Private Medical Insurance

The current government has invested many billions of pounds in recent years to improve the NHS, and there have been improvements in many areas. But if you want a higher standard of healthcare, Private Medical Insurance (PMI) remains an important way to protect you and your family.

Private Medical Insurance (also known as Private Health Insurance) is designed to cover the costs of private medical treatment for what are commonly known as “acute conditions” that start after your policy begins.

Most insurers define an acute condition as a disease, illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and aims to return you to the state of health you were in immediately before suffering the disease, illness or injury, or which leads to your full recovery. Some insurers will cover longer-term conditions like cancer, but you will need check the policy terms.

Although policies can be different, medical treatment usually has to start with a referral by a GP to an appropriate specialist. Before arranging any private treatment you should call your insurance company to check that you are covered for the treatment. You are unlikely to be covered for any pre-existing conditions (conditions from which you are already suffering or have already had). It is also important to remember that Private Medical Insurance is designed to work alongside, not to replace, all the services offered by the NHS. Some services, such as Accident and Emergency, are not available at most private hospitals

Typically, PMI policies will not cover pre-existing conditions, long term or chronic conditions, HIV/AIDS related conditions, cosmetic treatment, outpatient drugs and dressings, among many other things. There are generally two types of policies to choose from; a comprehensive policy and a low cost/budget policy. As a comprehensive policyholder you could expect:

In patient and day case treatment which usually includes:

• Hospital charges including accommodation, nursing care, meals, drugs and dressings;
• Specialist fees;
• Tests including X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans;
• Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy;
• Psychiatric treatment;
• Out patient treatment.

Out patient treatment & benefits which usually includes:

• Consultations with a Specialist;
• Nursing at home;
• Private ambulance;
• Complementary medicine;
• Minor surgery.

A budget policy will not usually include outpatient treatment or complementary medicine. You can also keep costs down though by agreeing to pay a larger share of the claim cost or by being less constrained on your hospital choices.

If you already have cover in place let us quote you from the whole of the PMI market and see if we can save you some money!!