The Exeter Anmeldelser 

Can only comment on the application/onboarding process which is abysmal. The admin staff don’t read the information in applications, ignore customer emails, then send their own ignorant emails.

In order to get a direct quote for healthcare, was forced to create an account inputting personal details on The Exeter’s website. [Why when not everyone who gets a quote will want to proceed?]

Regardless, I accepted the quote and completed the application entering all the relevant information. Once this is submitted, the form disappeared from my section of the portal! And there is no copy emailed or advisory information emailed either so was left completely in the dark. All I got was an automated acknowledgement.

No news after the submission so emailed The Exeter three times on the correct email address – I received auto acknowledgements so I know they got the emails but two of my emails were never responded to and the third received a delayed and disingenuous message that was offensive in its incompetence.

I’ve received two emails from staff at The Exeter. The first one says they’re waiting for my certificate of insurance (from my previous insurer). The problem is this email was sent over 4 hours after The Exeter received my certificate of insurance (which was acknowledged by auto email).

The second email said “we’ve now received your certificate of insurance…” – the problem with this email is that it was sent over 3 working days after they received my certificate. So no, not “now”; three days’ ago. Do they not know how to monitor, filter and progress different emails from their customers?

It further goes on to say that the date of my insurance can be backdated to the day of this email “if your policy starts today” – what do they mean “if”? It would be quicker to read the policy application and know that the policy was due to start the previous week than it was to type that grotesquely inadequate sentence.
So will it be backdated to the correct date or will I be left with a gap in my insurance (and how would that affect NCD years)?

The crowning glory of this email is where it implies that cover may not be provided. Excuse me? You took my medical information prior to issuing the quotation. You make a customised individual quotation; therefore, you have to provide the cover. (Not to mention taking my payment details.) The only reason for not providing cover would be if an applicant lied in the application and that wouldn’t prevent the provision of cover as the contract would be invalidated and could be cancelled at any point in time when the insurer became aware of the false information.

The whole idea of having private medical cover is to have peace of mind and better access to healthcare. I am, frankly, flabbergasted, that a private healthcare provider can be so poor at basic administrative processes and customer service that it makes the customer feel stressed and physically ill.

What would happen if I suffered a medical event requiring ongoing treatment in the period where The Exeter failed to activate my policy due to the incompetence of their staff/ inadequacies of the internal systems? Would that be excluded from cover?

If they do decide not to honour their quotation for cover, their tardiness and incompetence mean it will now be too late to extend cover with my previous provider and getting new cover from an alternative after a break in cover will cost more despite my years of NCD. Who regulates these providers in cases when they cause people financial harm prior to a contract being signed off?

If they can’t be trusted to get basic admin right, how can they be trusted with serious and complex healthcare provision?

Update: Since posting this review, I've just received an email from the Exeter stating that they have not received my insurance certificate! So I have:
-the automated email confirming receipt of my certificate,
-an email 3 days later stating they have my certificate
-an email today stating they don't have it

Update: Credit where it's due. Despite the generic response below, I was contacted directly (later that same day) by a New Business & Agency Team Manager who managed to complete the registration/onboarding and confirm everything in one single email.

Exeter provides a prompt, efficient, courteous service.

We were conned . We have subscribed to this insurance for 1 year without claim having opted for the most comprehensive coverage. ( so far costing in excess of £2k ) . My wife has had recent issues with her knee. Got a referral as required for an mri scan and Exeter refused simply saying she’s not eligible. I am fuming . There was a problem with her knee but was more than 10 years ago and appeared to clear up . If this company are not willing to fund a few hundred quid for a scan then they are not worth another penny of my hard earned cash . Direct debit cancelled

