Buying
Private Medical Insurance
12. Your private medical insurance checklist
Before you
buy private medical insurance, you need to understand the following:
1. You agree
to give the insurance company all the information they need. If you don't
give accurate details, your insurance company can refuse to pay your claim
or could cancel your policy.
2. You agree
to pay regular monthly or yearly premiums as long as you want cover. If
you don't pay premiums, your cover will stop. Your insurance company will
only pay for costs you have paid, or agreed to pay up to the last date
covered by your premiums.
3. The cost
of your premiums may increase once a year when you renew your cover. Your
individual premiums are not influenced by the number of claims you make
(unless your cover includes a no-claims discount).
4. If your
insurance company plans on making changes and improvements to a scheme,
all customers will be told before they renew. This will not prevent you
continuing your cover.
5. If you
change insurance companies, you may not be covered for conditions or treatments
that your existing policy covers.
Once you
have received your policy, read it carefully. Read your policy document
carefully, you must keep to its terms and conditions.
However,
if you did not receive all the policy documents before you decided to
buy the policy, you will be given a cooling-off period, of around two
to four weeks, in which you can make sure the policy is right for you.
If you decide
not to go ahead you will usually receive a full refund of premiums you
have already paid, unless you have made a claim.
If you want
to cancel your policy after the cooling-off period, your insurance company
does not have to refund your premiums - even those you have paid up front.
Private Medical Insurance Guide:
1. About
this guide
2. What is private medical insurance?
3. How do I buy private medical insurance?
4. How do I choose the right cover?
5. What am I covered for? What does my
cover not include?
6. What will affect my premiums?
7. Will I need to provide details of my
health?
8. Will my cover be affected if I am disabled?
9. How do I make a claim?
10. How is private medical insurance controlled?
11. What if I want to change to a new
insurance company?
12. Your private medical insurance checklist
13. Useful addresses
