Charge by GP - is this reasonable?

[interlog]

So I need to make a claim against my travel insurance because a recent medical condition prohibits me travelling abroad. The insurance Company requires the Doctor to fill out a one page form consisting out of 10 boxes she needs to complete. Reasonable enough so far.

So I call the surgery and ask how long this takes and if there is a fee payable. Response, that it can take up to 1 month to complete and there is a charge of £140 payable cash only!!!

Is this rip off territory or reasonable?

 

[mack341]

A google group thread I just read with a similar question [from 2010 though] was being asked to pay their GP only £15 That's a lot of inflation!

this GP Practice, cavershamgrouppractice prices quoted on their site are

Holiday cancellation simple certificate	Insurance Company/Patient	£15.00
Holiday cancellation insurance claim	Insurance Company/Patient	£26.00

so I think your GP practice could be taking the michael, unless they've misunderstood that you require a sickness report or something more involved.

 

[Downsman]

Seems pretty steep to me.

 

[mack341]

Just another comment, have looked on my GP's practice and it states in the 'private work fees' section which includes insurance claim forms,
that 'The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales' so that might be something to check?

And my GP looks like they charge only £30 for holiday cancellation claim forms

 

[interlog]

Just another comment, have looked on my GP's practice and it states in the 'private work fees' section which includes insurance claim forms,
that 'The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales' so that might be something to check?

And my GP looks like they charge only £30 for holiday cancellation claim forms

That was useful information, so thank you for that.

I seen the Doctor a few weeks ago about my symptoms and we discussed me travelling abroad which she advised against, so she doesn't need to do a re-examination and neither does the form ask for a detailed report.

So according to this:

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The fee should sit between £30 to £63 which is more reasonable.

It is, of course, guidance so I guess she can charge whatever she likes!!

Mind, I spoke to the receptionist who may have just plugged a number out of the air!

 

[mcgameboy]

Total ripoff. My instant thought would have been to respond like this...

 

[Davey86]

£15.00 for a headed letter from the doctor saying I should be fine to travel for my employer about 2 years ago, I did miss the appointment with the company doctor but £15.00 even at that time I thought wtf

 

[Jono777]

TOTAL RIP OFF

its money for nothing and a serious case of "Its not what you know, its who you know"

For example I am 99.99% confident my doctor would do it for nothing due to where I work and my constant close B2B liasions.

Point I am making is not how I can get around a charge but that fact they don't need to charge anything, especially the amount you've mentioned

It will be nothing more than cash for the surgeries petty cash tin or next works night out