Do I need a referral letter from a GP to have an x-ray?

All health insurers work differently, so it is well worth checking out what you are entitled to before making a claim. There are some procedures you will need to go through as a matter of course in order to get your treatment. For instance if you are wanting an x-ray or an MRI scan then it is still necessary that the private hospital or practice will need to see a referral letter from a General Practitioner or consultant. This is the case in most hospitals around the UK. Many people think that because they have private health insurance that they are entitled to have treatment without a referral letter this is not the case, and usually a hospital will not x-ray or scan without a referral letter.

The usual procedure for getting a referral letter is to visit your GP, tell him your symptoms and then they can refer. Alternatively if you have already been referred to the NHS for an MRI scan then it is worth speaking to your consultant and he can then refer you for a scan privately, alternatively the letter of referral which has been sent to the NHS hospital can usually be used for your scan privately, so it is well worth asking your consultants secretary about this.

Having private health insurance is a bonus when it comes to paying for x-rays and MRI scans as they are very costly. For more information about private health insurance and related products check out the internet.