What are the different types of health insurance plans?
Understanding the different types of health insurance plans available will help you to determine what you need. There are many insurers offering complex health insurance products, it can become very confusing. So, before starting to shop around for products, it's important to understand the what the common types of health and protection insurance available in the UK are, as outlined in the table below:
| Insurance cover type |
What it provides cover for |
| Private Medical Insurance (PMI) |
The cost of treatment at private clinics and hospitals for acute conditions, i.e. curable, short term diseases, illnesses or injuries. Normally includes in-patient tests, surgery, hospital accommodation, theatre time and nursing, diagnostic tests and medical consultations. May also include, out-patient testing and consultations with specialists, overseas cover, cash payments for treatment received as an NHS in-patient, additional sickness and accident cover. |
| Critical Illness |
A lump sum is paid if you are diagnosed with, or die from, a critical illness, definitions of critical illness vary between insurers, the policy will only insure you for the critical illness it specifies. |
| Income Protection |
Provides a monthly income if you are unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or accidental injury. |
| Overseas Medical Insurance |
Similar costs as covered by PMI for while you are overseas. May also include cover for returning home for a funeral. The country you are visiting, the length of your stay and the type of cover you need will affect the type of cover you can get. |
Once you've determined which type of health insurance cover you need, think about the type of policy you want. The table below details the two different ways you can set up a health insurance policy:
| Policy type |
How it works |
Summary |
| Moratorium |
You don't have to disclose any of your medical history, only basic personal information. All pre-existing conditions you have now or have had in the previous 5 years will be excluded.
If you remain free of a pre-existing condition i.e. it hasn't required any treatment, medication, tests and advice for a period of time (usually 2 years), it may be possible to be covered for this when the policy is 2 years old. |
You don't know what you are covered for until you make a claim, at which point you will be required to provide full medical details for assessment. Your claim may or may not be accepted as a result. |
| Full medical underwritten |
You provide your full medical history upfront before taking out the policy. This is assessed and the insurer provides you with a registration certificate listing all your policy exclusions, so you know what you are covered for before the policy starts. |
This option can take more time to apply for but you know what you are covered for, before you make a claim. |
Download the Health Insurance PDF Guide here - see our other free PDF guides here
Guide Contents
What is health insurance?
Why you might need private health insurance
What are the different types of health insurance plans?
Shopping around for your health insurance cover
Health Care Insurance, How to Apply
Health Insurance FAQs - Questions and Information
UK Health Insurance, where can I go to get more help?
main menu << previous page next page >>
