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

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