Private healthcare

List of private health insurers

All private health insurers included on this BAcC ‘open’ list offer some form of insurance cover for acupuncture treatment. Every company and policy is different and we do our best to keep the information current and relevant to BAcC members. Please let us know of any updates or queries.

Aviva Healthcare

0800 051 1524
www.aviva.co.uk

  • 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

AXA PPP Healthcare

0800 111 4004 
Claims 0800 111 4813
www.axappphealthcare.co.uk

Health cash plan:

  • Patient pays BAcC practitioner and gets re-imbursement from AXA/PPP £60 per session fee

Beneden Health

0800 414 8011
www.benenden.org.uk

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

Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund

0800 622552
www.bhsf.co.uk

Three quarters of all policies:

  • self-referral
  • BMAS and BAcC members only

Bupa

0800 600 500
www.bupa.co.uk

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

CS Healthcare

0800 917 4325 
www.cshealthcare.co.uk

Some policies, depending on module chosen (therapy and care)

  • GP referral or specialist referred only
  • BAcC and AACP members

Engage Mutual Assurance

(also formally PHSA)

0800 169 4321
www.engagemutual.com

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

Exeter Family Friendly

0300 123 3200
www.secure.exeterfamily.co.uk

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

General & Medical Healthcare

0800 970 9442
www.generalandmedical.com

All policies but limited benefit

  • GP referral or specialist referred only
  • must be accredited by a governing body but no list of providers available

Healthshield

01270 588555 
www.healthshield.co.uk

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

HSF

0800 917 2208
enquiries@hsf.eu.com
www.hsf.co.uk

All policies

  • no referral required
  • BAcC member or TCM practitioner
  • no requirement to belong to any particular association but practitioner must send copy of no requirement to belong to any particular association but practitioner must send copy of qualification with receipt

Medicash

0800 011 2222
www.medicash.org

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

National Friendly

0800 195 9246
www.nationalfriendly.co.uk

All policies

  • GP referral or specialist referred only
  • BAcC members accepted
  • no list of providers available

Pru Health (now Vitality Health)

0800 092 9400
https://www.vitality.co.uk

Some policies

  • GP referral or specialist referred only
  • BAcC, AACP, and BMAS members

Sovereign Health

01274 841130
www.sovereignhealthcare.co.uk

Healthcare cash plan

  • BAcC, BMAS, and ATCM members

Simply Health

(includes BCWA, Leeds Hospital Fund
and Medisure)

0800 294 7302 / 0800 854929
providerservices@simplyhealth.co.uk
www.simplyhealth.co.uk

Depends on the policy

  • GP referral only
  • AACP, BAcC, ATCM, and BMAS members only

Westfield

0845 605 6531
www.westfieldhealth.com

Most policies

  • GP referral only
  • BAcC or BMAS members only

WHA

0292 048 5461
www.whahealthcare.co.uk

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)

WHCA

01905 729090
www.whcaorchard.com

All policies – Orchard Healthcare Plan

  • self-referral
  • treatment administered by ‘a qualified person registered with an organisation recognised bytreatment administered by ‘a qualified person registered with an organisation recognised byWHCA’

WPA

0800 298 9588
www.wpa.org.uk

Acupuncture allowed on most acupuncture allowed on most  policies (therapy benefit optional)

  • GP referrals only
  • no cover for pre-existing conditions
  • BAcC and BMAS members only

Insurance companies: policies underwritten by other companies

Health-on-Line

01202 544445
www.health-on-line.co.uk

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

Insurety

0800 028 0849
www.april-uk.com

All policies / Aviva

  • GP referral or specialist referred only
  • AACP or BMAS members

Saga

0800 015 0226
www.saga.co.uk

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

Secure Health

01277 626444
www.securehealth.co.uk

Depends on the policy and modules chosen by the policy holder (therapy module)

  • GP referral or specialist referred only
  • only deal with policy administration – contact the underwriter for detailsd