Private Medical Insurance
Private Medical Insurance
Protect Yourself with Private Health Insurance
Competitive Health specialises in finding the right private individual health insurance for customers just like you. When you compare individual health insurance plans with us, we search our panel of health insurers to bring you the best policy at the best price.
Whether you want comprehensive health insurance cover for you and your family, or just a policy to insure the essentials, Competitive Health can help you find best individual health care insurance plans for you.
Why Private Medical Insurance (PMI)?
Getting ill is stressful enough without having to worry about long wait times and NHS queues for treatment.
Having an individual health insurance policy in place can give you the peace of mind that you won't have to wait for any treatment, procedures or care you may need, as the cost of private treatment is covered by your PMI policy.
What Conditions Does Private Health Insurance Cover?
If you’re fit and healthy, private medical insurance covers most acute medical conditions. Commonly covered conditions include:
-Cancer including palliative care, diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc.
-Heart disease including aftercare cover
-Stroke aftercare
-Sports injuries unless you’re a professional sports person
-Mental health issues including counselling and psychiatric care
-Complementary therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy
-Alternative therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, etc.
Exclusions
All insurers have exclusions, which explicitly state what isn't covered by their health insurance policies. Generally, these exclusions include anything that will only ever be dealt with by the NHS – including:
-Accident and emergency
-Chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes
-HIV & Aids
-War, riots and terrorism
-Dangerous sports such as base jumping, snowboarding, etc.
Each insurer has its own list of exclusions, and our expert advisers will happily talk you through what is and isn't included for any policy we sell.
Protect Your Staff With Corporate Health Insurance
Business health insurance policies provide private treatment for your staff, to enable them to return to work as quickly as possible after illness or injury.
Our leading UK business health insurance providers include award-winning insurers that offer policyholder benefits such as discounted gym membership, hotels and flights on both small business health insurance plans and corporate health insurance plans alike.
Competitive Health specialises in finding the right corporate health insurance for business owners and managers just like you. We search our panel of health insurers to compare business health insurance quotes and bring you the best PMI cover for your employees at the best possible price.
Whether you want comprehensive private health insurance cover for your staff or just the essentials, Competitive Health can help.
Perhaps you're a first-time buyer of business health insurance, or maybe you’re looking to compare your current cover against the market to see if you can save money on renewal, our knowledgeable, friendly advisers have the skills and expertise to find the right business health insurance policy for your company and employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What extra benefits can I get with private medical insurance?
Some insurers offer benefits and discounts to incentivise policyholders to stay healthy. These include: 1) discounts at high street retailers, 2) discounts on luxury weekend breaks and family holidays, 3) up to 50% off gym membership (including Virgin Active and David Lloyd) and weight loss group fees, and 4) 20% off car hire.
Will private medical insurance cover my present condition?
In short, no. Private health insurance won’t cover any pre-existing condition straight away. However, after a set period of time – usually two years – your insurance may cover that condition, providing certain criteria are met.
What are chronic conditions, and are they covered by my insurance?
Chronic conditions are long-term ailments – such as asthma and diabetes – that are considered incurable, but which can be controlled with regular medication. As chronic conditions can generally be managed by the NHS, they are rarely covered by private health care insurance.
What is the best way to buy private medical insurance (PMI)?
As an intermediary, we naturally believe our approach is the best way to buy PMI. Simply fill out a short quote form and one of our knowledgeable, expert advisers will contact you to offer FREE advice, guidance and a no-obligation quote based on your personal circumstances. This process enables us to tailor your quote to your exact requirements, and find the PMI policy that best suits your needs, and your budget.
How much does PMI cover cost, and what affects the price I pay?
PMI premiums vary greatly from person to person, as they’re based on a range of factors including your age, your postcode, the underwriting method, and the level of cover you require. Some insurers offer a no-claims discount, which works in the same way as your home or car insurance – as a reward for not making a claim on your policy.
Other insurers offer discounts for non-smokers, and customers with a health body mass index (BMI). Our expert advisers can provide more details on the discounts provided by our recommended insurers.
We compare thousands of policies from the UK’s leading insurers to save you money on comprehensive private medical insurance for you, your family, and your employees. Contact us today for the best private medical insurance cover at the best possible price.
Do premiums increase with age? How much will they increase by every year?
In general, premiums increase every year as you age. The amount they increase by depends on your insurer, and other factors such as your claims history.
I have a limited budget – are there any options available to me?
Yes. PMI plans can be tailored to suit your exact needs. All PMI policies have different options that you can add or exclude to fit your budget, such as reducing your outpatient cover or adding a six-week option. Another way to make your premiums more affordable is to add an optional excess.
Are there things no PMI insurer will cover?
All insurers have a standard list of ‘general exclusions’ that they don’t cover. These can include: HIV/Aids, war, riots, self-inflicted ailments and chronic conditions. For example, alcohol and drug addictions are excluded because all insurers classify them as self-inflicted.
Which private health insurance provider is the best for senior citizens?
No insurer specialises in senior cover, however, all insurers offer policies that cover ailments an older person may develop. The insurer that’s best for you depends on your personal circumstances.
If I take out private medical insurance, can I see a private GP?
Some policies allow you to see a private GP quickly, but this will increase your premium. Some insurers now offer virtual GP services as standard, which enables you to see a GP via Skype without increasing your premium.
What are the different types of underwriting?
Moratorium underwriting – sometimes called mori – doesn’t require you to divulge any medical history. This option excludes pre-existing conditions you’ve had for five years before starting the policy, meaning anything you’ve had symptoms of, treatment or medication for, or advice about within the past five years. After a two year period, provided certain conditions are met, these conditions may be covered.
Full medical underwriting requires you to disclose full details of previous and current medical conditions, and any medication you are taking.
The insurer may then choose to exclude these conditions from your cover – however, no medical is required.