Quoting help guide

Country of residence

The country where you will be considered by the relevant authorities to be resident for the duration of this policy.

Deductibles detail

Deductibles are the contributions you make towards the cost of your treatment. If you chose to have a deductible on your Worldwide Medical Insurance cover, additional deductibles will also apply if you opted for Worldwide Medical Plus or Worldwide Medicines and Equipment (deductibles do not apply to Worldwide Wellbeing or Worldwide Evacuation).

Direct Debit Guarantee

Direct Debit Guarantee logo

Thank you very much for your direct debit instruction details. Here is the direct debit guarantee for your information:

  • This guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that take part in the direct debit scheme. The efficiency and security of the scheme is monitored and protected by your own bank or building society
  • If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change, Bupa will notify you in 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed
  • If an error is made by Bupa or your bank or building society, you are guaranteed a full refund from your branch of the amount paid
  • You can cancel a direct debit at any time by writing to your bank or building society. Please also send a copy of your letter to us

Worldwide Evacuation

For when you can't get the treatment you need in a local hospital.The Worldwide Evacuation option covers you for reasonable transport costs to the nearest suitable medical centre, when the treatment you need is not available nearby. Repatriation, which is also included, gives you the added option of returning to your home country or specified country of nationality, to be treated in familiar surroundings.

Worldwide Medical Insurance

For treatment received whilst staying in hospital, either overnight or as a day-case Worldwide Medical Insurance gives you the reassurance of covering essential hospital treatment you may need, whether in an emergency or a planned visit. All surgery, cancer treatment and advanced imaging, whether received whilst staying in hospital or as a visiting patient, are also included. You may have chosen this cover on its own, or together with any combination of our options.

Worldwide Medical Plus

Worldwide Medical Plus covers you for consultations with a doctor or specialist and medical treatments that do not require a hospital stay. These may include osteopathy or complementary therapies, for example. Some of these treatments or consultations may take place before or after a hospital stay, but many will be totally independent.

Worldwide Medicines and Equipment

For prescribed medicines and medical equipment. Often, treatment doesn't end when you leave the hospital or clinic or after you have seen a specialist. This option covers you for prescription medicines and the rental of medical appliances, such as oxygen supplies or wheelchairs. Our unique benefit for long-term prescriptions will also pay for any medicine required to manage chronic conditions such as asthma.

What treatment and conditions are not covered?

We always ask that you contact us before arranging or receiving any treatment so we can confirm coverage.

If you have not bought Worldwide Medical Plus, Worldwide Medicines and Equipment, Worldwide Wellbeing or Worldwide Evacuation we do not pay for any of the treatments or benefits included under those options.

For further details on any of the exclusions below, please read this plan's membership guide or contact us. The exclusions below apply to all options available in this plan.

General exclusions

Addictive conditions and disorders:

  • treatment for or as a result of addictive conditions and disorders.
  • treatment for or as a result of any kind of substance or alcohol use or misuse.

Artificial life maintenance:

if this treatment is not intended or expected to bring about your recovery or restore you to your previous state of health.

Birth control:

  • contraception
  • sterilisation
  • vasectomy
  • termination of pregnancy unless there is a threat to the mother's health
  • family planning, such as meeting with your doctor to discuss becoming pregnant or contraception

Conflict and disaster:

  • nuclear or chemical contamination
  • war, riot, revolution, acts of terrorism
  • epidemics put under the control of the local public health authorities
  • any similar event if:
  • you have put yourself in danger by entering a known area of conflict (as identified by an EU
  • government, such as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office), or you were an active participant, or you have displayed a blatant disregard for your personal safety

Convalescence and admission for general care, or staying in hospital for:

  • convalescence, pain management, supervision
  • receiving only general nursing care
  • therapist or complementary therapist services
  • domestic/living assistance such as bathing and dressing
  • treatment that could take place as day-case or out-patient

Cosmetic treatment:

Treatment to improve your appearance such as:
  • facelift or re-modelled nose
  • cosmetic dentistry such as the replacement of a sound, natural tooth with an implant, veneers, etc
  • orthodontic treatment over the age of 19 years (we pay for orthodontic treatment under the age of 19 years if you have bought the Worldwide Wellbeing option)
  • removal of surplus fat tissue such as liposuction
  • hair transplants for any reason
  • surgery to change the shape, enhance or reduce your breast(s) for any reason, except reconstruction following treatment for cancer
We may pay for prophylactic surgery (surgery to remove an organ or gland that shows no signs of disease, in an attempt to prevent development of disease of that organ or gland) when:
  • there is a significant family history of the disease, for example ovarian cancer, which is part of a genetic cancer syndrome and/or:
  • you have positive results from genetic testing (please note that we will not pay for the genetic testing

Developmental problems:

  • learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, or behavioural problems, such as attention deficit disorder (ADHD), or:
  • physical development problems, such as short height

Donor organs:

  • mechanical or animal organs, except where a mechanical appliance is temporarily used to
  • maintain bodily function whilst awaiting transplant
  • purchase of a donor organ from any source
  • harvesting and storage of stem cells, when a preventive measure against possible future disease

Experimental treatment:

  • treatment or prescribed medicines which in our reasonable opinion, based on advice of the
  • local public authority in the country where your treatment takes place, are experimental or have not proved to be effective
  • treatment or clinical trials which have not yet been approved in the country in which you are receiving treatment
  • prescribed medicines used for purposes other than those defined under their license, which may vary from country to country

Eyesight:

  • treatment or surgery to correct eyesight such as laser treatment, refractive keratotomy (RK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

We pay for eligible treatment of your eyesight if it is needed as a result of a disease, illness or injury such as cataracts or a detached retina.

