private medical insurance

Every UK resident is entitled to free healthcare from the NHS, but you may consider buying health insurance so that you can have a choice in the level of care you get. You don't have to take out health insurance but think about how you'd be able to afford medical treatment if you didn't want to use the NHS.

Like all insurance the cover you get varies – but basic private medical insurance may pick up the costs of most in-patient treatments (tests and surgery) and day-care surgery, and some extend to out-patient treatments (such as specialists and consultants).

Cover can be purchased on a full medical underwriting basis, which means you will be asked a number of questions about your health and, based on the information you provide, the insurer will decide the conditions of your cover. You can also apply for cover on a moratorium basis, which means you will not be asked any questions about your health, but if you have suffered from any health conditions in the last five years, these will automatically be excluded from cover initially.

What isn't covered

You can't take out cover now for treatment you know you're going to need.
If you've had health problems in the past (pre-existing conditions), your insurer may also exclude those conditions from your cover. If you are asked to disclose these when applying for the insurance you must do so, or you could invalidate your policy, which means the insurance company won't pay out if you make a claim.
It does not cover the treatment of chronic medical conditions. There are various definitions of chronic conditions depending on the policy, but broadly it is a long-term medical condition which is likely to continue to need regular or periodic treatment.
Some exclude certain types of treatments such as out-patient treatments, routine treatments (such as health checks), dental care or experimental treatments.
Most also exclude routine pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, fertility treatment, mental or psychiatric conditions, and elective treatments you may choose to have, such as cosmetic surgery.

Keeping costs down
Let us shop around for you – it's a competitive market out there and both cover and costs vary from company to company. Many policies have a standard excess charge which means you agree to pay the first part of any claim, for example the first £50 or £100. If you agree to pay a higher excess you might get a cheaper policy. Or you could choose cover that only kicks in if NHS services are not available within a certain timeframe.

Be clear about what you need. You may not want the highest level of cover. We will always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price. Some may be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.