Our guide on taking out Private Medical Insurance

Whether it’s Private Medical Insurance, car insurance or home insurance, taking out a new policy can be daunting. What questions am I going to be asked? How much information do I need to give? And how long will it take? These are all valid questions that we’re going to answer with our handy sales guide.

Step-by-step we’ll take you through the process of taking out a private medical insurance policy with us and show you how easy it really is.

What is PMI?

Designed to complement the NHS, having a private medical insurance policy can give you access to treatment not on the NHS and allow you to have the choice to select your own specialist, hospital and appointment times.

It also offers the chance to reduce or entirely avoid any waiting lists when it comes to diagnostic tests and treatment. This could help identify diseases and illnesses more quickly and, in turn, allow for faster treatment.

>>Find out more about what health insurance covers

How do I take out a policy?

With just a few details, we can give you an instant quote online. Once you've done this, one of our sales team will be in contact to discuss your estimate.

Or we’re happy to answer any questions and talk you through various options if you wanted to give us a call on 01202 544255.

What questions will I be asked?

In order to ensure you have the right level of cover for your needs, we need to ask all customers some questions. Amongst others, we’ll ask:

• Why you would like to take out PMI?
• When you would like the policy to start?
• Who would you like the policy to cover – for example just you, or your partner and child too?
• A little about your medical history.
• And what cover options you would like.

We also ask which hospital directory you would like to have access to. We have three hospital directories, one allowing you access to 58 hospitals nationwide, the other 150 hospitals and the third – 250 hospitals; including some of the top London hospitals.

What information would I need to have to-hand?

You just need to be able to answer any medical questions about yourself and those that you wish to have covered on the policy. Once you’re happy with everything and ready to pay, you’ll then be asked for your bank account details (you can of course have time to think about it all, before taking out the policy and paying).

If you’re switching from another provider, then make sure to have any of your certificates or documents to hand from your current provider.

How long will the call take?

If it’s the first time we’re talking with you then it can take between 20 - 40 minutes. It all depends on how many people you’d like on the policy and your medical history, and if you yourself have any questions for us.

But we aim to make sure that at the end of the call you’re happy we’ve answered your questions and you have a policy that is right for your/your family’s needs.

What are the frequently asked questions?

Like with any type of insurance you take out, it’s natural to have questions. Of the questions we’re asked we’ve rounded up the most frequently asked:

Does the policy cover A&E?

Although the private sector can help you skip waiting lists and give you access to treatment not available on the NHS, private hospitals still rely on the NHS for primary and emergency care, such as A&E.

How do I claim under the plan?

Making a claim is probably easier than you think. In four easy steps you can have peace of mind that when it comes to claiming you know what to do.

>>Use our step-by-step guide on how to claim

How are the medical bills paid?

Specialists and hospitals normally send their bills to us, so we can pay them directly. If you need to pay an excess, we will let you know how to pay it.

Is there a way to view my documents and track my claims?

We have an online service called Customer Online, where you can view and manage your health insurance policy in a few simple clicks.

You can keep track of your claims, contact us via our online message centre, view all your policy documents and track your policy allowances.

If you’re thinking about taking out a policy with us and want to know how much it would cost, then get a quote online in a few easy steps or give us a call on 01202 544255 and we would be happy to answer any questions.