Payment and funding
At Priory, we understand that the cost of mental health and addiction treatment can be a concern for people. That’s why we aim to deliver services that offer accessible funding options.
We offer tailored plans for people who are going through private medical insurance (PMI), along with people who are looking to fund their treatment themselves.
If you have any questions or would like to know the options that are available to you, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team on 0330 056 6020, who will be more than happy to help.
Why choose private mental health care?
There are many reasons why you may decide to choose private mental health care at Priory. It might be because your local NHS provider doesn’t offer the mental health or addiction treatment you need, there is insufficient capacity or there is a long waiting list. Or you may prefer the peace of mind of receiving quick access to the expert help you need, when you need it.
All of our hospital sites are comfortable, welcoming and well-maintained, ensuring that you're provided with the ideal environment to focus on your recovery.
How can I pay for private rehabilitation and mental health care?
If you're an individual looking for mental health, addiction or eating disorder treatment, we have three options for private funding at Priory, which are summarised below.
Self-funding
Self-funding your treatment means that you pay for this yourself.
In many cases, you won't need a GP referral to enter into treatment. In some cases this will be required, but you'll be advised through the enquiry process if this is the case. Having said that, you may simply prefer to start your treatment journey by speaking to your GP, and any referral from a GP will help your clinician gain an understanding of the challenges you're facing.
If you’re in a position to self-fund your treatment at Priory and you want to find out the next steps, call us today on 0330 056 6020. We're able to book flexible appointments at a time to suit you, and you can rest assured that our expert team can deliver the best care, helping you to achieve your goals.
Accessing Priory Services with PMI
All of the services that we offer at Priory can be funded through PMI. This includes:
- Treatment for mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and stress
- Addiction treatment, such as drug and alcohol addictions and gambling addiction. This can be delivered through our 28-day addiction treatment programme, or through 1:1 therapy
- Eating disorder treatment, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder (BED)
- Young people’s mental health treatment, depending on your individual insurance policy
Depending on your needs, we also have a number of treatment programmes available. You’ll have your own treatment plan and, again, all of these options can be covered by your PMI. These include:
- Inpatient treatment, where you stay at one of our hospitals for a certain amount of time to undergo residential rehab
- Day care treatment, where you come to one of our sites for a set number of full days or half days each week
- Outpatient treatment, where you come to one of our treatment centres for therapy sessions, which usually last for 1 hour each week
All clients will have access to our highly skilled and accredited clinicians, many of whom are published experts in the field of mental health and addiction treatment. Whatever your requirements, we're committed to working with you to get your life back on track.
Private medical insurance
We are a registered and approved provider for all of the UK's leading private medical insurers. The services that we offer at Priory can be funded through private medical insurance. This includes:
- Mental health treatment
- Addiction treatment
- Eating disorder treatment
All clients will have access to our highly skilled and accredited clinicians, many of whom are published experts in their fields of treatment. Whatever your requirements, we are committed to working with you to get your life back on track.
How to access treatment through your PMI
There are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to access mental health or addiction treatment through your PMI. We’re committed to making this process as smooth and straightforward as possible, so you can get the treatment you need as soon as possible.
Step 1 – GP referral
If you have access to PMI, either personally or through your workplace, your policy may require you to obtain a GP referral before you can start treatment with Priory. Your insurer will be able to tell you if this is the case.
We may still be able to start the process of getting you into treatment without a GP referral, but it’s important to understand that this is something you may need to obtain further down the line and before you can start treatment with us. We’ll be able to advise you if this is the case if you choose to have an initial call with us.
Please note that in order to access our young people’s mental health services (treatment for people under the age of 18 years), patients will always need a GP referral.
Step 2 – contact your insurer
Different insurance policies cover different levels of care, so the next step will be to contact your private medical insurer to check that your policy covers the type of treatment you need. If they're able to provide cover, they will give you an authorisation code, which you'll need in order to enter treatment with us.
Some insurance companies require that you pay an excess towards your mental health treatment. Your insurance company will be able to advise you if this is the case and how much your excess is, if applicable.
Step 3 – call Priory
Once you have your authorisation code, the next step is for you to call our dedicated referrals team on 0330 056 6020. You'll need to provide your insurance details and authorisation code so that we can check this with your provider.
At this point, you’ll be asked about your preferred location to receive treatment and will be referred to one of our hospitals or centres based on your needs, preferences and the type of treatment that they’re able to offer. If you have a specific clinician or therapist in mind at the recommended site, you can ask to see them and we’ll do our best to accommodate that.
One of our hospitals or centres will aim to contact you within 2 days of your referral, and we’ll aim to arrange for you to have a consultation with one of our specialists within 5 days of this initial contact.
Our friendly and highly knowledgeable referrals team are on-hand to guide you through the whole process. You can contact us at any point on 0330 056 6020 and we’ll be happy to help.
As an initial step, you may also wish to call us to talk through your treatment options. During this call, we’ll gather information on your individual needs, answer any questions you might have, and advise on the process for starting your treatment journey with us.
