| The rules of the forces healthcare scheme actually | | | | Another common situation is what to do if you leave |
| allow service personnel and their partner to remain on | | | | the military with your BUPA, but are then offered |
| the scheme until the service person reaches 65 years | | | | retired military healthcare by a new employer. |
| of age. It does not matter what future employment is | | | | One has to be very careful about accepting this offer. |
| gained, if any. As long as you join before you take out | | | | In the short term it may sound inviting but it could be |
| membership of the BUPA HM Forces private medical | | | | disadvantageous over the long term. If you come off |
| insurance scheme before you leave the military you | | | | your military healthcare BUPA scheme and join a |
| are entitled to keep the forces discount. Children are | | | | company scheme, when you then leave that company |
| allowed to remain on the scheme until the next annual | | | | you will be unable to access the BUPA forces |
| renewal, July the first, following their 21st birthday. This | | | | discount when your employment with them ceases. |
| can be extended to their 24th birthday if they are in full | | | | This is because when you attempt to rejoin you will be |
| time education i.e. university. | | | | a civvy and therefore will not be able to rejoin. It is |
| At 65 years of age you would then have the option of | | | | better to stay on your own personal policy, pick up the |
| transferring to the HM Forces BUPA Care retirement | | | | forces insurance discount, and say you your employer |
| scheme. This is the same scheme i.e. BUPACare, but | | | | that you would rather have higher pay as you have |
| with two differences. The discount is currently 40% | | | | your own insurance or take a different benefit from |
| and thus your premiums will be slightly higher. Secondly | | | | them, perhaps a car. Coming in and out of insurers is |
| the scheme looses the overseas cover. | | | | dangerous as you will be re-underwritten at each turn. |