Step 1
Visit your GP
- Health Insurance
- Health Insurance Providers
- WPA Health Insurance
The History of WPA
In 1901, a group of workers founded the Reading Work People's Voluntary Hospital Contributory Fund to support their members and cover their health care costs. In 1939, the fund merged with the Bristol Hospital Fund, and in 1949 they were renamed the Western Provident Association (WPA). In 1992, WPA moved from Bristol to a purpose-built building in Taunton, Somerset.
WPA was described by the World Health Organisation as leading the way for coinsurance or shared responsibility policies. Whereby, the patient pays a portion of the liability up to an agreed limit.
WPA Insurance Policy Review
WPA focus exclusively on health insurance and Flexible Health is their range of health insurance products. They offer three key levels of cover within Flexible Health:
- Essentials
- Premier
- Elite
Here we will review below the Flexible Health Premier level of cover. This is the most popular WPA policy which over 62% of members choose. It is a mid-level policy offering enhanced cover as standard.
WPA Key Benefits
The WPA Health app for easy management of your account and claims
Remote GP Services Access to a private GP either by phone or by video, depending on which you prefer, and which is most appropriate.
Health and Wellbeing Helpline Telephone support covering a variety of different areas, many of which are provided by experts in their particular field.
Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Award
Best Health Cash Plan Provider 2020
WPA Core Cover
Included as a base to your cover with WPA health insurance are the following benefits.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| In-patient and day patient treatment | Including hospital fees, specialists’ fees, critical care levels 2 and 3, diagnostic tests and MRI, CT, PET scans, drugs and dressings, therapy, prostheses (passive and active) and post-operative consultations and tests. |
| Out-patient Treatment |
Consultations with a Specialist and Diagnostic Tests (combined limit of £350 or chosen extra outpatient benefit limit). GP referred diagnostic tests. Specialist Referred Therapy | GP Referred Therapy – Up to 10 sessions (out of a combined limit of £350 or chosen extra outpatient benefit limit). Self-referred Therapy – Up to four sessions of Chiropractic, Osteopathy and Physiotherapy (out of a combined limit of £350 or chosen extra outpatient benefit limit). Complex Diagnostic Scans, GP Referred Complex Diagnostic Scans – One MRI or CT Scan. Out-patient Procedures, Pre-admission Tests |
| Remote GP Services |
Private GP Helpline, Video Consultations, Private Prescriptions, Specialist Referral. |
| Telephone Counselling | Also with online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Life Skills Course and Wellbeing and Health Information. |
| NHS Hospital Cash Benefit |
£150 per night/day (less than three nights) £200 per night/day (three nights or more). NHS outpatient Diagnostics and Out-patient procedures £150 per day. |
| Home Nursing | Four weeks |
| Private Ambulance | Full cover where medically necessary |
| Parent and Child | Up to 10 nights for hospital accommodation charges |
| Out of Pocket Expenses | £10 per day |
| Hospice Donation | £70 per day/night up to £700 |
| Extra Support | Debt and Money Information and Support & Legal Information |
WPA Optional Extras
Additional optional extras are available to enhance your policy to suit your individual requirements:
| Optional Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Extra out-patient cover |
Consultations with a Specialist and Diagnostic Tests - GP Referred Diagnostic Tests (combined limit of either £1000 or £1500) Specialist Referred Therapy (combined limit of either £1000 or £1500) GP Referred Therapy - Up to 10 sessions (out of a combined limit of either £1000 or £1500) Self-referred Therapy - Up to four sessions of Chiropractic, Osteopathy and Physiotherapy (out of a combined limit of either £1000 or £1500) General Dental Treatment – £200 Optical – £200 Health Screening – £200 |
| Cancer Care |
Diagnosis – Consultations with a Specialist including second opinions, diagnostic tests, scans and biopsies. Surgery. Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy. Targeted Cancer Therapies – Advanced anti-cancer treatment (Targeted Cancer Therapies) will be funded when given with curative intent, where not readily available on the NHS NHS Hospital Cash Benefit – Cancer (overall combined maximum annual benefit limit of £6,000) NHS In-patient or NHS Day-patient – £200 per night/day NHS Out-patient Complex Diagnostic Scans or NHS Out-patient Cancer Treatment or NHS Out-patient Procedure - £150 per day |
| Overseas Emergency Treatment |
Overseas Emergency Treatment (not the USA and its dependencies) – 70 days per trip, maximum 180 days and £500,000 |
| Dental Care |
General Dental Treatment – £250 (£450 if you add both the Extra Out-patient and the Dental Care Optional Extras) Dental Emergencies – £250 per course of treatment in the UK or abroad, maximum four episodes and £1,000 per Policy year (A 14 day qualifying period applies) Dental Injuries – £20,000 (A 14 day qualifying period applies) Restorative Treatment as a direct result of Oral Cancer – £10,000 (A 14 day deferment period applies) |
| Premium Hospitals | Extend your choice of over 600 hospitals by adding Premium Hospitals – primarily based in Central London |
| Dental Cover | Cover for major and routine dental treatment including emergency dental work after an accident. |
| Worldwide Travel cover | Up to £10 million cover for emergency medical expense abroad plus benefits including lost luggage and cash benefits for delayed flights. |
What isn't covered?
