Podiatry and Chiropody in Private Health Insurance
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 800,000 policies, WeCovr provides expert insight into private medical insurance in the UK. This guide explores how private health cover treats foot care, helping you understand your options for podiatry and chiropody.
WeCovr reviews foot care cover options under PMI policies
Our feet are our foundation, carrying us through life's journey step by step. Yet, we often neglect them until a problem arises. From a painful ingrown toenail to a sports injury that stops you in your tracks, foot-related issues can significantly impact your quality of life.
While the NHS provides essential podiatry services, access can be limited and waiting times long. This leads many to consider private medical insurance (PMI) as a way to get faster access to specialist care. But does a standard PMI policy actually cover treatments like podiatry and chiropody?
The answer is nuanced. In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about foot care under a private health insurance UK policy. We'll explore what's typically covered, what's excluded, and how you can ensure your policy meets your needs.
Understanding Podiatry and Chiropody: What's the Difference?
You might have heard both terms used, and it can be confusing. Let's clear it up.
- Chiropodist: This was the traditional title for a foot health professional in the UK.
- Podiatrist: This is the modern, internationally recognised term. Since 2005, 'podiatrist' and 'chiropodist' have been legally protected titles in the UK. This means anyone using them must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
In practice, there is no difference between a state-registered chiropodist and a podiatrist. Most professionals now use the title 'podiatrist'. They are university-educated experts trained to diagnose and treat a vast range of conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower limbs.
Common conditions treated by podiatrists include:
- Nail problems: Ingrown toenails, fungal nail infections, thickened nails.
- Skin conditions: Corns, calluses, verrucas, athlete's foot.
- Structural issues: Bunions, hammertoes, flat feet.
- Pain-related conditions: Heel pain (plantar fasciitis), arch pain, Morton's neuroma.
- Sports injuries: Sprains, stress fractures, shin splints.
- High-risk foot care: Providing essential care for patients with diabetes, arthritis, or poor circulation.
Foot Care on the NHS vs. Going Private
The NHS offers podiatry services across the UK, but access is often prioritised based on medical need.
NHS Podiatry:
- Access: NHS podiatry is typically reserved for those with a high clinical need. This includes individuals with long-term conditions that put their feet at risk, such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or severe arthritis.
- Waiting Times: For non-urgent issues, patients can face significant waits. According to NHS England's latest Referral to Treatment (RTT) data, millions of people are on waiting lists for consultant-led elective care. While specific podiatry data can be hard to isolate, community musculoskeletal services, which include podiatry, often have waits stretching for many months. In some areas, the wait for an initial assessment can be over 18 weeks.
- Scope of Treatment: The NHS focuses on preventing serious complications like ulcerations or amputations. Routine care, such as simple nail cutting or the removal of minor corns for low-risk individuals, is rarely available.
Private Podiatry:
- Fast Access: The primary benefit is speed. You can often secure an appointment within days, rather than weeks or months.
- Choice: You can choose your specialist and clinic, ensuring you see someone with expertise in your specific problem.
- Convenience: Appointments are often more flexible, fitting around your work and life commitments.
- Scope of Treatment: You can access a full range of treatments, from routine maintenance to advanced surgical procedures, without needing to meet strict "medical need" criteria. The only barrier is the cost.
This is where private health insurance comes into play. It's designed to cover the costs of private treatment, but it's crucial to understand the rules.
The Big Question: Does Private Health Insurance Cover Podiatry?
This is the most important section of our guide. The answer depends on one fundamental principle of UK private medical insurance: it is designed to cover acute conditions, not chronic conditions.
- Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include a broken bone, an infection, or a condition requiring a one-off surgery.
- Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs ongoing or long-term monitoring, it has no known cure, it comes back or is likely to come back, or it requires palliative care. Examples include diabetes, arthritis, and asthma.
Crucially, standard UK PMI policies do not cover the treatment of chronic conditions or any pre-existing conditions you had before taking out the policy.
With this in mind, let's look at how insurers view podiatry and chiropody.
What's Almost Never Covered?