Foetal surgery:

  • surgery undertaken in the womb before birth

Footcare

Treatment for:
  • corns
  • calluses
  • thickened or misshapen nails

Health hydros, nature cure clinics, etc

Treatment or services received in a:
  • health hydro
  • nature cure clinic
  • spa, or
  • any similar establishment that is not a hospital

Infertility treatment

Treatment to assist reproduction such as:
  • in-vitro fertilisation (IVF)
  • gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
  • zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
  • artificial insemination (AI)
  • prescribed drug treatment
  • embryo transport (from one physical location to
  • another)
  • donor ovum and/or semen and related costs
We pay for investigations into the cause of infertility when your specialist believes there are symptoms and/or evidence to suggest a medical cause.

We will only pay when:

  • both you and your partner have been members of this plan (or any Bupa plan which includes this cover) for two years before the investigations start, and:
  • you were both unaware and had not been suffering any symptoms prior to joining

Obesity:

Treatment for or as a result of obesity such as:
  • slimming aids or drugs
  • slimming classes
We may pay for surgery such as gastric banding or a gastric bypass when:
  • you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or over and/or
  • you have a diagnosis of morbid obesity

Personality disorders

Any treatment for personality disorders, including but not limited to:
  • affective personality disorder
  • schizoid personality (not schizophrenia)
  • histrionic personality disorder

Pre-existing conditions

Any treatment for a pre-existing condition, related symptoms, or any condition that results from or is related to a pre-existing condition, unless:
  • we were given all the medical information that we asked for during your application for your current continuous period of membership, and:
  • we did not specifically exclude cover for the pre-existing condition on your membership certificate under Special conditions
  • you did not know about, or have any symptoms of, the pre-existing condition before the 'Period of cover from' date on the first membership certificate for your current continuous period of membership

Preventive treatment

Health screening, including routine health checks and vaccinations, or any preventive treatment, except:
  • if you have bought the Worldwide Wellbeing option
We may pay for prophylactic surgery when:
  • there is a significant family history of the disease for example ovarian cancer, which is part of a genetic cancer syndrome and/or:
  • you have positive results from genetic testing (please note that we will not pay for the genetic testing)

Reconstructive or remedial surgery

treatment to restore your appearance after an illness, injury or surgery

We may pay for surgery when:

  • the original illness, injury or surgery and the reconstructive surgery take place during your current continuous membership

Self-inflicted injuries:

  • treatment for or as a result of an injury you have knowingly caused to yourself, such as in an attempted suicide

Sexual problems and gender issues:

  • sexual problems, such as impotence, whatever the cause
  • sex changes or gender reassignments

Sleep disorders:

  • insomnia
  • snoring
  • sleep-related breathing problems
  • sleep studies
We may pay for treatment of sleep apnoea when your specialist believes this to be life-threatening.

We will only pay for:

  • an initial sleep study
  • surgery, if medically appropriate
  • equipment hire, such as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine (only if you have bought the Worldwide Medicines and Equipment option)

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

Travel costs for treatment:

  • any fares such as taxis or buses, unless otherwise specified
  • expenses such as petrol or parking fees

Unrecognised physician or facility:

  • treatment provided by a medical practitioner who is not recognised by the relevant authorities in the country where the treatment takes place as having specialised knowledge, or expertise in, the treatment of the disease, illness or injury being treated
  • treatment provided by anyone with the same residence as you or who is a member of your immediate family
  • treatment in any hospital, or by any medical practitioner or any other treatment provider, to whom we have sent a written notice that we no longer recognise them for the purposes of our plans

What is a CVV/CVC?

An image demonstrating where the CVV/CVC is on your credit/debit card.

The CVV/CVC are the last three digits on the back of your card underneath the magentic strip.

With American Express cards, the CVV/CVC is the 4 digits printed on the front, just above the card number.

USA Cover detail

If you spend most of your time in the USA, then you'll need to buy USA cover on an annual basis. However, if you spend most of your time outside the USA, you can choose to add USA cover to your plan when you join or renew, enabling you to access medical treatment in the USA. We cannot cover USA permanent residents as they must be covered by a local insurance company.

Worldwide Wellbeing

For a range of health screenings, vaccinations, dental and optical treatment Our Worldwide Wellbeing option is designed to help you protect and maintain your health. It covers medical screenings that can provide valuable early detection of conditions such as cancer. It covers dental and optical treatments, which can play an important role in keeping you healthy by identifying underlying problems such as mouth cancer or diabetes.