When you search online for a private medical insurance quote for yourself and your family, it is important to bear in mind that there are a large number of factors that will affect the premium price that you are initially offered. When you are filling out the PMI quote form, you will usually be asked for your date of birth, the number of people insured, and whether you are a smoker. However, your medical history is also going to be a defining factor in the cost of your private medical insurance (and indeed, in the level of coverage you are offered), so it is important that you use the quote you receive for private medical insurance as a starting point in your research.
Once you have received your private medical insurance quote, and you have requested further policy details from the insurer, you will be contacted by a representative of the insurer. This person will take further details from you, and ask you if you would be prepared to disclose your full medical history for health insurance purposes. This is known as ‘full medical underwriting’ and if you proceed down this route, your policy costs can be tailored to your specific history and health needs. Unfortunately, many insurers will not cover pre-existing medical conditions, so if an existing illness comes to light during an examination of your medical history, your private medical insurance quote will not include treatment for this condition. When you are shopping around for private medical insurance quotes, it is important to decide in advance whether you are prepared to disclose your medical history, or whether you would prefer to go down this moratorium route.