Bupa has launched a list of consultants for all its UK private medical insurance (PMI) products that will not charge patients additional fees.
The insurer said around half of the 22,000 consultants it works with were eligible for the newly-created Platinum category.
Bupa Platinum consultants are covered by all the insurer’s policies and schemes so any customer can see them and they are “fee-assured”, meaning customers will not have to pay additional fees or charges for treatment covered.
It added that consultants on the list have been rated good or excellent by 97% of their Bupa patients.
And claims information showed that patients treated by these consultants have a 28% shorter hospital stay on average than those treated by Bupa-recognised consultants, it continued.
Health & Protection asked Bupa for the full criteria in selecting these consultants. Bupa confirmed that the three criteria are that these consultants must be members of its open referral network, that they are fee assured and that they have at least 20 Bupa patients starting a clinical pathway with them in a three year period.
The insurer will begin identifying these consultants and those in its open referral network from June with two new badges on its finder directory.
James Sherwood, general manager of operations and healthcare management at Bupa UK Insurance, said: “Increased use of digital technology has made accessing care easier for our customers, but there’s one area where they tell us that they still need help – and that’s navigating the sometimes complex healthcare system when they need treatment and care.
“Our new Bupa Platinum consultants category and enhancements to our online directory Finder will help customers find the right specialist for their needs, whatever policy or plan they have.”