HEALTH INSURANCE

We know that being diagnosed with cancer can lead to some very difficult times. That's why we want to take away as much of the stress and worry as we can. With a Saga HealthPlan, you have access to our team of experienced and dedicated healthcare professionals who will support you and your family through the challenges you may encounter during treatment.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, you will be referred to one of our specialist nurses in our Cancer Care team. They will be able to provide information on the treatment options open to you and dedicated support throughout your treatment.

Suppose your treatment is eligible under the policy as a private patient, but after a discussion with the cancer care nurses, you choose to receive NHS treatment instead. In that case, our specialist nurses can offer other services to support you financially while you receive NHS cancer treatment, such as domestic help or assistance with travel costs to and from the hospital. They can also signpost you to relevant support services available through other organisations, such as cancer charities.

One of the benefits of taking out Saga Health Insurance is that you can use our GP service to access private telephone and video GP consultations.

All our private health insurance plans include the service, which means you can speak in confidence with a qualified general practitioner day or night, 365 days a year, from wherever you are in the world.

• Book unlimited telephone or video GP appointments from anywhere in the world – there’s no need to wait in a doctor’s surgery as you can book your appointment online. If you prefer to call, our phone line is always open. We know getting a same-day appointment with your GP, or at a time that’s convenient for you, can be tricky. With our GP Service, you can talk to a GP in complete privacy and confidence from the comfort of your home or wherever you are in the world.
• We can arrange a doctor's appointment at a time that’s convenient for you – fast access to a GP can bring additional peace of mind. Unlike appointments at many surgeries, you’re not limited to a 10-minute time slot and can use the Saga GP Service as many times as you like.
• Get an open referral to a specialist – we’re always looking for ways to make Saga HealthPlans even better for our customers. If you need further tests or advice, either your GP or our Saga GP Service can give you an open referral to a private specialist if necessary.
• Order private prescriptions directly to your door – call the Saga GP Service and they can arrange for your private prescription to be fulfilled and delivered to your door. This means you don’t have to leave the house if you're feeling unwell.
• Quality guaranteed – all the doctors you'll speak to are experienced GPs who are GMC registered, licensed, on the NHS Performers list, GP Register and have full Medical Council of Ireland registration, qualifying them as "fit to practise".

Our Saga GP Service is provided by HealthHero Solutions Limited, specialists in 24/7 Private GP services.

Find out more about the Saga GP Service

If you want to get advice from a specialist healthcare professional other than a GP, you can call this line 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we can arrange for you to talk to the nursing team.

With 'Mental Health Direct Access' you can get prompt access to mental health care and support. It's included with all our health plans except Support.

If you experience stress, anxiety or any mental health concerns, call the Claims Helpline. We may need to make some checks before we can transfer you through to our Mental Health Direct Access team.

Once cover is agreed they will arrange for you to speak to a Specialist Team. The Specialist Team will carry out an initial clinical needs assessment then recommend a treatment plan which is clinically appropriate for you. This could be telephone or face-to-face counselling, a psychiatrist or psychologist consultation or simply some self-help advice.

We will pay for counselling arranged by the Mental Health Direct Access team if it is recommended, and this will not affect your excess, NCD or outpatient limits.

However, if our Mental Health Direct Access team recommend treatment such as with a specialist or practitioner, it will be subject to the terms of your policy. These payments will be made direct to the provider.

Please note: This service is available to those aged 18 and over only.

When you experience muscle, bone or joint pain, you must get the most appropriate support early.

With ‘MSK Direct Access’ you can access advice and treatment without the need for a GP referral. It’s available with all Saga HealthPlans apart from Support.

How does it work?

If you develop a problem, call the Claims Helpline. Within 48 hours, they will check your cover and offer a free telephone or video physiotherapist assessment.

If you use MSK Direct Access for advice, this will not affect your current benefits, as it works alongside these benefits.

However, suppose an MSK Direct Access physiotherapist recommends treatment. In that case, we may need to go through some checks before any treatment can be authorised and claims are paid, subject to the terms of your policy.

Please note: Age limits apply to who can use the service. Further details about the Direct Access service, including the age limits that apply, can be found on Bupa's website or you can contact us.

Get in touch

If you are an existing customer and you feel you would benefit from speaking to the MSK Direct Access team, please call your Claims Personal Advisory Team on 0330 018 0778. This number is free to call from both landlines and mobile phones.

We calculate the basic cost of your cover based on your chosen Saga HealthPlan, hospital access, and any family members added to the policy.

Additionally, we consider statistical factors such as the age of the eldest person covered and your geographical region.

You can reduce the cost by adding an excess to your policy or selecting our unique 4-week or 6-week wait option.

You can include your spouse on your Saga health insurance policy, which means they will also be covered. Additionally, you have the option to add your children up to the age of 21 or up to 25 if they are in full-time education.

Like other private health insurance policies in the UK, Saga HealthPlans cover the costs of treating medical conditions that arise after you join. Our Policy Books explain how we assess pre-existing conditions and outline the three methods of underwriting we use.

Generally, we exclude treatment for any medical condition or specified conditions you (or anyone you wish to cover) have experienced or had symptoms of during the three years before joining. Regardless of the underwriting method you choose, you’ll be covered for new, eligible conditions that arise after the policy starts.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition and want to discuss available cover options, please call our friendly health insurance team on 0330 094 6361

When considering health insurance, it’s crucial to explore all available options. Our insurance offerings include three underwriting methods:

• Moratorium: We cover new medical conditions that arise after the policy begins. However, any pre-existing conditions or symptoms experienced during the three years before the policy starts will be excluded.
• Full Medical Underwriting: This option relies on answers provided during our comprehensive medical history assessment. Exclusions for pre-existing conditions are based on this assessment.
• Continued Personal Medical Exclusions: These are available if you already have cover with another health insurance provider. Eligibility depends on your medical history over the past 12 months.

Depending on your choice, we may cover pre-existing medical conditions. For those who completed an online quote, the Moratorium method applies – no medical declaration is necessary. We’ll exclude treatment for any condition and specified conditions experienced in the three years prior to joining.

If you have pre-existing medical conditions and want to discuss Full Medical Underwriting or Continued Personal Medical Exclusions, please call our friendly health insurance team on 0330 094 6361

Learn more about our health insurance underwriting methods.

There are many ways you can reduce your premium whilst maintaining a great level of cover, including:

• 4-Week Wait and Guided Care Options: By selecting these unique features, you can enjoy a reduced premium.
• Adjust Your Excess: Opt to increase the excess you pay when making a claim. This adjustment helps lower your overall premium without impacting your chosen cover level.

Explore our options to reduce your premium to find out more.

Saga HealthPlans Super, Secure, and Saver Plus all provide cancer cover and access to the latest drugs and treatments. This includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments as standard, with up to 18 months of cover for biological therapies.

For customers who want total peace of mind, our Extended Cancer Cover option completely removes the time limit for cancer drugs that are used within the terms of their licence.

For more information about our cover for cancer, call our friendly UK-based team on 0330 094 6361

Alternatively, you can get a quote online in minutes.