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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.
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 Does The Term ‘in-patient' Mean?: This is the term that most private medical insurance policies use for hospital treatment that requires a stay of one or more nights.
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.

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.

This is because most private hospitals do not have accident and emergency facilities. Also, in an emergency there is no time to make the distinction between private and NHS care.

After the emergency has passed, you may well be eligible to make a claim on your insurance and receive your after-care privately. You will then be transferred either to a private ward within an NHS hospital, or to a private hospital to receive the rest of your treatment, and to be returned to full health.