Bupa
Encyclopedia
Bupa is a large British
healthcare organisation, with bases on three continents and more than ten million customers in over 200 countries. It is a private healthcare
company, in direct contrast to the UK's National Health Service
s, which are tax-funded healthcare systems and do not require private health insurance
in order to gain access to hospitals and medical services. Bupa also runs its own hospitals, available only to those in the UK who hold private health insurance policies or who can pay personally.
. Bupa had an initial registration of 38,000 when founded, but currently has over four million members, and is currently the largest "independent health insurance" (i.e. private health insurance) provider in the UK.
It was founded as a not for profit provident organization intended to provide more services than the National Health Service
(NHS) system in Britain. Initially, it was purely a UK health insurance provider, offering policies to individuals, companies and other organisations. This continues to be the largest business within the company and around half of Britain's top companies are presently customers.
Over the years, it has diversified
away from its core health insurance business and is now an international health insurance and care company with services that include Travel insurance
, health insurance
, care homes, health assessments, occupational health services and childcare
. The firm is a private company limited by guarantee; it has no shareholder
s, and any profit
s (after tax
) are reinvested in the business.
, with main UK contact centres in Staines
and Salford Quays
. There are also offices in Brighton
(Bupa International), Bristol
(Bupa Health Assurance), Leeds
(Bupa Care Services), and Harlow
(Bupa Home Healthcare) in the UK, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia (Bupa Australia and Bupa Aged Care Australisia), Madrid (Sanitas), Boston (Health Dialog), Beijing (Bupa China), Hong Kong (Bupa Hong Kong), Jedda (Bupa Arabia), Bangkok
(Bupa Thailand), and Miami (for Bupa Latin America).
The firm also owns several healthcare companies overseas including Spain's largest healthcare company, Sanitas, and acquired IHI Danmark and Amedex (Miami, US) in September 2005. In November 2006, it acquired Clinovia, the UK's home healthcare specialist, in a move that gave BUPA new opportunities in the expanding out of hospital care market. In December 2007, it purchased DCA Agedcare Group in Australia and New Zealand, making it a leading player in these markets. Also in December 2007, it announced the purchase of Health Dialog, a provider of chronic condition management and "shared decision making" services.
During 2010, the firm acquired the London
-based Cromwell Hospital
flagship hospital to provide healthcare to its members and other private patients including medical tourists
from outside the UK - however, BUPA Cromwell Hospital is currently not independently accredited by any international accreditation scheme. Approval was given for the merger between Bupa's Australian arm (which, prior to the merger, comprised HBA and Mutual Community) and insurance group MBF. The merger created Australia's second largest private health insurance group. On 1 December 2008, Clinovia's name was changed to Bupa Home Healthcare.
The firm has entered the Indian health insurance market through a joint venture with the local conglomerate, Max India
, called Max Bupa Health Insurance Limited.
The firm has recently announced plans to sell Bupa Health Assurance to Resolution group PLC and will become part of Friends Provident / Friends Life.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
healthcare organisation, with bases on three continents and more than ten million customers in over 200 countries. It is a private healthcare
Private healthcare
Private healthcare or private medicine is healthcare and medicine provided by entities other than the government. The term is generally used more in Europe and other countries which have publicly-funded health care, to differentiate the arrangement from the usual system.Ethical issues relating to...
company, in direct contrast to the UK's National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
s, which are tax-funded healthcare systems and do not require private health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
in order to gain access to hospitals and medical services. Bupa also runs its own hospitals, available only to those in the UK who hold private health insurance policies or who can pay personally.
Background
Bupa (originally, the British United Provident Association) was established in 1947 when 17 British provident associations joined together to provide healthcare for the general public. The original services offered by Bupa included private medical insurance, and eventually expanded to include privately-run Bupa hospitals, such as Cromwell HospitalCromwell Hospital
The Cromwell Hospital is a private sector hospital located in the South Kensington area of London. The hospital was founded on 29 April 1981. The Cromwell Hospital has at various times been owned by the Bank of Credit & Commerce International and the Abu Dhabi royal family.The footballer George...
. Bupa had an initial registration of 38,000 when founded, but currently has over four million members, and is currently the largest "independent health insurance" (i.e. private health insurance) provider in the UK.
It was founded as a not for profit provident organization intended to provide more services than the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
(NHS) system in Britain. Initially, it was purely a UK health insurance provider, offering policies to individuals, companies and other organisations. This continues to be the largest business within the company and around half of Britain's top companies are presently customers.
Over the years, it has diversified
Diversified
Diversified technique is the most commonly used adjustment technique by chiropractors. Like many chiropractic and osteopathic manipulative techniques, Diversified is characterized by a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust...
away from its core health insurance business and is now an international health insurance and care company with services that include Travel insurance
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is insurance that is intended to cover medical expenses, financial default of travel suppliers, and other losses incurred while traveling, either within one's own country, or internationally...
, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, care homes, health assessments, occupational health services and childcare
Childcare
Child care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
. The firm is a private company limited by guarantee; it has no shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
s, and any profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
s (after tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
) are reinvested in the business.
Operations
The company has its head office in central LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with main UK contact centres in Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
and Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
. There are also offices in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
(Bupa International), Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
(Bupa Health Assurance), Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
(Bupa Care Services), and Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
(Bupa Home Healthcare) in the UK, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia (Bupa Australia and Bupa Aged Care Australisia), Madrid (Sanitas), Boston (Health Dialog), Beijing (Bupa China), Hong Kong (Bupa Hong Kong), Jedda (Bupa Arabia), Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
(Bupa Thailand), and Miami (for Bupa Latin America).
The firm also owns several healthcare companies overseas including Spain's largest healthcare company, Sanitas, and acquired IHI Danmark and Amedex (Miami, US) in September 2005. In November 2006, it acquired Clinovia, the UK's home healthcare specialist, in a move that gave BUPA new opportunities in the expanding out of hospital care market. In December 2007, it purchased DCA Agedcare Group in Australia and New Zealand, making it a leading player in these markets. Also in December 2007, it announced the purchase of Health Dialog, a provider of chronic condition management and "shared decision making" services.
During 2010, the firm acquired the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based Cromwell Hospital
Cromwell Hospital
The Cromwell Hospital is a private sector hospital located in the South Kensington area of London. The hospital was founded on 29 April 1981. The Cromwell Hospital has at various times been owned by the Bank of Credit & Commerce International and the Abu Dhabi royal family.The footballer George...
flagship hospital to provide healthcare to its members and other private patients including medical tourists
Medical tourism
Medical tourism is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care...
from outside the UK - however, BUPA Cromwell Hospital is currently not independently accredited by any international accreditation scheme. Approval was given for the merger between Bupa's Australian arm (which, prior to the merger, comprised HBA and Mutual Community) and insurance group MBF. The merger created Australia's second largest private health insurance group. On 1 December 2008, Clinovia's name was changed to Bupa Home Healthcare.
The firm has entered the Indian health insurance market through a joint venture with the local conglomerate, Max India
Max Healthcare
Max Healthcare Institute is a healthcare institute based in New Delhi, India. The Institute is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Max India Limited...
, called Max Bupa Health Insurance Limited.
The firm has recently announced plans to sell Bupa Health Assurance to Resolution group PLC and will become part of Friends Provident / Friends Life.