Reply To: Surgeons / Travelling for Surgery

[aeriela]

@jenbean14 I know that VHI can be rather difficult about covering travel for surgery. I tried to get them to cover mine, but they will not allow GP referral, only referral from your treating consultant in Ireland which in my case is not going to happen as even though I have the results from my surgery up North saying I have endometriosis, my treating consultant in Ireland still does not believe it.

I have chosen to go to Romania instead and I am using the CBD for this as they allow GP referral, however the CBD will need you to physically go for a consultation abroad and you need to prove that you travelled for it with invoices and flight tickets/other receipts to prove you were there.

Unfortunately, I cannot be much help with VHI as my experience with them regarding travelling abroad is rather difficult. Though I would note that the procedure code for laparoscopy is the same abroad and in Ireland so bear in mind that this treatment can be done in Ireland from a VHI perspective. You would need to show that the quality of care is better abroad. I assume you would need the research /papers proving that endometriosis requires specialist care. VHI does have an online chat, so it’s possible to ask them about their Brexit policy on the chat.

Hope some of this helps.