Appointments, Fees & Health Insurance
How Do I Make An Appointment With A YKC Surgeon?
You can make an appointment to see a Yorkshire Knee Clinic surgeon by:
- Calling our main booking line on 03453 052 579
- Emailing us
- Contacting the secretary of your chosen knee consultant
- Contacting the bookings office of your preferred hospital
Alternatively, your doctor can send a referral and we will send appointment details to you.
Appointments, Fees & Health Insurance
Do I Need Private Health Insurance?
You do not have to have health insurance to have a private consultation or treatment from one of Yorkshire Knee Clinic’s knee specialists.
You can fund your own private treatment.
Do I Need Referral From My GP?
Insurance providers generally require a GP referral letter to enable you to claim for treatment costs at our knee clinic. Sometimes a referral from a physiotherapist will suffice, but check with your insurer.
A referral is preferable but not essential if you are paying for your own orthopaedic consultation or treatment.
If you are in a hurry, the referral letter may not yet be available from your insurer. That does not really matter, as long as you have spoken to the insurer.
Can I Be Treated By Yorkshire Knee Clinic On The NHS?
No.
Although Yorkshire Knee Clinic’s knee surgeons all have specialist NHS consultant posts, YKC itself is for private assessment/treatment of knee injuries and other conditions, either through private medical insurance or self-pay.
What Should I Bring To My Knee Consultation?
You should bring:
- The referral letter from your doctor or physiotherapist if available
- Details of your private medical insurance. This should include your insurance number and authorisation code for the consultation
If you are paying for your knee consultation or treatment yourself, we will usually send you an invoice if you have a permanent address.
What Happens If I Need An Operation?
If our knee specialists recommend surgical treatment, we will give you a procedure code (CCSD – clinical coding and schedule development- www.ccsd.org.uk/Home). You need to let your insurer know this code.
Information about where to go, what time, when to stop eating etc. will be sent to you by the hospital where you are going to have your orthopaedic surgery.
What Will The Cost Of My Treatment Be?
Professional fees at Yorkshire Knee Clinic are within the normal and accepted range for specialist consultants. These fees are based on figures payable by the majority of private health insurance companies, and also reflect the specialist experience of your orthopaedic surgeon.
To find costs for the first consultation and follow-up consultations for your knee condition, please contact us.
If you are insured:
Consultation fees, and investigations (such as x-rays, scans and blood tests), tend to be fully covered by the majority of insurers. You may have an excess on your policy which you need to clarify with your insurer.
Consultation costs can be confirmed with you when you make an appointment. You should check this with your insurance provider ahead of treatment to avoid incurring any unexpected costs.
If you don’t have medical insurance, please make sure you are able to meet the costs before proceeding.
Will My Medical Insurance Cover My Consultation & Investigations?
The cost of your consultation and various tests will usually be covered by your insurer as long as you have a referral letter from your GP or another consultant. However, it is always best to check with your insurer beforehand.
If your insurance provider agrees to cover the cost, they’ll issue you with an authorisation code which you need to bring to your consultation.
Will My Medical Insurance Cover My Knee Treatment?
Medical insurance cover can vary significantly between insurance companies and specific policies.
Private medical care can be expensive. It is best to check with your insurer to find out if your treatment costs will be fully covered.
Insurers base their surgical fees on standard surgical procedure codes, but the actual fee payable is set by your surgeon. Most insurers cover the full cost for standard Yorkshire Knee Clinic procedures.
If you are not insured, ask us for information about costs.
Who Should I Contact In An Emergency?
If you need to see a knee doctor urgently for a first appointment, phone the direct number of your chosen knee consultant, or the switchboard of your preferred hospital.
If you have an urgent problem after surgery, phone the hospital ward where you were looked after, and they will contact your knee consultant if necessary. You can also contact the consultant via his secretary.
What About Anaesthetic Fees?
Anaesthetic fees are not the direct responsibility of Yorkshire Knee Clinic, but are at a customary level.
You will be given the name of the anaesthetist if required.
What About Physiotherapy Fees?
Fees for physiotherapy, either before or after surgery, are not the responsibility of Yorkshire Knee Clinic. We will recommend a physiotherapist if necessary. Physiotherapy fees are usually covered by health insurance up to a given number of treatments.
If you are self-funding, you will generally be responsible for your own physiotherapy costs. The exception is if you have decided to self-fund surgery, for example knee replacement, ligament surgery, or arthroscopic treatment. In those cases, fixed price surgery may include an adequate number of physiotherapy sessions.
I Am Insured With BUPA, & Have Been Told Yorkshire Knee Clinic Orthopaedic Surgeons Are “Recognised” But Not “Fee-assured”. What Does That Mean?
Yorkshire Knee Clinic’s orthopaedic consultants have been “recognised” as treating BUPA insured patients for many years.
Occasionally, BUPA and other insurers reclassify surgical procedures, agreeing to reimburse only a portion of costs where previously the whole cost would have been covered. It’s important to know that these are insurance company decisions – Yorkshire Knee Clinic’s fees remain the same.
Even if you believe your insurance company will cover you for your treatment, please check with them before contacting us to ensure you’re still fully covered.