A lot of people in Aberdeen have private health insurance through work and never use it, because claiming looks like paperwork. For osteopathy it is usually one phone call or a few taps in an app, done before your first visit. Our clinic is recognised by Aviva, WPA and Cigna, which means those insurers will pay for treatment here under a policy that covers it. This guide explains what each of the three asks for, the words to know (excess, limits, pre-authorisation), the step that trips people up, and what to tell us when you book.

Does your policy cover osteopathy at all?

Private medical insurance in the UK is built to cover acute conditions, the sort that start, get treated and get better, and most policies group osteopathy with physiotherapy and chiropractic under "therapies" or "outpatient treatment". Whether that is in your plan depends on the level of cover your employer or you chose. Some policies include therapies as standard, some only as an optional extra, and almost all exclude conditions you had before the policy started.

So the first check is your policy document or your insurer's app: look for therapies, outpatient cover, and any annual limit. If you cannot find it, a call to the number on your membership card settles it in a minute. Do this before you book, not after, because the second thing most insurers want is authorisation before treatment starts.

Aviva

Aviva's core health insurance covers physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment when a specialist refers you. There is an optional extra that lets a GP referral do instead of a specialist one, with a limit per condition, and some plans only pay when the treatment is not available on the NHS within six weeks. Which of those applies to you is on your policy schedule.

To claim, ask your GP for an open referral to an osteopath, then start the claim through MyAviva or by phone, with your symptoms and what you have been referred for. Aviva confirms the cover and gives you a claim reference to bring to us.

WPA

WPA asks you to set up the claim with them before any treatment starts, through its app, the My WPA portal or its helpdesk. You give the dates and details of your symptoms and the name of the provider you want to see, and in most cases you get an immediate decision confirming what your policy will pay. WPA then settles the bill for your treatment directly with the provider. If you have an excess, a Shared Responsibility arrangement or a benefit limit that applies, WPA tells you what your own contribution will be, and you can track what is left of your limits in the app.

Cigna

Cigna's plans ask you to contact them in advance to pre-authorise the claim; treatment started without that may not be paid, or may be paid only in part. If you already know which osteopath you want to see, you call Cigna for authorisation before the first appointment and they give you a pre-authorisation code. Osteopathy and chiropractic treatment on Cigna plans usually carry an annual financial limit, and some plans also want a GP referral first, so check your membership guide or ring the number on your card.

The words on your policy, in plain terms

An excess is the part of each claim you pay yourself, typically a fixed amount per policy year. If your excess is £100 and a course of osteopathy costs £290, the insurer pays £190. Some policies have no excess on therapies; check.

A limit is the most the insurer will pay for therapies in a policy year, as an amount or a number of sessions. Once you reach it, further appointments are at the normal price.

Pre-authorisation, or a claim number, is the insurer's agreement in advance to pay for a specific course of treatment for a specific condition. It is the step people skip, and the reason claims are refused. Get it before your first visit.

A referral is a letter or note from your GP or a specialist saying that osteopathy is appropriate. Insurers ask for it so that the treatment is for a diagnosed problem rather than general maintenance. You do not need one to book with us, only for the claim if your policy requires it.

What to tell us when you book

Tell us at booking that you plan to claim, and which insurer. Bring your membership number, your authorisation or claim reference and any referral, and we will make sure you have the receipts and treatment details your insurer needs. The appointment itself is the same as for anyone else: a first visit, including the full consultation, for £80, and continuing treatment at £70, which is what your insurer is billed or reimburses. There is more on prices, referrals and insurance on our osteopathy treatment page and in how much osteopathy costs in Aberdeen.

If your policy does not cover osteopathy, or you have used your limit, you can still book directly; most of our patients pay privately and no referral is needed. Either way, book an appointment online or call 01224 707877, and if you are not sure what your policy says, call your insurer first and then us.

Sources

This article is general information about how health insurance claims work. Your own policy document and your insurer's helpline are the final word on what your plan covers.