Full Medical Underwriting vs Moratorium: Which Is Right For You?
When you take out an individual private health insurance policy in the UK, the insurer needs a way to decide what your specific cover will and won’t include. The two main routes are Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) and Moratorium. They’re very different in how they work, when they help, and what surprises they can produce.
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
You complete a detailed medical questionnaire when you apply. The insurer reviews your history, may ask follow-up questions, and then issues a policy with specific exclusions for any conditions they’re not willing to cover.
What you get
- A clear, named list of what’s excluded; written into your policy from day one
- No surprises at claim time about whether something counts as pre-existing
- Stable, predictable cover for everything that isn’t on the exclusion list
What it costs you
- More time and paperwork at application; typically 30-45 minutes of medical questions
- Sometimes a longer turnaround before your policy is issued
- The need to disclose conditions accurately (non-disclosure can void cover)
Best for
People with one or more known conditions who want certainty about what is and isn’t covered. People who’d rather front-load the paperwork than risk a claim dispute. Anyone who values clarity above speed.
Moratorium underwriting
No initial questionnaire. The policy automatically excludes any condition you’ve had symptoms, advice or treatment for in the last five years before joining. Other conditions are covered as normal.
If you go a continuous two-year period on the policy without symptoms, advice or treatment for an excluded condition, it can become eligible for cover from that point on. The exact moratorium period and rules vary by insurer.
What you get
- Quick, easy application; no medical questions to answer
- Conditions can come back into cover after a symptom-free period
- Simpler if your medical history is hard to summarise neatly
What it costs you
- You don’t always know whether something is excluded until you claim
- The insurer reviews your medical records when you claim, and the burden of proof that a condition is “new” is partly on you
- Some conditions never come back into cover (chronic conditions remain excluded)
Best for
People with a clean recent history. People with minor or historic issues they don’t want to revisit. Anyone who values speed and simplicity, and is comfortable with some claim-time uncertainty.
Side-by-side comparison
Application speed: Moratorium is faster. Clarity of cover: FMU wins; you know what’s excluded upfront. Treatment of recent conditions: Both exclude them; only Moratorium has a route back to cover. Paperwork at application: FMU heavier; Moratorium minimal. Paperwork at claim time: Moratorium heavier; FMU minimal. Risk of claim disputes: Higher under Moratorium for borderline cases. Premium: Generally similar; some insurers price slightly differently.
Other underwriting routes
Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME)
Used when switching insurers. The new insurer accepts the same underwriting terms as your old policy, so you don’t lose cover for conditions already accepted. The gold standard for switching.
Medical History Disregarded (MHD)
Used on larger group schemes. Pre-existing conditions are covered without disclosure. Not usually available on individual policies; available on company group schemes from a certain size up.
How to choose
If you have a known condition you want certainty about: choose FMU.
If you have a clean recent history and want simplicity: choose Moratorium.
If you’re switching from another policy: insist on CPME.
If you’re setting up a group scheme of 5+ people: ask about MHD.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Moratorium to FMU later? Some insurers allow this if you ask, but it’s unusual and would typically involve completing the full health questionnaire then.
What happens if I forget to disclose something on FMU? It depends on whether the omission was deliberate. Honest mistakes are usually handled by adding an exclusion. Deliberate non-disclosure can void cover.
Is one cheaper than the other? Premiums are usually similar. The right question is which one fits your situation, not which is cheaper.
How long is the moratorium period for chronic conditions? Chronic conditions usually never come back into cover under Moratorium, regardless of symptom-free periods.
Not sure which route to take? Call 0800 131 0400 or email info@insuredhealth.co.uk and we’ll help you choose.
