| Being treated in a private hospital has been seen | | | | invalidate any claims that the holder may wish to |
| in an increasingly positive light and has raised the | | | | take out. |
| number of private medical insurance (PMI) policies, | | | | The Association of British Insurers (ABI) however, |
| that are being taken out by patients, as the | | | | noted that treatments relating to HIV/Aids, |
| treatment, care and MRSA infection risks that are | | | | gender reassignment and infertility were not |
| apparent throughout NHS hospitals worries a large | | | | covered by PMI policies. Also excluded from the |
| number of people. | | | | standard policies, were dental treatment and |
| A survey conducted by Saga Private Medical | | | | organ transplants, however some insurance |
| Insurance also noted that more than two thirds | | | | providers were found to provide cover for such |
| of people noted that the cleanliness - or more | | | | treatments. |
| correctly, the lack there of - in NHS hospitals was | | | | The ABI has released clarifications on |
| worrying and made them choose private medical | | | | non-disclosure rules that will make it harder for |
| services. Moreover BUPA, a health insurance | | | | insurers to refuse claims. However policy holders |
| provider noted that there was a 20 per cent | | | | have been warned that it is still easy for people |
| increase in the sales level of PMI, in the first | | | | to be caught out. |
| quarter of this year than in the same period in | | | | Medical history |
| 2007. | | | | Michael Vine, of Michael Vine & Co, the |
| However these PMI are found to cover only a | | | | solicitors, says: "Insurers want to know your |
| certain amount of medical procedures and people, | | | | medical history, which you detail on a proposal |
| so the question of its necessity is in the minds of | | | | form. Even if you complete this to the best of |
| key industry figures. What is and is not covered | | | | your knowledge, it is difficult to remember every |
| depends on individual PMI policies; however they | | | | reason for obtaining medical advice or treatment |
| are generally designed to cover acute conditions | | | | for the period requested. If you fail to disclose |
| such as disease, illness or injury that can be | | | | something - no matter how apparently irrelevant - |
| treated fully. | | | | for the period, they could refuse your claim." |
| The benefits of PMI are that the policy holder can | | | | Mr Vine suggests that you authorise your |
| be treated quickly, the can also have a choice of | | | | proposed insurer to examine your medical records |
| specialists and hospitals, where they are to | | | | at the time of application, adding: "This might help |
| receive the treatment. | | | | in the event of a claim dispute if the insurer |
| PMI policies | | | | subsequently alleges non-disclosure." |
| The biggest exclusion clause on PMI polices is for | | | | A spokesman for Tesco, which recently started |
| pre-existing medical conditions, in patients. On | | | | selling medical insurance, says: "The last thing |
| most occasions, medical conditions that have been | | | | anybody wants is to be surprised with a nasty bill |
| suffered during the five years before a PMI policy | | | | for an expensive procedure. If our customers are |
| is take out, will not be covered. Also | | | | worried that their insurance might not provide |
| non-disclosure of any previous conditions could | | | | cover for any treatment, we advise them to call |
| also make the insurance policy invalid and | | | | a helpline for clarification. |