Cardiologist fees are a topic that isn’t discussed very much. Patients are often unaware of what they are paying before their appointment. In addition patients with private medical insurance are not aware of the hidden costs of seeing a cardiologist privately and may end up with a large bill to cover the cost of any hidden charges that may arise. In this blog, I will try to explain some of the complexities of cardiology fees for tests and treatments.
Tackling the subject of private health insurance most private cardiologists will be recognised by most of the major insurance companies that provide health insurance plans. The main companies operating in the UK are BUPA, AXA PPP, Simply health, Vitality health, Aviva, Cigna and WPA. There are also smaller companies such as Benenden Health and Police Mutual. Many patients will have private medical cover for themselves and their families as part of their employee benefits if they work for a company. A private health insurance scheme will allow a patient to see a cardiologist privately thus bypassing the long waiting times in the NHS. The insurance company will have a list of cardiologists whom they recognise and have a contract with for providing cardiology services. If a patient has been advised to see a cardiologist, for example by their GP, the patient is usually required to contact their insurance provider who will then advise them of the cardiologists available in their area whom they recognise. Patients may be given the names of 2 or 3 cardiologists and asked to research their preferred specialist themselves. Alternatively, the patient may want to see the specialist who can see them sooner. The insurance company will provide the patient with ‘pre-authorisation’ to see a particular cardiologist. The cardiologist will then invoice the insurance company for the consultation and any tests that might have been undertaken – such as ECG, echocardiography, 24 hour ECG monitoring etc. Most insurance companies will have a fee structure or schedule that they expect the cardiologist to adhere to. The insurance company will expect the cardiologist to adhere to the fee schedule for the consultation and test fees. However, some private cardiologists elect to have their own fee schedules that are often greater than the fee schedule recommended by the insurance company leading to a shortfall. This shortfall payment is a bill that the insurance company expects the patient to pay.
If a patient decides to see Dr. Hamaad they can be assured that he is a fee approved cardiologist. Dr. Hamaad is recognised by all the major and minor health insurance providers and adheres strictly to their respective cardiologist fee schedules. This means there will be no shortfall to pay.
The other hidden fees that patients may end up paying are unfortunately unavoidable. Things such as excess charges or insurance maximum limits may also lead to a shortfall. Every insurance policy may vary. Some require patients to pay a small excess fee, others will not cover consultation fees while others will set limits on how much can be claimed (such as maximum claims of £1000). It is important that patients understand the terms of their insurance policy so they are aware of the charges they may be required to pay with respect to cardiology fees.
For self-funding patients without insurance paying to see a cardiologist privately may seem daunting. However, Dr. Hamaad has made his fee structure clear and concise. In addition, if any further tests are required these can potentially be expensive. However, Dr. Hamaad offers substantial discounts if more than one test is required and in addition of more than one test is undertaken the follow-up appointment is free-of-charge. Patients can receive their consultation, tests and treatment plan in 1-2 weeks, which is distinctly preferable to the NHS waiting lists that extend up to 16 weeks (4 months). 4 months is a long time to wait if you have a potential heart problem.
If you are worried about your heart or worried that the cost of seeing a cardiologist privately will be expensive, you can be assured that Dr. Hamaad is recognised by all private health insurance companies and adheres strictly to their fee schedule (excess fees and limits will still apply). For patients without private health insurance, Dr. Hamaad’s cardiology fees are both competitive and he can offer significant discounts if multiple tests are required along with a free follow-up consultation. A full breakdown of fees for non-insured patients is listed here. Therefore don’t delay any further and book your appointment today.
