There are Three Main Types of PMI Policy

Low cost policies typically provide comprehensive cover only if the treatment isn't available from the NHS within six weeks. A budget policy will not usually include outpatient treatment or complementary therapy or physiotherapy.

Comprehensive policies are the standard policies that usually include hospital stays, surgeon, nursing and anaesthetist costs, X-rays, outpatient and day-care treatment linked to hospital stays.

Premium policies offer additions to comprehensive policies, such as critical illness cover, cover overseas, dental cover and a hospital cash plan.

Exclusions:

If you have 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.

"You can't take out cover now for treatment you know you're going to need"

It 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 insurers 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.  

If you would like to know more about how The Medical Insurance Advisory Bureau can help you with this, please complete our online enquiry forms and one of our associate advisers will contact you. Alternatively you can call us on 01438 730210