- Routine Chiropody/Podiatry: Regular maintenance of your feet is not covered. This includes services like nail trimming, the removal of corns and calluses, or treatment for verrucas and athlete's foot. These are considered routine, preventative, or cosmetic and fall outside the scope of PMI.
- Management of Chronic Conditions: If you have a long-term condition like diabetes, any podiatry care related to managing that condition (e.g., annual foot checks, ulcer prevention) is considered chronic care and will be excluded.
- Pre-existing Foot Problems: If you have a history of bunions, recurring heel pain, or any other foot condition before you buy your policy, treatment for it will not be covered.
What Is Often Covered by PMI?
While routine care is out, PMI can be incredibly valuable for more serious, acute foot problems that require specialist intervention. Coverage typically applies to:
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Specialist Consultations: If you develop a new, acute foot problem, your policy will usually cover the cost of a consultation with a specialist, such as an orthopaedic surgeon or a consultant podiatric surgeon, following a GP referral.
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Diagnostic Tests: To find the cause of your pain, you might need tests. PMI will cover the costs of diagnostics like X-rays, MRI scans, or ultrasound scans, helping you get a swift diagnosis.
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Surgical Procedures: This is where PMI provides the most significant benefit. If you need surgery for an acute condition that has arisen since you took out your policy, it is highly likely to be covered.
- Examples of covered surgeries:
- Bunionectomy (surgery to correct a bunion)
- Morton's neuroma excision
- Surgery for an ingrown toenail (nail avulsion)
- Tendon or ligament repair following an injury
- Examples of covered surgeries:
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Post-Operative Therapies: After surgery, your consultant may prescribe a course of physiotherapy or podiatry to aid your recovery. This rehabilitation is usually covered as part of your surgical claim, often up to a set number of sessions.
How to Access Foot Care Through Your PMI Policy
Getting your insurer to approve treatment follows a clear pathway. Understanding this process is key to a smooth experience.
Step 1: The GP Referral
For almost all private health insurance providers, the journey starts with your GP. If you develop a new foot or ankle problem, you must see your GP first. If they feel you need specialist assessment, they will write you a referral letter. This "open referral" is what you use to start your claim with your insurer.
Step 2: Contact Your Insurer
Before you book any appointments, you must contact your insurer to get the claim authorised. You will need your policy number and the details from your GP referral letter. The insurer will check your cover and confirm that the condition is eligible for treatment. They will then provide you with an authorisation number and a list of approved specialists or hospitals in their network.
Step 3: Choose Your Specialist and Get Treated
Once you have authorisation, you can book your consultation and any subsequent tests or treatment. The bills are usually settled directly between the hospital/specialist and your insurer.
The Role of Policy Add-ons and Limits
Not all PMI policies are the same. Your level of cover for foot care can be influenced by:
- Outpatient Cover: Consultations and diagnostic tests are classed as outpatient services. Basic policies may have a low annual limit for this (e.g., £500) or may not cover it at all. More comprehensive policies offer full outpatient cover, which is essential for getting a thorough diagnosis without worrying about costs.
- Therapies Cover: Some insurers offer a "therapies" add-on. This provides a set number of sessions per year for treatments like physiotherapy, osteopathy, and sometimes chiropody or podiatry. However, this is usually for acute conditions. For example, it might cover a few sessions for acute plantar fasciitis but not for long-term foot maintenance.
- Policy Excess: Most policies have an excess, which is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim each year (e.g., £100, £250, £500). A higher excess will lower your premium, but you'll have to pay more yourself if you make a claim.
Comparing UK Private Health Insurance Providers for Foot Care
Navigating the different policies can be complex, as each insurer has slightly different rules. A specialist PMI broker like WeCovr can compare the market for you, ensuring you find the best private health cover for your specific circumstances.
Here is a general overview of how major UK providers approach foot care. Please note that this is for illustrative purposes, and specific policy terms and conditions will always apply.
| Provider | Typical Approach to Podiatry & Chiropody | Key Considerations for You |
|---|---|---|
| Bupa | Covers surgical procedures for acute conditions (e.g., bunions) on referral. Routine chiropody is excluded. Some plans may offer limited therapy cover which can include podiatry for acute musculoskeletal issues. | Check the outpatient limits on your chosen plan. Bupa has an extensive network of recognised consultants and hospitals. |
| AXA Health | Strong focus on the diagnostic pathway. Covers specialist consultations and scans for new, acute conditions. Surgery is well-covered. Routine foot care is a standard exclusion. Their "therapies" option covers physio, but podiatry is less common. | AXA's "Guided Option" can reduce premiums but limits your choice of specialist. Ensure you understand their claims process. |
| Aviva | Covers eligible surgical treatment for acute foot and ankle conditions. Routine care is excluded. Their "Expert Select" hospital list can influence costs. Therapy cover is an optional extra. | Aviva's "BacktoBetter" programme for musculoskeletal issues is well-regarded, but check if it extends to specific foot conditions beyond general physiotherapy. |
| Vitality | Covers acute surgery and related diagnostics. Excludes routine care. Vitality's unique selling point is its wellness programme, which rewards healthy living. Their therapies cover can include podiatry if clinically appropriate for an acute condition. | The Vitality programme can offer rewards that offset premiums, but you need to engage with it. Their consultant and hospital panels can be more restrictive than others. |
This table highlights the importance of expert advice. The nuances between policies can make a significant difference to your cover. At WeCovr, we provide impartial, expert guidance to help you make an informed decision at no extra cost to you.
Real-Life Examples: When Is Foot Care Covered?
To make this clearer, let's look at some practical scenarios.
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Scenario 1: The Runner (Covered)
- Patient: Sarah, 35, is a keen runner who develops sudden, severe heel pain that stops her from running. Her GP diagnoses acute plantar fasciitis and refers her to a specialist.
- PMI Claim: Sarah's comprehensive PMI policy covers the consultation with an orthopaedic consultant, an MRI scan to rule out other issues, and a course of six physiotherapy sessions. Because her condition is new, acute, and debilitating, it falls squarely within the scope of her cover.
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Scenario 2: The Retiree (Not Covered)
- Patient: David, 72, has difficulty cutting his own toenails and develops painful corns every few months. He wants to see a private chiropodist for regular maintenance.
- PMI Claim: David's PMI policy will not cover this. The care is considered routine, preventative, and related to the general effects of ageing. It is not for an acute condition that can be resolved with short-term treatment.
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Scenario 3: The Painful Bunion (Covered)
- Patient: Maria, 55, has had a bunion for a decade, but it has recently become extremely painful and is preventing her from wearing normal shoes. Her GP refers her for a surgical opinion. She took out her PMI policy five years ago, after the bunion had first appeared.
- PMI Claim: This is a tricky one. Because the bunion was a pre-existing condition, her insurer will not cover the surgery. If, however, Maria had taken out her policy before the bunion developed, the surgery would likely be covered as it's treating a worsening acute problem.
The WeCovr Advantage: More Than Just a Policy
Choosing the right private health insurance is a big decision. At WeCovr, we believe in providing ongoing value to our clients, supporting their health and wellbeing long after the policy is in place.
When you arrange your PMI through us, you get:
- Expert, Unbiased Advice: As an independent, FCA-authorised broker, we work for you, not the insurers. We compare policies from all the leading providers to find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.
- High Customer Satisfaction: Our clients consistently rate our service highly, appreciating our clear communication and dedicated support.
- Complimentary Access to CalorieHero: All our health and life insurance clients receive free access to our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, helping you manage your diet and achieve your health goals.
- Exclusive Discounts: We value your loyalty. Our PMI clients can benefit from discounts on other insurance products, such as life insurance, income protection, or home insurance.
Wellness Corner: Top Tips for Happy Feet
Insurance is there for when things go wrong, but prevention is always better than cure. Looking after your feet is one of the best investments you can make in your long-term health and mobility.
- Wear the Right Shoes: This is the single most important factor. Ensure your shoes fit properly (both length and width), provide adequate support, and are appropriate for the activity you're doing. Avoid wearing high heels or completely flat shoes for extended periods.