Like most leading insurers, WPA health insurance is intended to cover acute conditions as opposed to chronic conditions, such as diabetes. All exclusions will be listed in your policy documents. As standard, WPA does not cover:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Long-term chronic conditions
- Pregnancy and fertility
- Injuries sustained through winter sports
- Mental health conditions
Perks
In addition to what you would expect from your health insurance policy, WPA provides these perks.
Out of pocket expenses (£10 per day)
Parent and Child (up to 10 nights of hospital accommodation charges)
Underwriting Options
The maximum age to join Flexible Health is 65 but you can renew the Policy each year thereafter. They offer three ways your policy can be underwritten:
- Moratorium Underwriting You are required to satisfy joining criteria without the need to detail your medical history. More information may be required when you make a claim.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) Details of your past medical history are required.
- Switch Terms For those transferring from another insurer. They’ll need to know about your existing insurance cover and any exclusions.
For more definitions of terms, please see our glossary.
Excess Options
WPA offer a 'Shared Responsibility' option on both their Premier and Elite cover. This is a method of co-payment that's a slightly different version of a traditional excess:
75% of each claim for eligible treatment is paid no matter how small
You share the cost of treatment by contributing 25% towards every eligible claim
Your contribution is 'capped' at a level chosen by you per policy year
WPA pay 100% of eligible claims once you reach you chosen level
Levels for Premier are: £250, £500, £1000, £1500 or £5000
Hospital Lists
WPA provide an extensive choice of hospitals as standard, including all BMI, Nuffield Health, Spire, Ramsay, independent private hospitals and private wings of NHS hospitals. You can extend this choice by adding the Premium Hospitals Optional Extra. The Premium Hospitals are primarily based in Central London.
How to make a claim
Step 2
Contact WPA for
pre-authorisation
Step 3
WPA will advise what is
covered and authorised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use the NHS if I have WPA insurance?
Yes! The NHS is available to all UK citizens with or without insurance. Any treatment for pre-existing and chronic conditions will still be treated by the NHS, as well as any emergencies. If you choose to have inpatient or outpatient treatment on the NHS, that you would be eligible to claim on your health insurance for, WPA will pay you an NHS cash benefit up to £4,500 per year. More on the relationship between NHS and PMI.
Can I choose where I am treated?
When setting up your policy with WPA, you will be able to choose from three hospital lists: Essential, Premier and Elite. This choice will impact the facilities at which you can be treated aswell as the premium you pay.
Does WPA offer Family Health Insurance?
Yes! You can add your partner and children to your plan.
Do WPA offer cancer care cover?
WPA offer comprehensive cover on their Elite plans. They will cover the costs of diagnosis, surgery, treatment in full and advanced anti-cancer treatment where it is not yet available on the NHS. Cancer care can also be added to their Premier cover at an additional premium. More on Cancer Cover.
Can I tailor my cover?
Yes, you can add optional extras to your Premier plan at a premium. These include:
- Extra Out-patient
- Cancer care
- Dental care
- Overseas emergency treatment
- Premium hospitals
Do I need health insurance?
We are blessed in the UK to have a National Health Service, so health insurance is not a legal requirement. Health insurance provides the peace of mind however that should you require treatment you can access private health services and avoid NHS waiting times. We believe there is a policy to suit everyone. To read more, see our Guide to Health Insurance.
WPA Insurance Policy Documents
For all the WPA policy overview and Terms and Conditions see the policy documents linked below.
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