BUPA Patients - what to expect

I'm pleased to see BUPA members - and the good news is that unlike many clinics, I’m able to invoice BUPA directly for your sessions, so you don’t have to worry about claiming back the cost of treatment yourself. Here's a quick guide to how it works.

How your Bupa cover works

When BUPA approve your care, they'll give you an authorisation code. This usually covers an initial assessment followed by a short course of follow-on treatment sessions (typically 4 follow-on sessions). It helps to have your authorisation code and membership details to hand when you get in touch.

Your first appointment — a small choice

There's one thing worth explaining before your first visit. BUPA structure that first session as an assessment: a thorough look at what's going on, your history, and a clear plan to get you back to your best. In my own private practice, I usually go a step further and include hands-on treatment in that very first visit wherever it's appropriate, so we can start making progress straight away.

You're welcome to choose whichever suits you:

  • Assessment only — the standard BUPA first session, as covered by your authorisation. We'll assess thoroughly and book you to begin treatment from your next visit.

  • Assessment + treatment — if you'd also like treatment included in your first visit (where appropriate), there's a small £13 supplement. This brings your first appointment in line with the way I'd normally see a new private patient, and is completely separate from any other cost incurred by your treatment.

There's no pressure either way — I’m happy to work with you in whichever way you’re more comfortable with.

Making a booking

If you decide you’d like treatment included in the first session, then the easiest thing is if you simply make the initial booking through the usual online booking portal here:

Book now

This will require you to pay a deposit of £19.50, which will cover the first-visit-treatment supplement, and the remaining £6.50 can either be refunded, or used to cover any other charges based on your policy - see below.

If you’re more comfortable simply having the BUPA-covered assessment on the first visit, you can instead email me with your:

  • Full name

  • Date of birth

  • Post-code

  • Authorisation Code

  • A range of time options over the coming week that you would be able to attend

Making the most of your cover

Because I bill BUPA directly, I submit your invoice and BUPA decide what they'll cover. Often, they will pay in full. Occasionally, though, BUPA may not pay the full amount — usually for one of two reasons:

  • a policy excess (an amount you've agreed to pay yourself before your cover begins), or

  • a limit or cap on your policy that has been reached.

Where that happens, any portion BUPA don't cover is always payable directly to me. If you’ve already paid your excess elsewhere within this policy year, then you usually won’t have to pay it again. Every policy is a little different, and there’s no way for your practitioner to check what your policy includes, so it's worth checking the details of your own cover — your excess, any session limits, and what's included — so there are no surprises. If a shortfall does arise I'll let you know, and I'd be grateful if it could be settled promptly. I'm happy to help you make sense of any of it.