There are both private medical care and state-funded provision in the UK. The majority of medical services in Britain are provided by the NHS. This service is paid for through taxation and is cost free at delivery point. Although this medical care is thought to be good, waiting times can often be long for some operations and procedures.

Private medical insurance usually means you can get treated quicker than going on the NHS. But make sure you check what is and is not covered. Like all insurance the cover you get varies, but basic private medical insurance may pick up the costs of most in-patient treatments, including 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.

However, you can’t take out cover now for treatment you know you are going to need. If you have had health problems in the past, also known as 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.


Also, the private medical insurance policy 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.

In order to keep cost down you need to shop around. It is 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. 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.