Spiralling costs of living and changes within the NHS mean that health insurance is now more important than ever. Private medical Insurance (PMI) can offer a full alternative to the NHS in case of serious illness. A cashplan on the other hand covers day to day costs of regular care such as dental and optical. They can be purchased separately according to your budget and needs or in conjunction with each other to provide comprehensive cover. People are more aware than ever of the impact of lifestyle, diet and exercise on their health and are increasingly looking for alternatives to drug-based treatment. This is leading to a growing understanding of the benefits of complimentary therapies, such as Hypnotherapy. But, are insurers keeping up with these changes by including cover for such treatments and therapies in their policies?
If you’ve been looking for health insurance that covers hypnotherapy you’ll know that a lot of insurers do not cover it as standard. Most major health insurance plans don’t cover any treatments that could be classified as unproven or experimental but hypnotherapy isn’t an alternative therapy. It is an approved complimentary therapy that is becoming increasingly popular and well recognised by the medical profession. Some top health insurance providers that cover hypnotherapy, in their PMI and/or in their cashplans, are:
• PruHealth
• Westfield Health (as part of its corporate package)
• BUPA
• AXA PPP Healthcare
Under their policies hypnotherapy is covered for the treatment of certain conditions including:
• Depression (combined with Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies)
• Smoking Cessation (for more info please see http://www.thetherapylounge.com/hypnotherapy/stop-smoking)
• Stress related illnesses
• Palliative care
As with all insurance there will be clauses. Most insurance providers limit cover to a list of approved practitioners, or stipulate which professional bodies the hypnotherapy provider needs to be registered with if they are to recognise them for reimbursement. The Therapy Lounge, for example, is a member of The General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR). The GHR is a professional body recognised by health insurance that covers hypnotherapy. Membership of these recognised professional bodies also means that GPs, hospitals and other NHS services can refer patients for hypnotherapy treatment.
Before purchasing a policy, or paying for any form of treatment, you should always check the terms and conditions of the policy. It is recommended you check the following:
• Does it require a GP or clinical psychologist referral
• What is the timescale of your cover
• Does hypnotherapy cover your given diagnosis
• How many visits are allowed in a year as some treatments consist of several sessions
• Is there a cap on cash back claims
Whatever type and level of health insurance cover you opt for, if you are interested in having the benefits of complimentary therapy alongside your dental and optical, and if you are in any doubt as to whether or not your health insurance provider covers hypnotherapy, always contact the insurer directly for details.
Spiralling costs of living and changes within the NHS mean that health insurance is now more important than ever. Private medical Insurance (PMI) can offer a full alternative to the NHS in case of serious illness. A cashplan on the other hand covers day to day costs of regular care such as dental and optical. They can be purchased separately according to your budget and needs or in conjunction with each other to provide comprehensive cover. People are more aware than ever of the impact of lifestyle, diet and exercise on their health and are increasingly looking for alternatives to drug-based treatment. This is leading to a growing understanding of the benefits of complimentary therapies, such as Hypnotherapy. But, are insurers keeping up with these changes by including cover for such treatments and therapies in their policies?
If you’ve been looking for health insurance that covers hypnotherapy you’ll know that a lot of insurers do not cover it as standard. Most major health insurance plans don’t cover any treatments that could be classified as unproven or experimental but hypnotherapy isn’t an alternative therapy. It is an approved complimentary therapy that is becoming increasingly popular and well recognised by the medical profession. Some top health insurance providers that cover hypnotherapy, in their PMI and/or in their cashplans, are:
Under their policies hypnotherapy is covered for the treatment of certain conditions including:
- Depression (combined with Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies)
- Smoking Cessation (for more info please see http://www.thetherapylounge.com/hypnotherapy/stop-smoking)
- Stress related illnesses
- Palliative care
As with all insurance there will be clauses. Most insurance providers limit cover to a list of approved practitioners, or stipulate which professional bodies the hypnotherapy provider needs to be registered with if they are to recognise them for reimbursement. The Therapy Lounge, for example, is a member of The General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR). The GHR is a professional body recognised by health insurance that covers hypnotherapy. Membership of these recognised professional bodies also means that GPs, hospitals and other NHS services can refer patients for hypnotherapy treatment.
Before purchasing a policy, or paying for any form of treatment, you should always check the terms and conditions of the policy. It is recommended you check the following:
- Does it require a GP or clinical psychologist referral
- What is the timescale of your cover
- Does hypnotherapy cover your given diagnosis
- How many visits are allowed in a year as some treatments consist of several sessions
- Is there a cap on cash back claims
Whatever type and level of health insurance cover you opt for, if you are interested in having the benefits of complimentary therapy alongside your dental and optical, and if you are in any doubt as to whether or not your health insurance provider covers hypnotherapy, always contact the insurer directly for details.