Private healthcare
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Aviva Healthcare
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- each acupuncturist has to register individually
- deal with queries on case-by-case basis
- practitioner has to register, form available on website
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AXA PPP Healthcare
Health cash plan:
- Patient pays BAcC practitioner and gets re-imbursement from AXA/PPP £60 per session fee
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Benenden Health
Health cash plan:
- self-referral ok
- each claim analysed on an individual basis and if practitioner holds a relevant qualification,each claim analysed on an individual basis and if practitioner holds a relevant qualification,they would pay the claim and on a case-by-case basis
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Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund
Three quarters of all policies:
- self-referral
- BMAS and BAcC members only
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Bupa
Discretionary benefit on some policies under review: policy specific:
- no cover for pre-existing conditions
- no cover for long-term and/or chronic conditions – acute flare-ups only on case-by-case no cover for long-term and/or chronic conditions – acute flare-ups only on case-by-case basis – exclusion on temporary relief of symptoms
- must be a registered medical practitioner; hold BMAS certificate of accreditation;
- have been in continuous substantial practice; up to date with CPD; complete application form
- Bupa provides recognition for providers who are fully insured members (qualified medical Bupa provides recognition for providers who are fully insured members (qualified medical acupuncturists) on their insurance policies. However, there are cash plans which may cover for acupuncture by providers who do not have full recognition by Bupa, eg health addictions cash plan accepts BAcC members
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CS Healthcare (now merged with BUPA)
Recently merged with BUPA. Contact BUPA for policy transfer details.
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Engage Mutual Assurance
Now merged with OneFamily. Updated information to follow. Previously:
Health cash plan
- GP referral only
- each claim analysed on an individual basis and if practitioner holds a relevant qualification, they would pay the claim on a case-by-case basis
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General & Medical Healthcare
All policies but limited benefit
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- must be accredited by a governing body but no list of providers available
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Health Shield
All policies
- Acupuncture covered under the health cash plan, ranging from £60 to £655 money back per year
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered
- Acupuncturist must be from a list of approved professional organisations
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HSF
All policies
- no referral required
- BAcC member or TCM practitioner
- no requirement to belong to any particular association but practitioner must send copy of qualification with receipt
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Medicash
All policies
- self-referral ok
- practitioner must be registered with professional body such as BAcC, AACP, and BMAS, ie practitioner must be registered with professional body such as BAcC, AACP, and BMAS, ie qualified and insured
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National Friendly
All policies
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- BAcC members accepted
- no list of providers available
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Orchard Healthcare
Formerly known as WHCA. All policies – Orchard Healthcare Plan
- self-referral
- treatment administered by ‘a qualified person registered with an organisation recognised by Orchard Healtcare’
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Simplyhealth
All policies
- AACP, BAcC, ATCM, and BMAS members only
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Sovereign Health Care
Healthcare cash plan
- BAcC, BMAS, and ATCM members
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The Exeter
Updated information to follow. Previously: Four out of five policies
- GP referral or specialist referred only – no self-referral
- practitioner has to register – form available on website – and they check qualifications
- no list of providers available
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Vitality Health
Formerly Pru Health. Some policies
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- BAcC, AACP, and BMAS members
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Westfield Health
Most policies
- GP referral only
- BAcC or BMAS members only
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WHA Direct
All policies
- self-referral but for medical conditions only
- no cover for pre-existing conditions (except see final bullet)
- practitioners must have proper qualification and insurance
- NHS top-up scheme will pay up to £200 of treatment by BAcC members without need for GP referral or stating what condition treatment is for (so allows pre-existing conditions)
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WPA
Acupuncture allowed on most policies (therapy benefit optional)
- GP referrals only
- no cover for pre-existing conditions
- BAcC and BMAS members only
Policies underwritten by other companies
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Health-on-Line
Now merged with Secure Health. Some policies, up to £1,000 per year – check option conditions
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- must be performed in one of their listed hospitals – AXA PPP approved
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Hive
Formerly known as Insurety. All policies / Aviva
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- AACP or BMAS members
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Saga
Some policies / AXA PPP / Cash policy run by Birmingham / Hospital Saturday Fund
- GP referral or specialist referred only
- BMAS only – same as AXA
- BMAS or BAcC members