You are exactly right. Axa and BUPA are the biggest providers of private healthcare insurance in the UK. It’s like Australia. Sure , you do not have to have private cover but if not, wait in line at a public hospital. This is the clever aspect of their business model. AXA have engaged them to provide medical testing services for certain patients who are at risk of their sickness developing into something more serious. This is good for AXA and the doctors. Doctors get paid by AXA and AXA may reduce claims in later years if problems are detected early. ( As an example, diabetics have a chance of ending up on kidney dialysis. Now that is an expensive treatment for the private health fund ) For them to move into Australia using their UK model it would mean that BUPA or Medibank Private would have to think like AXA in the UK. I think this is a tough sell. They do not provide their services for BUPA in the UK because AXA have locked them into an exclusive.
