you to meet costs as and when they arise, whilst keeping a firm grip on your budget.
How to use your health insurance to access treatment privately at Ramsay Health Care
You’ll usually need to provide your insurer with a referral letter from your GP. You may have been to see your GP and have a referral letter. If you are yet to speak with your GP contact your insurer first to see if a GP referral would be required
Speak with your insurance company to determine what your policy covers you for and, importantly which consultants are accessible to you.
Call us on 0808 239 5406 to book an appointment with a recognised consultant at a time to suit you.
Please ensure you have your authorisation number and insurance policy number to hand when booking this appointment and do let us know if you have had previous tests or scans to ensure these can be obtained for review at your consultation.
Whilst this may have been the case in the past, these days insurance providers know they need to provide a straightforward service to remain competitive. More often than not, a phone call or email is all it takes to activate your policy. And at all times, you have our team of experts on hand to help. In fact, Ramsay hospitals operate a direct link with many insurers including Bupa, AXA PPP, Aviva Health, Vitality Health, CIGNA, WPA, Benenden, Healix and The Exeter, which enables documents to be conveniently sent online.
Although the NHS provides a superb service, waiting times are likely to be longer than accessing healthcare privately. This could potentially mean you are in pain or worried for longer than you might like. With private medical insurance you can arrange an appointment and treatment at a time and place that’s convenient for you with a consultant or senior specialist who will provide expert care and advice.
If you have private medical insurance through work, making a claim may well not affect your premiums. For patients with a personal policy (not through work) it simply depends on the type of policy you have, as premiums may well increase anyway in line with your age and health.
Again, it depends upon the specifics of your particular policy. However there is nothing more important than your health and we would not recommend deliberately avoiding making a claim simply to retain a No Claims Discount.
Ramsay Health Care operates one of the UK’s largest networks of private hospitals, so the chances are you can choose a location near you. When you see your GP, remember to tell them you have private medical insurance and that you’d like to be treated at your local Ramsay hospital. On some rare occasions an insurer may not include your local Ramsay Health Care in their hospital network. If this is the case – and you’re offered an alternative that isn’t local or convenient for you – then you might be able to insist on being treated at the Ramsay hospital of your choice.
Open Referral is where your insurer provides a pre-selected list of Consultants and/or hospitals to choose from according to your treatment needs. If one of our Consultants or Hospitals isn’t included on the list – and you’re not happy with the alternative offered – you can still ask to be treated by Ramsay Health Care.
Whilst policies vary from provider to provider, many will charge an excess of £100 to £1000. For some insurers, a single excess payment will cover you over a 12 month period, regardless of how many times you use your policy. Others, however, will charge an excess on a per claim basis, which could result in multiple payments. Unfortunately there is no general answer and so you will need to check the details of your own specific policy – your insurer will be able to advise you about this if you have any questions. However, when you think about the peace of mind, convenience and high levels of care private treatment delivers, it’s a cost well worth considering.
Naturally this depends on your individual policy and the level of cover you’ve taken out – but you may be surprised just how much you’re actually entitled to claim for. Most PMI policies cover consultations, diagnostic tests and physiotherapy, as well as far more complex operations such as spinal surgery and hip replacements. Treatment for cancer is often provided on policies too. The golden rule is always to check with your insurance provider after seeing your GP and before starting a course of treatment.
Increasingly, many policies do cover you for medical conditions you’ve been treated for in the past, especially corporate schemes. There are, however, some policies which won’t cover you for any illness, disease or injury in the 5 years before your policy starts (this is what is known as an underwriting “Moratorium”). As always, we recommend you check your individual policy to see further details. If you have any specific concerns or symptoms, it’s best to talk to the insurance company prior to taking out your policy.
Ramsay Health Care is one of the world’s largest healthcare providers and offers expert treatment in over 80 specialist areas from cancer care to cardiology, orthopaedics, women’s and men’s health to name but a few. Many of the world’s leading consultants and surgeons choose to work with us – including those who also work for the NHS. Our commitment to providing the very best and latest healthcare technology ensures we constantly attract the best medical talent to our growing team.
We’re always here to help and you can get in touch by contacting us on 01245 234000.
Patients in England have the option to attend a Ramsay facility for NHS treatment thanks to Patient Choice. Patient choice is a government initiative which enables NHS patients the freedom to choose where, when and which consultant administrates their treatment.
You can only access NHS appointments by contacting your GP, or in some instances your Optometrist or Dentist. Due to Patient Choice, you can choose a Ramsay Hospital as your preferred hospital for your NHS treatment, and a referral will be forwarded to our team via the Electronic Referral Service (e-RS)
A referral will be forwarded from your GP to our team via the Electronic Referral Service (e-RS).
Once your GP, Optometrist or Dentist has referred you through to Ramsay Health Care, we will review the referral information and send you a confirmation letter detailing the appointment and any additional information or instructions that you may need to be aware of.
Some NHS patients avoid choosing a Ramsay Health Care hospital because they are worried that there may be additional charges. There are no hidden fees or charges for patients who choose to have their NHS treatment at one of our hospitals.
All patients who consultants consider appropriate for care at one of our hospitals are eligible to receive treatment in line with our contract with the NHS. You need to be referred to a Ramsay hospital via your GP.