Guide to Private Medical Insurance

What is Private Medical Insurance?

Private Medical Insurance (PMI) covers the costs of private medical treatment. This cover provides peace of mind and the reassurance of knowing that if you become ill or injured, then treatment is available promptly, without having to spend months on an NHS waiting list.

With Private Medical Insurance, you can often choose which hospital you wish to be treated at, the specialist that treats you and a date and time that is convenient to you.

Private Medical Insurance does not cover the care for all aspects of your health that are provided by the NHS. For example, the NHS is usually required for accident and emergency situations as private hospitals usually do not provide these services.

What are the benefits of Private Medical Insurance?

There are a number of benefits to getting private health insurance, such as:

• Having a choice of hospital
• Prompt treatment with no waiting lists
• Treatment at a time that's convenient for you
• A choice of specialist

How do I choose the right Private Medical Insurance?

There are a lot of things to consider when applying for Private Medical Insurance and trying to decide which type of cover is best for you. Most providers of Private Medical Insurance offer different levels of cover, such as bronze, silver, and gold, so that you can choose the level that's right for you.

The level you choose can affect such aspects of care as being
able to see a specialist as an out-patient and having a choice of hospitals rather than a limited range chosen by your insurance provider. Policies are available for:

• Individuals
• Couples
• Families
• People over 50

How much does Private Medical Insurance cost?

How much it costs you to get Private Medical Insurance will depend on your personal circumstances and which level of cover you choose. Lower level schemes will be cheaper, but will only offer basic or essential cover. For more money and complete peace of mind, the higher level schemes will provide comprehensive cover.

There are also certain aspects of your life which will determine how much your premiums are, such as your age, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, whether you are a smoker/non-smoker and your diet and general health.

We search the UK's top health insurers...