Private Health (PMI) · UK Research

Private medical insurance, without the jargon.

Q: What does private medical insurance cover?

PMI typically covers prompt private diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions: consultations, tests, surgery, hospital stays and often cancer cover. It generally excludes chronic long-term conditions, emergencies (handled by the NHS), pre-existing conditions depending on underwriting, and routine pregnancy.

Q: What is the difference between moratorium and full medical underwriting?

With moratorium underwriting you answer no medical questions, but conditions from the last few years are excluded until you have been symptom-free for a set period. With full medical underwriting you declare your history upfront and get clarity on exactly what is covered from day one.

Q: How can I lower my PMI premium?

Add a voluntary excess, choose a guided or limited hospital list, drop optional modules you do not need, and consider a six-week NHS-wait option that only goes private if NHS waiting times are long. Shopping around at renewal also helps.

Private medical insurance buys speed and choice alongside the NHS — faster diagnosis, quicker treatment and a private room. We explain what PMI does and doesn’t cover, the underwriting choices, and the levers that bring the premium down.

What affects the price What we cover

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Quick answer

The essentials in 30 seconds

What it is: insurance that pays for private diagnosis and treatment of acute (curable) conditions, outside NHS waiting lists.
What it isn’t: a replacement for the NHS — emergencies and most chronic conditions stay with the NHS.
Key choice: moratorium (no medical questions, recent conditions excluded) vs full medical underwriting (declare upfront, clarity from day one).
Price levers: excess, hospital list, optional modules and a six-week NHS-wait option.

Pricing

What drives a PMI premium

Factor	Effect on price
Age	Premiums rise with age as claims become more likely
Excess	A higher voluntary excess lowers the premium
Hospital list	Full London lists cost more than guided or local lists
Optional modules	Outpatient, dental, optical and mental-health add-ons increase cost
Underwriting & history	Your medical history and the underwriting type shape cover and price

Indicative drivers for orientation only — not a quote.

Our research

What our private health section covers

How much private health insurance costs
What PMI covers and excludes
Moratorium vs full medical underwriting
Family and couples cover
Cutting your premium without losing protection
Company schemes and switching providers

Looking to protect income rather than health costs? See income protection.

Common questions

Private health FAQs

Is private health insurance worth it with the NHS?

It depends how much you value speed and choice. PMI gets you faster diagnosis and planned treatment and avoids waiting lists, but the NHS still covers emergencies and much else. If quick access to consultants matters to you, it can be worth the premium.

Does PMI cover pre-existing conditions?

Usually not at the start. Under moratorium underwriting, conditions you had in the recent past are excluded until you have been symptom-free and treatment-free for a set period, often two years. Full medical underwriting tells you exactly what is excluded upfront.

How do I reduce the premium?

Add a voluntary excess, pick a guided hospital list, drop modules you do not need, and consider a six-week option that only goes private when NHS waits are long. Reviewing cover at renewal each year also keeps the price in check.

Information only — not financial advice. My Insurance Expert is not an FCA-authorised intermediary and does not arrange or sell policies. Last updated: 2026-06-13

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