- Practice Good Foot Hygiene: Wash your feet daily and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes, to prevent fungal infections.
- Check Your Feet Regularly: Look for any changes, such as cuts, blisters, swelling, or changes in skin colour. This is especially vital if you have diabetes.
- Keep Moving: Regular exercise like walking improves circulation to your feet. Simple stretches for your calves and arches can also help prevent conditions like plantar fasciitis.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight puts enormous strain on the joints, ligaments, and tendons in your feet, increasing the risk of pain and injury. A balanced diet and our CalorieHero app can help you on this journey.
- Don't Ignore Pain: Foot pain is not normal. If you experience persistent pain, don't just put up with it. Seek advice from your GP or a podiatrist.
Does private health insurance cover surgery for an ingrown toenail?
Is diabetic foot care covered by private medical insurance?
Do I always need a GP referral to see a podiatrist on my insurance?
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient cover for foot problems?
Ready to find a private health insurance policy that protects you from head to toe? Don't navigate the complex market alone.
Contact the friendly experts at WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote. We'll help you compare the UK's best PMI providers and find the right cover for you and your family.
Why private medical insurance and how does it work?
What is Private Medical Insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI) is a type of health insurance that provides access to private healthcare services in the UK. It covers the cost of private medical treatment, allowing you to bypass NHS waiting lists and receive faster, more convenient care.How does it work?
Private medical insurance works by paying for your private healthcare costs. When you need treatment, you can choose to go private and your insurance will cover the costs, subject to your policy terms and conditions. This can include:• Private consultations with specialists
• Private hospital treatment and surgery
• Diagnostic tests and scans
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health treatment
Your premium depends on factors like your age, health, occupation, and the level of cover you choose. Most policies offer different levels of cover, from basic to comprehensive, allowing you to tailor the policy to your needs and budget.
Questions to ask yourself regarding private medical insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Are you concerned about NHS waiting times for treatment?
👉 Would you prefer to choose your own consultant and hospital?
👉 Do you want faster access to diagnostic tests and scans?
👉 Would you like private hospital accommodation and better food?
👉 Do you want to avoid the stress of NHS waiting lists?
Many people don't realise that private medical insurance is more affordable than they think, especially when you consider the value of faster treatment and better facilities. A great insurance policy can provide peace of mind and ensure you receive the care you need when you need it.
Benefits offered by private medical insurance
Private medical insurance provides numerous benefits that can significantly improve your healthcare experience and outcomes:Faster Access to Treatment
One of the biggest advantages is avoiding NHS waiting lists. While the NHS provides excellent care, waiting times can be lengthy. With private medical insurance, you can often receive treatment within days or weeks rather than months.
Choice of Consultant and Hospital
You can choose your preferred consultant and hospital, giving you more control over your healthcare journey. This is particularly important for complex treatments where you want a specific specialist.
Better Facilities and Accommodation
Private hospitals typically offer superior facilities, including private rooms, better food, and more comfortable surroundings. This can make your recovery more pleasant and potentially faster.
Advanced Treatments
Private medical insurance often covers treatments and medications not available on the NHS, giving you access to the latest medical advances and technologies.
Mental Health Support
Many policies include comprehensive mental health coverage, providing faster access to therapy and psychiatric care when needed.
Tax Benefits for Business Owners
If you're self-employed or a business owner, private medical insurance premiums can be tax-deductible, making it a cost-effective way to protect your health and your business.
Peace of Mind
Knowing you have access to private healthcare when you need it provides invaluable peace of mind, especially for those with ongoing health conditions or concerns about NHS capacity.
Private medical insurance is particularly valuable for those who want to take control of their healthcare journey and ensure they receive the best possible treatment when they need it most.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get private medical insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their private medical insurance cover in place before running into some serious health issues. Private medical insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, and even our phones! Yet our health is the most precious thing we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy private medical insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of private medical insurance policies available in the market, including different levels of cover and policy types most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced insurance experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to private medical insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable private medical insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
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