Private Health Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions
Yes, you can get UK private medical insurance with a pre-existing condition. The condition usually won’t be covered straight away, but depending on the underwriting route you take, it can sometimes become eligible for cover later, and unrelated conditions are covered as normal from day one.
Insured Health helps people with pre-existing conditions find the right route into cover. Call 0800 131 0400 or email info@insuredhealth.co.uk.
What counts as a pre-existing condition
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue you’ve had symptoms of, sought advice for, taken medication for, or received treatment for before your policy starts. It doesn’t matter whether it was formally diagnosed; the trigger is the symptom or the consultation.
Common examples: high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, previous joint problems, back pain you’ve seen a GP about, or treatment for anxiety or depression in the last few years.
The two main underwriting routes
UK insurers offer two main approaches for individual policies:
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
You complete a detailed health questionnaire upfront. The insurer reviews your history and either accepts your application as-is, applies specific exclusions for named conditions, or in rare cases declines cover.
The big advantage: you know exactly what is and isn’t covered before you pay a penny. The disadvantage: it takes longer and can feel intrusive.
Moratorium Underwriting
No initial questionnaire. Instead, the policy automatically excludes any condition you’ve had symptoms of, advice for, or treatment for in the last five years before joining.
If you go a continuous two-year period on the policy with no symptoms, advice or treatment for that condition, it can become eligible for cover. The exact moratorium period varies by insurer; some are stricter than others.
The advantage: faster application, no upfront paperwork. The disadvantage: you don’t always know whether something is excluded until you claim, and the burden of proof at claim time is on you.
Which route should you choose?
Roughly:
- FMU works best for people with a known condition they want clarity on, and people who’d rather front-load the paperwork than risk a claim dispute.
- Moratorium works best for people with minor or historic issues who don’t want to revisit them, and people who haven’t seen a doctor in years.
We talk you through both routes when we quote.
Conditions that are usually permanently excluded
Some conditions are typically excluded for life on a standard PMI policy regardless of underwriting route:
- Chronic conditions that can be managed but not cured (diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, multiple sclerosis)
- HIV-related illness on most standard policies
- Conditions related to substance misuse
- Routine pregnancy and childbirth (complications may be covered)
There are specialist insurers and tailored solutions for some of these; get in touch and we’ll explore options.
Switching with a pre-existing condition
If you already have PMI with a condition that’s been accepted, you can usually switch to a new insurer on a Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) basis, which preserves the original underwriting terms. We specialise in CPME switches.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get rejected for having a pre-existing condition? Almost never. The condition will usually be excluded, but the rest of you is still insurable. Outright declines are rare.
Can I add a condition back to cover later? Sometimes. On Moratorium policies, conditions can become eligible after a symptom-free period. On FMU policies, you can ask for a review if your condition has resolved.
Should I disclose everything? Yes. On FMU policies, non-disclosure can void your cover. On Moratorium, it’s less critical at application, but the insurer will look at your medical records when you claim.
Are mental health conditions treated as pre-existing? Yes, in the same way as physical conditions. Recent treatment or therapy will usually be excluded, but unrelated future episodes can sometimes be covered.
Want help navigating underwriting? Call 0800 131 0400 or email info@insuredhealth.co.uk.
