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BUPA & AVIVA

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Replied by admin on topic AVIVA hypocrisy

Posted 11 Jun 2020 17:02 #1
Performed by Optical Express surgeon Dr Amir Mani, lens exchange surgery (RLE/NLR) in December 2018 left patient Mark with vision problems from day one: he was repeatedly told to wait, give it time… they would contact him before his 12 months aftercare period was up...

In keeping with OE's modus operandi, of course no-one did contact Mark :kiss:

And after calling them in January 2020, finally examined by an optometrist in February - not by a surgeon! - Mark was told he needed YAG laser, and that the cost would be £800-1000. (OE also tried to charge him for the appointment, which he refused to pay).

Having private health insurance with Aviva, Mark was shocked when he contacted the company last month and told they wouldn’t fund his surgery! (‘IOC’ presumably typo for ‘IOL’)



More shocking perhaps is the fact that Aviva not only have a partnership with Optical Express (for cataract ops), but also house the company in their Uxbridge premises.




www.westlondon.com/optical-express-opens...development-belmont/

Utter hypocrisy and questionable behaviour.

Bupa UK* & Aviva private health insurers' association with Optical Express was discussed here a few years ago, when reputable and ethical surgeons told me they were unable to compete with Optical Express, who allegedly not only offer ‘sweeteners' to these health insurers, but unbeatable low rates for cataract ops - way below the amounts they charge their own customers.

"'I paid insurance for 25 years then had to find £715 extra for knee surgery': The tricks health insurers are using to cut costs

It means Bupa UK customers can no longer get treatment from surgeons who charge above this level without footing some of the bill themselves. However, Bupa says it will cover all costs if they use one of its fee-assured doctors.

Alternatively, the firm is asking customers to have cataract operations at branches of opticians Optical Express — often found in shopping centres or town centres — as part of a deal thrashed out in the past year.
"
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article...using-cut-costs.html

Anyone considering buying a medical insurance policy with Aviva needs to be cautious, because if you had any kind of surgery performed privately, a hip replacement for example, would they similarly refuse to fund necessary treatment if you later had an accident that damaged this body part?

*I have no idea whether or not Bupa UK are still in business with Optical Express, but do know that some of their members have sued OE after being referred by the company.
Last Edit:11 Jun 2020 17:04 by admin
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Replied by admin on topic FAO BUPA MEMBERS!

Posted 17 Jan 2016 18:30 #2
If you've had cataract surgery @ Optical Express and have suffered ANY problems, please email me with your phone number urgently!
info@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk

All will be made clear in due course - unfortunately that doesn't include your vision :kiss:




www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2258782...s-approved-list.html
Last Edit:17 Jan 2016 19:09 by admin
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  • Carl G
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Replied by Carl G on topic BUPA's questionable deal wth OE

Posted 01 Jan 2016 19:28 #3
There is a substantial difference between the approach BUPA have with OE and that which they have with other surgeons, which is that with other individuals they will deal with them - and accept charges or otherwise - by name, whereas with OE they simply refer the patient to OE. This may or may not be viewed as an abdication of responsibility on their part, depending on whether you view BUPA as a medical service or just a bunch of insurance salesmen in sharp suits. That's a difficult one to call, because BUPA colour themselves differently depending on the circumstances. They play at being a medical service, but when push comes to shove they hide behind the facade of insurance providers. In this way they claim no responsibility for the performance of the surgeons or organisations recommended by them. I offer my complaint to the Financial Conduct Authority as evidence.
BUPA are no better than a gas or electricity provider, and should be viewed as a commodity. If you can get a better deal, then take it.

