How is Group Private Medical Insurance Taxed?
Question asked by Emma Collins
I have been considering Health Insurance. Speaking to friends, I understand that pre-existing medical conditions are likely to be excluded from cover. What do they consider serious enough to be excluded?
A pre-existing medical condition can be defined as a condition which an individual received care, treatment or medical advice for before taking our their Private Health Insurance.
It is true pre-existing medical conditions tend not to be covered under a private health insurance plan.
At application stage there are two routes you are able to take in terms of underwriting to confirm what, if any condition can be considered pre-existing and excluded from the plan.
The first option is to underwrite the plan on a moratorium basis.
Moratorium underwriting simply means you agree to set up the plan on the basis that any medical condition you have suffered in the past 5 years would not be covered for at least the first two years of the plan.
If in those first two years of holding the policy you do not suffer or receive treatment for a particular pre-existing condition it may then be re-included within your plan at your insurer’s discretion.
Alternatively, the health plan can be fully medically underwritten (FMU).
With Full Medical Underwriting you declare your medical history and any existing or past conditions at the application stage. The insurer will review your current state of health and a decision will be made whether to exclude any health conditions from your private medical insurance.
If you have suffered any pre-existing conditions, we’d usually recommend having a conversation with one of our expert advisers. They’re best-placed to compare the entire UK market to find you a policy most suited to your medical history and circumstances.