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What does Private Health Insurance Protect Me Against?
When it comes to insurance policies many of us often get lost amongst the small print and confused by all the technical jargon and finer details, but when it comes to private health insurance a clear understanding of exactly what our money is buying is essential.  
In order to gain a better understanding of private medical insuranceit is important to start at the very beginning, and understand what a private medical insurance policy is designed to cover. 
Private medical insurance or PMI is essentially a policy where you pay an agreed sum of money to an insurance company which will cover medical treatment in the result that you or your loved ones need it. Insurance policies provide cover against an unexpected event happening after the start of the policy. In health insurance this means cover for the cost of private health treatment for unforeseen medical conditions arising after your policy starts. 
The does not however mean that all conditions and operations are covered as there will be clear limitations outlined. Typically, a private medical insurance providers will not cover you for any pre-existing medical conditions. A pre-existing medical condition is any condition that you have before you take out a health insurance policy. " 
There are certain conditions and limitations that may apply when it comes to private health insurance including treatment for HIV and AIDS, treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, cosmetic surgery, any injury that had occurred from participation in dangerous or extreme sports and, most importantly, conditions and symptoms which were in existence before the start of the policy (pre-existing conditions).  
All conditions or exclusions will be provided by your health insurance provider so be sure to check all the details of your policy thoroughly before you enter into any agreement. Remember private medical insurance covers most unforeseen conditions or ailments but you will not be covered for a condition that is previous to your policy.  
Underwriting is the process by which an insurer decides on what terms it will accept a person for cover based on the information they supply. There are usually two ways of applying for cover, Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) and Moratorium Underwriting (MOR). FMU is based on completing a health questionnaire enabling your insurer to understand your medical history. They will then review your details and decide on the basis on which they will accept you for cover. With Moratorium you do not need to fill out a health questionnaire. Instead any pre-existing conditions are automatically excluded for which you may have received treatment/medication for, asked advice on, or had symptoms of for a period immediately before your cover started.  
The key to taking out health insurance is to do your homework properly. Try to have a good understanding as to what you expect from a policy and remember to talk through any queries or areas you are unsure of with a customer advisor. Finally, take your time, study the policy details, and ensure that you know the benefits and limitations so that you know exactly what you are and are not covered against.  
 
See for yourself just how competitive our products are. Simply take a few moments to answer some questions and you’ll be surprised at how affordable private health insurance can be.
You can always call us on 0800 917 4325 (calls will be recorded)
Civil Service Healthcare Society Limited incorporated in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Princess House, Horace Rd, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. KT1 2SL.
FSA reg. no. 205346.