Corporate funding arrangements
Mental health and addiction problems are one of the leading causes of long-term absence from work. That’s why we also work closely with employers and organisations to put in place treatment solutions for their employees. If your employer is part of this scheme, then funding your treatment can be agreed directly with them, or through the private medical insurer they have chosen to use.
For more information on our corporate funding arrangements, you can visit our workplace mental health solutions section.
Services for the NHS and local authorities
Over 85% of Priory’s services are publicly funded. We work closely with:
- Provider NHS trusts and local systems
- NHS England, Wales and Scotland
- Mental health NHS trusts
- Local authorities
If you are from a public body and would like more information on our services for the NHS or local authorities, please visit the referrer area of our website.
Our aim is to provide transparent and competitive pricing models and evidence-based care packages for vulnerable people at every stage of their treatment journeys. Our pricing plans are designed to ensure a transparent and efficient process for referrers. Our cost frameworks include episode pricing, with discounts for volume and measured outcomes. We are also happy to discuss relapse prevention guarantees as part of our episode pricing framework.
Our fees vary across our specialist residential, nursing and community-based services, and are based on an assessment of the person's care needs. Some people may be eligible for financial help towards the cost of care; this is determined on an individual basis. Our home managers and central enquiries team will be able to discuss these matters further with you.
Please note, we are unable to provide access to our private services through NHS or local authority funding.
A range of funding options
There are several different ways in which a Priory service can be funded. These include:
Local authority funding
This is where the local authority (typically the local council) agrees an amount to fully fund a person’s support, whether it's in a residential placement or as part of a supported living package.
The funding package is agreed following an assessment of the person’s needs and covers both accommodation and support.
- Joint funding between the local authority and NHS
This is where an individual has a Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessment. In this instance, funding will be split between the local authority and the NHS.
The funding package is agreed following joint assessments of the person’s needs. The local authority element of the funding will cover both accommodation and support, and the NHS assessment will cover the continuing healthcare needs.
- NHS funding
It's possible that an person’s health needs are such that the NHS will fully fund their support package.
The funding package is agreed following an assessment of the person’s needs and covers both accommodation and support.
- Individual/personal budget
This is where the local authority allocates a specific amount of money for a person’s support needs. The amount is determined by an assessment of the person’s needs and means. You will also need to agree a support plan to show how and where the money will be spent, whether you decide for the local authority to choose services for you or if you prefer to have direct control of the budget yourself – for example, a direct payment.
- Direct payments
This is where you receive an amount directly from the local authority and can choose how to spend the money on your support. Choosing a direct payment gives you maximum flexibility with your support package but does mean you have to manage the money yourself.
Fees are calculated based on the person's assessed needs. Each fee will include a staffing element, based on the hours of support assessed and required. In some instances, the staff support may be shared with other people, and in this situation the person would only pay for their share of staff time.
Older people care services
Please find below additional helpful information on fees and funding for our older people care services.
NHS funded nursing care (FNC)
NHS FNC is available to nursing residents. A weekly payment is made by the NHS to cover nursing care from a registered nurse. FNC is only provided if the resident needs nursing care and if they’re in a home that can provide nursing care.
Self-funding
Some people are required to fund or contribute to their own support and accommodation depending on their financial position.
- This can be done privately with little or no contact with the local authority and be fully self-funded
- This can be arranged through the local authority and, after a financial assessment, fully or partly self-funded by the person
- This can be local authority funded, with relatives or the resident paying 'top-up' fees for more expensive accommodation
CHC
If CHC funding is withdrawn at any point, the NHS and local authority will say that you may have to start paying care fees.
If you need further guidance, PayingForCare is an impartial and consumer-friendly website providing information on all aspects of care funding, including local authority assessments, care entitlements, costs of care, ways of paying for care and arranging care for someone else. Visitors have instant access to professional, specialist care fees advice through a live chat service. Please click the following link to access the PayingForCare website.
Payment and funding FAQs
How do I start a claim with my insurance company?
You will need to telephone your insurance company and query whether the type of treatment you need with us (for example, addiction treatment), is covered by your policy. If it is, your insurance company will be able to give you an authorisation code, which you’ll need in order to enter treatment with us.
Can I start an insurance policy to cover this cost?
It’s unlikely that you'll be covered for a pre-existing condition if you commence a new policy.
Is Priory private or NHS?
We provide mental health and eating disorder treatment both privately and through the NHS at Priory.
However, treatment via the NHS can only be accessed by public bodies such as clinical commissioners and mental health trusts. If you would like to know more about the process for accessing treatment on the NHS, your first port of call will be to speak to your GP.
Addiction treatment at Priory can only be accessed through private funding or PMI.
How much does care and rehabilitation at Priory cost?
The cost of treatment at Priory varies depending on lots of different factors, including how long you’ll need to stay with us for, the type of treatment you’ll need and the location of the centre you’re being treated at. Our referrals team can explain all of this to you during your initial call with us.
How long will I be in hospital?
Your treatment plan, including how long you stay in hospital (if an inpatient stay is needed), will be tailored around your unique needs and personal circumstances. Again, you can discuss this in more detail with our referrals team.