In my opinion it is duplicitous of them to position themselves as anything other than insurance salesmen as they cannot be treated in law (i.e. you can't sue them) as anything other than insurance providers. For example, if BUPA recommended a surgeon to treat you for your in-growing toenail and said surgeon inadvertently removed your head, BUPA could not be held responsible. They pretend to be a provider of medical services but in fact are no such thing. The problem with that is that they are by default making decisions about medical treatment, and as evidenced by their funnelling of patients to OE (oh yes you are, I've had the sales routine myself, the FCA have reviewed it and said you were just acting as insurance salesmen so if you want to sue anyone in a fit of pique, go sue the ombudsman) they are making bad decisions based purely on cost.
Last Edit:03 Jan 2016 19:12 by Carl G

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Replied by admin on topic BUPA's questionable deal wth OE

Posted 02 Dec 2015 15:19 #4
A number of independent ophthalmologists have told me over the last few years how unhappy they are with OE's financial deal with BUPA, because they are unable to compete with the same cut price costs as the high street chain if they are to provide an acceptable quality of treatment.

Unless they are prepared to pay the difference, BUPA members are therefore forced to undergo cataract surgery provided by a company currently in litigation with so many of their customers damaged by lens exchange, the majority who did not need cataract surgery but succumbed as a result of heavy sales pressure.
:kiss:



www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industri...h/article3563175.ece
www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industri...h/article3563091.ece
www.faceandeye.co.uk/file-manager/Downloadable-pdfs/bupa-.pdf
www.bupa.co.uk/~/media/Files/site-specif...embership-guide.ashx
Last Edit:02 Dec 2015 15:20 by admin
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Replied by admin on topic BUPA's support of OE

Posted 02 Dec 2015 13:44 #5
Copied from RLE topic :kiss:

Last Edit:02 Dec 2015 13:45 by admin
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  • Bupa Bloop

Replied by Bupa Bloop on topic BUPA & AVIVA

Posted 05 Aug 2014 22:10 #6
Optical Express lost the contract with Bupa is the recent news... or at least a part of the preferential treatment to send patients to OE, now all Bupa patients have the choice to choose.

Bupa didn't like their "unsupportive" relationship (allegedly).
Last Edit:05 Aug 2014 22:16 by Bupa Bloop

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  • mohammed ali

Replied by mohammed ali on topic BUPA & AVIVA

Posted 02 Jun 2014 09:55 #7
Of course its a money making scheme. These insurance companies are nothing more than leeches, making money off the backs of honest hardworking people, more on par with gambling than a security which most people do not need.
Last Edit:02 Jun 2014 10:03 by mohammed ali

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  • Worried

Replied by Worried on topic What if?

Posted 08 Apr 2014 17:53 #8
Reading the Hitachi post made me think that if Optical Express go bust where will this leave the cataract patients who were sent to them by BUPA and other health insurance companies if they need explants or long term aftercare?
by Worried

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Replied by admin on topic BUPA Referrals to OE

Posted 16 Jul 2013 13:56 #9
'Last year Jacqueline Wigg was told by her medical insurers BUPA that she would have to pay £1,200 if she wanted to be treated by the well-respected eye specialist her consultant recommended.'

'Alternatively, she could have the procedure done at no extra cost in a branch of Optical Express opticians based in London’s busy Westfield Shopping Centre, 100 miles away from her home in Wiltshire.

Jacqueline argued that the reason she paid for Bupa medical insurance was to have a choice of provider and said, "Cataract surgery is a short procedure, but is incredibly complex and has risks... The idea of walking straight out of surgery into a busy shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon is horrifying."

The insurer has rejected her complaint saying many of its consultants would have undertaken Mrs Wigg’s operation for the insurer’s standard fee... and it could see ‘no justification’ for the fee her (preferred) consultant was charging.'



www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-22283...s.html#ixzz2ZD66by1v

Perhaps Bupa would be wise to take heed of patient stories on this site and reconsider their association with Optical Express :kiss:

Contact Bupa: customerrelations@bupa.com
Last Edit:07 Jun 2020 14:09 by admin
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  • Attila the Scot
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Replied by Attila the Scot on topic BUPA Referrals

Posted 16 Jul 2013 12:05 #10
"If a Bupa member needs cataract surgery, they will now have the convenience of seeing a Bupa recognised ophthalmologist at one of five Optical Express surgery centres in city locations."
www.opticalexpress.co.uk/latest-news/201...optical-express.html
Last Edit:08 Apr 2014 17:55 by Attila the Scot

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