doctor's fee for completing a travel insurance claim form
Adam Funk
holiday on medical grounds, and her (NHS) doctor's surgery charged a
£15 fee for completing one page of the claim form.
Is this normal, and should this charge be added to the insurance claim
or otherwise paid by the insurer?
The Todal
> A friend of mine has made a travel insurance claim for cancelling a
> holiday on medical grounds, and her (NHS) doctor's surgery charged a
> £15 fee for completing one page of the claim form.
Presumably this is to confirm that there were genuine medical reasons for
cancelling the holiday and I think it is universal practice for doctors to
charge for any letters or other documents that they complete for the purpose
of insurance claims (as distinct from arranging medical treatment).
>
> Is this normal, and should this charge be added to the insurance claim
> or otherwise paid by the insurer?
I would certainly add it to the claim - whether the insurers would cite any
small print in their policy that excludes cover for such letters remains to
be seen.
Peter Crosland
news:mos5i7x...@news.ducksburg.com...
It is perfectly normal and should be paid by the insurer.
Peter Crosland
Robin
<snip>
>> Is this normal, and should this charge be added to the insurance
>> claim
>> or otherwise paid by the insurer?
> It is perfectly normal and should be paid by the insurer.
>
> Peter Crosland
I agree on the former but on the latter would say it all depends on the
terms of the policy. The policy I've had in recent years states "2. If
we require any medical certificates, information, evidence and receipts,
these must be obtained by you at your expense." Of course other
policies may vary so I suggest the OP advises his friend to look at the
policy in question.
HTH
--
Robin
PM may be sent to rbw0{at}hotmail{dot}com
Allan
I found out that doctors can charge for signing off on insurance claims,
which they may view as a private matter (not an NHS matter).
I can see the rationale behind this.
However, I've always wondered if, when waiting for an appointment to see
the doctor in relation to getting the insurance form signed, if the
appointment was delayed, if I should claim a similar £15 for loss of my
time/earnings while being delayed (if self-employed/during the working
day etc etc).
Goose/gander?
Adam Funk
OK, thanks to everyone who answered.
Joe Lee
Who is providing a service here?
the GP is entitled to charge for the service involving completing & signing
the Form.
What service would you be providing to the GP by sitting in the waiting
room?
--
Joe Lee
John Briggs
More to the point, if you are a private patient, you don't need to wait.
--
John Briggs
Borg
> Allan wrote:
>> On 28/07/2010 16:00, Adam Funk wrote:
>>> A friend of mine has made a travel insurance claim for cancelling a
>>> holiday on medical grounds, and her (NHS) doctor's surgery charged a
>>> £15 fee for completing one page of the claim form.
>>>
>>> Is this normal, and should this charge be added to the insurance
>>> claim or otherwise paid by the insurer?
>>
>> I found out that doctors can charge for signing off on insurance
>> claims, which they may view as a private matter (not an NHS matter).
>>
>> I can see the rationale behind this.
>>
>> However, I've always wondered if, when waiting for an appointment to
>> see the doctor in relation to getting the insurance form signed, if
>> the appointment was delayed, if I should claim a similar £15 for loss
>> of my time/earnings while being delayed (if self-employed/during the
>> working day etc etc).
You have to pay for sick notes, medical checks for flying, diving etc.
Your paying for his sig not his time.
Old Codger
Not true.
It is true that private patients are given more time, usually because
there is not so much pressure for the doctor to cram patients in at
theoretical ten minute intervals, and therefore delays from the
appointed time are kept to a minimum. However, emergencies do happen to
take the doctor away and appointments can over run. In both cases there
can be a significant delay for all subsequent appointments.
I am a private dental patient, the dentist does not do NHS work, and I
express surprise, to the dentist, on the very rare occasions when my
appointment actually occurs on time. Usually 20 minutes or more late.
--
Old Codger
e-mail use reply to field
What matters in politics is not what happens, but what you can make
people believe has happened. [Janet Daley 27/8/2003]
smurf
NHS doctors surgery? Are you sure? Pretty much all surgeries are ran as
private enterprises with contracts with the NHS. Your GP might do it as a
courtesy, but i see no reason why he should.
Adam Funk
> I agree on the former but on the latter would say it all depends on the
> terms of the policy. The policy I've had in recent years states "2. If
> we require any medical certificates, information, evidence and receipts,
> these must be obtained by you at your expense."
Wouldn't that be an unfair contract term?
It's a bit like saying, "We have the right to make you incur extra
expenses to discourage you from claiming."
> Of course other policies may vary so I suggest the OP advises his
> friend to look at the policy in question.
I will.
Adam Funk
> Adam Funk wrote:
>> A friend of mine has made a travel insurance claim for cancelling a
>> holiday on medical grounds, and her (NHS) doctor's surgery charged a
>> £15 fee for completing one page of the claim form.
>>
>> Is this normal, and should this charge be added to the insurance claim
>> or otherwise paid by the insurer?
>
> NHS doctors surgery? Are you sure? Pretty much all surgeries are ran as
> private enterprises with contracts with the NHS.
Right, that was what I meant.