PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE
The NHS offers a service of which we are all proud, however, with the funding difficulties now being experienced and the increasing costs of medical treatment, you may be considering arranging your own private medical insurance.

You may think that private medical insurance is expensive or be confused with the many different companies offering this type of insurance and the variety of plans available. Private medical insurance can be arranged to protect yourself and your family at low cost. You decide the level of cover which you can afford and we help you to choose the provider who offers you the best combination of wide cover at an affordable price.

We help you to understand the phrases which are used to make sure you know exactly what protection is offered by your policy.

A selection of these are offered below:

	Moratorium This means that the insurance company who arrange your policy will not pay for private medical care for treatment relating to any medical condition which occurred up to five years prior to the policy starting. After a specified period, usually two years if no further treatment has been required, then the medical condition will be included within the policy.
	Medically Underwritten An alternative to arranging a policy subject to a moratorium is to use an insurance company who require full details of your medical history. They are able to clearly state which medical conditions are included within the policy and you will be reassured that, in the event of a claim, there will be no concerns regarding payment of the hospital bills.
	Excess By paying a small amount of your treatment yourself, it is possible to reduce the premium which you pay each year. The amount of your excess varies and is usually between £100 to £500 per claim in each policy year.

Costs
You choose the policy which is best for you and your family.

The cost depends on:
Where you live and the type of hospital you prefer – if you choose one of the major teaching hospitals in a city, it is likely to cost more than a hospital in the provinces.

You may decide that you don’t need to include some forms of complimentary treatment, for example, homeopathy or a chiropractor, which will reduce the cost.

If you decide to pay an excess then this will mean that the premium will be lower

There are many ways to ensure that your policy is arranged to meet the medical needs of you, your family and your budget.