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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 Do I Buy Private Medical Insurance?: You can buy private medical insurance from a variety of sources, there are now at least thirty four Insurance companies and many more brokers who specialise in Private Medical Insurance.
What Is Not Covered By Private Medical Insurance?: Private Medical Insurance plans do not cover chronic or critical illnesses which cannot be cured, for example multiple sclerosis, asthma or diabetes.
What Happens If I Have a Medical Emergency?: Medical emergencies are not covered by private medical insurance - if you suffer an accident or are taken ill and rushed to hospital – you will receive normal NHS treatment.
What Happens If I Want To Move To Another Insurer?: If you have a current private medical insurance plan but wish to change to another insurer then it is possible to ensure that you receive a plan on "no worse terms.” This is known in the trade as a CPME plan.

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.