Equipsme plans are designed to offer practical, everyday health and wellbeing support. Here’s how to access private treatment – if it’s part of your plan.
Who can access private treatment?
Equipsme’s private hospital treatment services, provided by our partners AXA Health, are only available to members on plan Levels 2 and 1.
You can check if your plan includes private hospital treatment by looking for the icon on your Equipsme App or portal.
How to arrange private hospital treatment
With your Level 2 or Level 1 Equipsme plan, it’s easy to access private hospital treatment, without having to pay up front.
If your claim is eligible (i.e. not a pre-existing or chronic condition or otherwise excluded) your Equipsme plan can help cut your waiting time by weeks or even months.
I need to get some treatment. How do I make an appointment?
If you’ve already used your Equipsme plan to get diagnosed by a consultant, they will recommend whether you need further treatment - and if it should take place in hospital.
All you need to do is call up AXA Health and let them know what’s been recommended, so they can assess whether your condition is eligible for cover and if so, help you find a hospital/clinic on the approved network.
My specialist says I need treatment – how do I make an appointment?
You’ll need a letter from your specialist recommending the type of treatment needed, and your AXA Health membership number (which appears in the ‘My plan’ section in the App and portal).
Call up AXA Health, and they’ll assess whether the recommended treatment is eligible for cover and if so, authorise it and help you arrange the follow-up appointments.
Where will I be treated?
There is an approved medical network of the medical professionals, diagnostic centres and hospitals you’re allowed to use. The aim is always to limit your travel distance.
The AXA Health nationwide network available to Equipsme members is made up of more than 100 hospitals/clinics including Circle Health, Nuffield Health and Spire Healthcare hospitals, as well as the London Clinic and Imperial Healthcare, plus private patient units in some NHS facilities. While we can’t guarantee it in all cases, typically, our members should find that they live or work within 15 miles of a provider – and just 5 miles in London.
How quickly will I be treated?
Your treatment will depend on your condition and your consultant’s list of patients, but is usually within weeks, and usually faster than the NHS waiting list.
Is there anything I won’t be able to get treatment for?
Like all health insurance policies, there are things that are also not covered by our plans.
1. Pre-existing conditions
You won’t be able to get treatment for any conditions you’ve had symptoms, medication, treatment or advice for in the three years before your Equipsme plan started.
2. Chronic conditions
Equipsme doesn’t cover treatment for chronic, long-term conditions, for instance Chron’s Disease.
3. Mental health treatment
Equipsme doesn’t cover psychiatric care, or neurodivergent diagnosis.
4. Cancer treatment
We don’t cover the treatment of cancer - once it’s been officially diagnosed.
You can get cover up to the point of diagnosis through your Equipsme plan, which is often the most important step, and then access a dedicated cancer support helpline to help with any questions as you return to the NHS for your treatment. The NHS is brilliant at cancer care, and brilliant in a crisis, and often best able to co-ordinate whatever you might need.
It means we can keep our prices low, and help more people access wider private healthcare in a way they wouldn’t have been able to before.
To find out more about what is and is not covered under your chosen Equipsme plan, see your Membership Handbook which you can download from your members portal or App.
Will I have to pay upfront for my treatment?
If AXA Health approve your treatment and give you an authorisation number, the claims team will confirm exactly what they will pay for so that you don’t need to pay upfront. Just remember to check back with the team at every stage of your treatment to make sure you’re not going out of scope.
Remember, on plan Level 2 there is an excess of £150 per person per plan year, which is the amount you are expected to pay towards a claim (one payment per plan year). If your claim continues beyond a renewal date, a further £150 excess will be due. You will usually receive an invoice from the hospital, for you to settle direct.
What do I do when I get to the hospital?
Report to reception, and they’ll direct you to the right place. At the department reception, you’ll most likely be given a form to fill in with all your details – including the claim number reference from AXA Health. Don’t forget to bring these with you.
Quick info about arranging private treatment through AXA Health:
- Ask your specialist for a letter recommending your treatment plan.
- Visit your App or portal and click on the Treatment icon.
- Contact AXA Health with your membership number to confirm if your planned treatment is eligible. You can fill in an online claim form or call them on 0800 917 9472
- Have your membership number ready – you can find this in the App or portal, or by contacting Equipsme on 020 3965 6410.
- If covered, the claims team at AXA Health can help you arrange your private treatment.
Further reading:
How to see a private consultant for diagnosis
Our exclusions
Our cancer cover
What is a pre-existing condition?
What is a chronic condition?
Katherine’s story
Roeland’s story
Simon’s story
Chelsea’s story
Jay’s story
Date reviewed: Jan 2026
