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What Exactly Is Private Medical Insurance (PMI)?: Private Medical Insurance (or Private Health Insurance as it is sometimes known) insures you against the costs of private medical treatment for curable short-term or ‘acute' medical conditions.
How does private medical insurance work?: Private Medical Insurance is exactly like car insurance or home insurance. It is only there in case you need it. Once you have chosen your policy, you will pay your premiums on a yearly, quarterly or monthly basis, whichever suits you best.
How Does ‘excess' Work In Medical Insurance?: When you take out a private medical insurance policy, you may be able to choose to include an ‘excess' payment. This means that if you make a claim you will have to pay this set amount towards the total cost of the claim.
Can I Get Private Medical Insurance If I Am Disabled?: You can still get private medical insurance if you are disabled. Insurance companies are not allowed to refuse you on this basis.
How Do I Make a Claim?: When you receive your insurance documents, you will receive a full client information pack with Insurance Certificate, Claims Forms and Help line Card, with a range of contact numbers.

How does private medical insurance work?

Private Medical Insurance is exactly like car insurance or home insurance. It is only there in case you need it. Once you have chosen your policy, you will pay your premiums on a yearly, quarterly or monthly basis, whichever suits you best.

If you have an accident or fall ill with one of the conditions included in your medical insurance policy, then you will be able, once you have been referred to your GP for an initial diagnosis, to start using the benefits of your private medical insurance. Once you have checked with your insurance company and are sure that you are covered, you will be referred to a private consultant rather than a NHS consultant, who will take care of your case and ensure that you receive any treatment or surgery privately. You will either be reimbursed or your insurance company will pay the medical bills from the outset, depending on their usual policy.

You may be offered the option to take up a Voluntary Excess on your insurance, agreeing a sum that means if you make a claim, you will pay the agreed amount towards it. This could be £100 or more. The benefit to you is that your insurance premiums will be lower.