Thinking About Using Your Bupa Insurance for Counselling?
If you have Bupa health insurance, you may be able to use it to cover your counselling sessions with us. We understand that the process can be a little confusing at first, so I’ve put together this guide to explain everything in simple steps. Here you’ll find:
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How to check your cover with Bupa
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What information we will need from you
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How fees, authorisation codes, and excess payments work
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A short form you can complete to get started
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Our aim is to make things as straightforward as possible, so you can focus on what really matters — your wellbeing.
How It Works
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Check your cover with Bupa
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Call Bupa and ask if your policy includes counselling/psychological therapy.
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Ask if your policy has an excess (this is the amount you may need to pay before Bupa starts covering sessions).
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Make a note of your authorisation code (if they give you one). They will send you an email with all the details.
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Provide your details
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Complete the secure form below with your full name (as on your policy), date of birth, postcode, email, membership number, and main issues you’d like support with.
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Also, please forward the email sent to you from Bupa to us.
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Authorisation & sessions
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Some policies authorise a set number of sessions upfront (often 6–16).
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Others leave the number of sessions to clinical judgement. In this case, I’ll recommend what’s appropriate, and Bupa usually approves this.
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Payment & fees
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Bupa usually covers the session fee.
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If you have an excess, Bupa will invoice you for this separately after your first session.
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Invoices & statements
- After your first session, I will invoice Bupa directly.
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Bupa will then send a statement to both of us. If you have an excess, they’ll send you a bill for the agreed amount before covering future sessions.
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What number do I use to call Bupa?
The number you need depends on the type of Bupa policy you have. Different schemes (personal, company, or international) have their own helplines.
To find the right number:
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Check your Bupa membership card – the correct helpline is printed there.
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Look in your policy documents – they’ll show you the right number.
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If you’re unsure, call Bupa’s main enquiries line on 0345 609 0111 (UK). Once you provide your details, they’ll connect you to the right team for your cover.​
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What is an excess?
An excess is the amount you pay before your insurer starts covering treatment. For example, if your policy has a £200 excess, you must pay the first £200 of treatment yourself. After this, Bupa pays its share.
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Do I need to check if I have an excess? Yes. As your therapist, I am not told by Bupa whether you have an excess. It’s your responsibility to ask Bupa when you call them.
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When do I pay the excess?
You don’t pay an excess upfront. After your first session, I will invoice Bupa directly. Bupa will then check your policy and, if there is an excess, they will pass the invoice to you. You’ll need to pay the excess amount directly, and once this has been settled, Bupa will begin covering the cost of future sessions.
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Will I need to complete forms during treatment?
Yes, Bupa require us to complete both progress or monitoring forms — but they do not need to see the forms, and they will not be shown to your employer.
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How many sessions will I get?
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Some Bupa plans authorise a fixed number of sessions (commonly 6–16).
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Others leave it to the therapist to decide what’s clinically appropriate.
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Can I choose any therapist at London Counsellors?
​No, currently only our director, Sabrina Williams, is authorised to see Bupa clients on policy.
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What do I say when I call Bupa about counselling sessions?
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Tell them you’d like to access counselling with Sabrina Williams - Provider number 30050507.
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Give them the details of your policy (from your card or documents).
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Ask whether your cover includes counselling/psychotherapy.
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Check if you have an excess to pay – this is your responsibility to confirm.
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Request an authorisation code for counselling sessions.
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Note down the code, the number of sessions authorised, and any other conditions.
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How do payments work for the first sessions?
To keep things simple and avoid delays, please pay for the first session in advance. ​
If your Bupa plan includes an excess, this advance payment will be used to cover it. Any remaining balance will be refunded.
Since Bupa does not inform me of any excess amounts in advance, I will continue to submit invoices on your behalf, and Bupa will confirm directly what they will or won’t pay.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Bupa Client Details Form
Once you have spoken to Bupa about using your policy to cover your counselling sessions, please fill in the form below and your therapist will be in contact.
If you need more support or have questions please email: