Frequently Asked Questions

Benenden Healthcare membership is now available if you currently or have previously belonged to any of the following groups:

Members of approved charities

Members of approved credit unions

Members of approved co-operatives

Employees of an approved registered charity

Public sector administrators

Police force employees

Armed forces employees

Public sector teachers

Emergency services employees

Local authorities employees

NHS employees

Civil Servants

Post Office employees

BT employees

And employees of other approved organisations whose aims and objectives are deemed compatible with ours:

Broadly-speaking, they fall into the categories of compatible organisations; building societies and mutual companies, not-for-profit organisation; credit unions; and friendly societies. Here are just a few of them:

• BBC
• Cancer Research UK
• Citizen's Advice
• Coops UK Group
• John Lewis Partnership
• National Trust
• Network Rail
• NSPCC
• Oxfam
• Prince's Trust
• RNLI
• RSPB
• Save the Children
• The Co-operative
• Unison
• Unite  

If you wish to join the Benenden Healthcare Society we offer a number of different options, including online join forms, phone applications or completion of paper application forms.

• If you are going to pay by Direct Debit, you can join now simply by calling us on 0845 052 5733* (lines open 8am - 5pm, Mon-Fri, excluding bank holidays), or you use our online application form. This is accessible from the right hand side of each page in the personal healthcare section of this webiste. Further information about how to join.
• If you want to pay by salary deduction, you just need to complete a paper application form. Please ensure that your organisation accepts this method of payment by viewing our list of eligible organisations (pdf).

When joining, you will need to have the following details to hand:

• Your personal details (your name, date of birth, address, telephone number and National Insurance number)
• The personal details of any family members you wish to add to your membership
• Your bank details
• You'll also need to ensure that you are eligible to join.

In a perfect world, we'd provide our members with every kind of healthcare possible. Because we believe in keeping memberships costs down, there are certain areas that we’re currently unable to offer help with.

We'll continue working hard to improve and extend our services. Unfortunately, we currently cannot pay for:

• Diagnostic consultations with consultants who do not have an NHS post and are not registered with a royal college such as the Royal College of Surgeons or Physicians
• Appointments with specialists such as radiologists, dentists, opticians or complementary therapists, pain management specialists
• IVF treatment
• Cosmetic, breast, plastic, sterilisation, nerve, dental or maxillofacial surgery, or surgery for transplants
• Surgery for arterial, cardiac, neurological or complex orthopaedic problems or Bariatric surgery
• Consultations, tests and treatment outside the UK
• Cancer care services which are delivered by non-UK, non-VAT registered organisations
• Retrospective services, where our written authorisation has not been sought.

Self Pay Treatment

Where we do not provide treatment, you or your family may wish to fund it privately - and we offer a simple guide to explain the process.

Among other useful topics, it covers choosing a consultant, choosing a hospital and finance.

For a free copy of the Self-Pay Treatment Guide, just call us on 0845 052 5702*. Lines are open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday.

For further information, please review the Guide To Society Services pdf.

* If you're abroad, please dial +44 845 052 5702.

Benenden Healthcare membership is initially available to current or former employees of the public sector, and other approved organisations whose aims and objectives are deemed compatible with those of the Society.    Examples of such employers are the Post Office, Civil Service, BT, mutual organisations and not-for-profit organisations. Employees or members of approved UK-registered charities, co-operatives or credit unions are also eligible. Once a member  you can add anyone onto your membership regardless of their eligibility.

 There is no limit to the number of nominees you can add.   Add a friend or family member friends  by completing our online form.

Simply download our transfer method of payment  form, fill it in, and post it back to  The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited, Holgate Park Drive, York, YO26 4GG.  Alternatively call our Loyalty Team on 0845 052 5733.

If you change your mind about joining the Society, you have 14 days from receipt of your welcome pack in which you can change your mind and cancel your membership.  Any payments you've already made will be refunded.