An introduction to what's insured and what's not; the cost and how to save money. If you've not had Private Medical Insurance before, you'll find it a useful read.

Private Medical Insurance - An Introduction. Page 2

Author: Michael Challiner

Persuade your employer to pay!

Around 450,000 people in the UK have medical insurance { mortgages }provided by their

Your employer may well be able to negotiate bulk discounts or more generous terms with the insurance company and dental care may also be included.

By the way, you should be aware that Private Medical Insurance is taxable benefit if you earn above a certain amount a year.

This disadvantage of a Group Scheme is that if you leave your employer, you'll have to start a new policy for yourself or persuade your new employer to follow suit. Try making it part of your negotiations to join the business.

Your medical history

When you apply you'll usually have to complete a comprehensive medical questionnaire. The insurer is looking for evidence of your general state of health and key will be your past illnesses and operations. Don't surprised if the insurer then wants a report from your GP.

If you have a medical condition that could recur or have had a significant illness in the past, the insurer often agree to provide cover but will exclude those conditions. Alternatively, you may be offered a moratorium system. This excludes cover for any conditions that you have suffered from for typically five years, until you have had two symptom-free years - although the numbers of years does vary between insurers.

But always remember the golden rule - be totally truthful on your application form. Never miss out or be tempted to "forget" to include any details of any { mortgage quotes } visit, referral or treatment you've had. If you do, you leave yourself open to having your claim invalidated. You may think that being "economical with the truth" will lower your premium but that's useless if a subsequent claim is rejected on the basis of non-disclosure.

Claiming

If your GP tells you that you need treatment, he'll arrange a private appointment with a consultant. When you see the consultant, get a quote for the treatment and then contact your insurer to confirm you're covered. You'd be well advised not to start the treatment until you have your insurers confirmation that they'll meet the cost.

You also should check out whether you have to pay first and then claim back or whether your insurer settles bills direct with the hospital.