Insurance Reports

Question 1

What should you do as a GP if an insurance company tries to get you to make an NHS referral for a specialist opinion to see if the patient has a particular condition?

Answer 1

You decline. It is not appropriate.

Tell the insurance company they need to contact the private specialist and agree to a payment with the insured person.

Question 2

What form is widely used to between insurance companies and GPs?

Answer 2

The GP Report (GPR) form.

Question 3

If you fill out a GPR form, can you charge the insurance company/

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

How soon should reports be sent?

Answer 4

Within 20 working days of receiving the request.

Question 5

Can you print out their past medical notes and attach them to the report?

Answer 5

No, you should only send relevant information for the policy.

To send a print out would likely breach the Data Protection Act 1998

Question 6

Before you send information to the Insurance company, what must you get the patient to do?

Answer 6

Have a look at what you have written.

If they are happy they should give written consent for you to send it.

Question 7

If a patient asks you to leave out relevant information from the report and refuses to let you send it if you don’t, what should you do? Should you tell the insurance company? Should you report them? WHAT SHOULD YOU DO DAMN IT!!!??

Answer 7

Indicate to the insurance company that you cannot write the report AND do not say why, merely that you can’t.

Question 8

Can insurance companies access patients records when they die?

Answer 8

In some circumstances, yes.