Information for clients funded by insurance

If you are an insurance-funded client, these are the basic steps you need to take if you wish to have psychological therapy or counselling through your policy:

1. Call your insurer and clarify what they require.
2. Visit your GP and ask for an appropriate referral to a specialist.
3. Call your insurance company and ask for an authorisation number, which you can then pass on to the specialist.

What your insurance company may need

Many insurance companies will require your GP to refer you to a Consultant Psychiatrist, who is a medical doctor specialising in mental health issues. The Edinburgh Psychology Centre works closely with Dr Colin Rodger, Consultant Psychiatrist, and colleagues at Spire Murrayfield Hospital and Insight Consulting. They can be contacted on 0131-228-2025, www.insightpsychiatry.co.uk. They are able to take referrals from GPs and are able to refer you on to an appropriate practitioner for psychological therapy or counselling funded by your insurance provider.

What to expect from the major insurance companies

Each insurance company is slightly different so below are the details of what to expect from some of the major companies.

AXA PPP (0800 45 40 80)

• You need to ask your GP to refer you to a psychiatrist first. The psychiatrist may then refer you on to a psychologist or psychotherapist.
• Phone AXA PPP to check it will authorise treatment. You may also wish to ask if there are any restrictions on the number of sessions or the amount of funding available.
• AXA PPP will give you an authorisation number which you can then pass on.

BUPA (0800 609 0111)

• You need a referral from your GP. This can be either directly to a psychologist or through a psychiatrist first, who may then refer you on to a psychologist or psychotherapist. This depends on your type of cover and you can phone BUPA to check.
• Phone BUPA to check it will authorise treatment. You may also wish to ask if there are any restrictions on the number of sessions or the amount of funding available.
• BUPA will give you a pre-authorisation number which you can then pass on.

CIGNA (01475 492 222)

• CIGNA encourages GP contact, but does not require a GP referral for treatment.
• CIGNA only funds treatment for acute conditions rather than recurrent conditions or those for which you have received previous treatment.
• Phone CIGNA to check it will authorise treatment. You may also wish to ask if there are any restrictions on the number of sessions or the amount of funding available.
• CIGNA offers two options depending on your condition:
  1. A referral to a consultant psychiatrist who may then refer you on for psychological therapy if that is appropriate.
  2. A referral to a cognitive behavioural therapist.

NORWICH UNION (0800 015 7124)

• You need a referral from your GP. This can be directly to a psychologist or psychotherapist.
• Phone NU with the name of the psychologist or psychotherapist you wish to see to check it will authorise an initial assessment session.
• NU will give you an authorisation number which you can then pass on.
• NU will then authorise subsequent sessions on the recommendations of the therapist and dependent on your policy allowance.

STANDARD LIFE (0845 602 3500)

• You need a referral from your GP to a psychiatrist first who may then refer you on to a psychologist or psychotherapist.
• Phone STANDARD LIFE to check it will authorise treatment. You may also wish to ask if there are any restrictions on the number of sessions or the amount of funding available.
• STANDARD LIFE will give you an authorisation number which you can then pass on.