The Exeter has walked me thru a very frightening experience with grace, empathy & thoughtfulness. Helping me to understand how private insurance works with our NHS. They have made the very complex case I've found myself in so much easier, less stressful with their guidance, their day-by-day in patient/outpatient pay but most of all their show of compassion when I called with not knowing how to handle an admission, and then when to transfer to private hospital. Exeter is far above & beyond any other. This is from one who knows insurance & knows it well. An insurance company who treats you right! The NHS is good but Exeter was treating me from the start, got me diagnosed quickly with my private doctors, preconceived notions are not preexisting "conditions"-you'd be surprised, I was. You should give a call. I'm so glad I did. I'm so glad I have The Exeter by my side! So reach out to them I've just re-upped my contract with very minimal increase even after all I've put on them. Thank you Exeter. Here's to another much less eventful year. Signed~An Former American in Wales

I have been paying for income protection since 2023. Unforunately this has been a waste of money. The product was sold as a 4 week waiting period which would then pay out. This has not been the case. A claim was submitted on 15th December due to sickness from work. 10 weeks later I’m still waiting and unfortunately have had to return to work sooner than consultant would advise due to this. From discussion with the case advisors who have been extremely friendly and helpful I believe have been missold this product. This was sold as a 4 week waiting period and then the cover would pay out. There was only one exception mentioned on my cover and this was not the reason I was off work. Unfortunately the peace of mind that a cover like this is supposed to provide had not materialised. Deeply disappointed and unhappy with the ‘product’. I have raised this as a complaint however have no faith this will be resolved to my satisfaction.

Really happy with our health insurance, so easy to deal with, claim process easy and quick great communication. Would not hesitate to recommend

I believe I was sold an income protection policy by The Exeter Friendly Society that was never suitable for my circumstances as a self-employed person.

For six years I paid monthly premiums between £38 and £60 for what I believed was peace of mind. The policy was quoted on the basis that it could pay up to £2,500 per month if I became unable to work. However, when I recently suffered a serious injury and was medically unable to walk, drive, or even carry out basic daily tasks, making a claim turned into a nightmare.

From the beginning the claims process was extremely difficult. I could not access my policy through their online portal despite entering the correct policy number and date of birth. I repeatedly reported this issue and even sent screenshots, but was told there was nothing they could do. This meant I could not check my details, update my address, or manage anything about my policy.

Communication with the claims team was also very poor. Medical documents I sent were said to be missing, emails often went unanswered, and I had to repeatedly chase updates. At times it felt as though the claim handler wasn’t even sure what evidence was required.

During one call, when I was already extremely stressed and close to tears trying to understand what was happening with my claim, the handler asked why I was “laughing.” I was completely shocked by this comment as there was nothing remotely funny about the situation. After weeks of trying to get answers and being unable to access my own policy information, I ended the call because I was becoming too upset.

I have been self-employed for seven years and, based on my tax returns, my income has never reached the level that appears to have been used when the policy was originally quoted. As a result, despite paying premiums for six years and never making a claim before, the amount they say they will pay is only £194.48 for two weeks.

I took out this policy in 2020 during the pandemic when my father, who worked in insurance for over 30 years, encouraged me to protect myself in case something went wrong. Sadly, when I finally needed the protection I thought I had paid for, it simply was not there.

Because of my injury and the lack of support from this policy, my business is now likely to close. Instead of the security I believed I had been paying for, the entire experience has been distressing, confusing and deeply disappointing.

If you are self-employed or run a small business, I would strongly advise you to carefully check whether this type of policy would actually cover your real income before purchasing.

Excellent service fantastic to deal with so helpful 10/10 service

I have recently made my first claim for medical treatment through The Exeter, and my treatment is ongoing.
The instructions on how to engage with the claims process was clear, and all communications were helpful and positive.
This was very reassuring. Thank you.

Request for over of my corneal transport refused for one year until I contacyed your chairman. Even ten it took 5 months after my claim to extract the money from you.
I guess all's well that ends well but...

Booking a procedure to remove a cataract. Super quick and easy through the Exeter.

Easy to deal with . Always act on requests quickly and accurately

In my interactions with the Company I have always found them to be empathetic and helpful.

Customer relations team are knowledgeable and helpful but not always easily available to get through on the telephone. Once contact made response time and accuracy is good.
Choice of three consultants at my chosen hospital worked well.

Very well looked after my needs referral and hospital and consultant’s choice

Fantastic service so easy to deal with

Your claims staff need a little of training

Prompt reply to queries