UK Health Insurance and Pre Existing Conditions

UK Health Insurance and Pre Existing Conditions

Health insurance, like any form of insurance, is a business. And the prime motivation for doing any business is to make a profit. All forms of insurance are based on what is often called the "theory of large numbers" or more prosaically, "the law of averages." What this means is that insurance companies continually recalculate the percentage of policy holders who may make a claim against them.

This is done using advanced mathematical modeling techniques. As long as the payment of claims is less that the premiums received the company is making an operating profit. Premiums are based on these percentages which is why they increase with age and the greater chances of death and sickness.

Keeping this rationale in mind, the question of being able to take health insurance to cover pre existing conditions (health problems that existed before you took the policy) does not normally arise. An insurance company will be foolish to sell a policy for £100 knowing that the policy holder has a medical problem that will require hospital bills running into many thousands of pounds.

Having said this, there are exceptions to the rule which will depend both on the nature of the pre existing condition and the insurance company policies. Make sure you ask the insurance company how you can obtain a policy, your pre existing condition notwithstanding. Sometimes a higher premium may be charged of perhaps a policy maybe issued with special exclusions that limit the insurance company's liabilities in the case of any expenses connected with the pre existing condition. A policy may be issued that will exclude coverage of a pre existing condition for a set period of time, after which, if the illness has not reoccurred, it will automatically be included in the policy.

Chronic conditions or those known to reoccur are usually never covered because by their very nature they will keep returning.

It is important that when applying for a health insurance policy you fill up all the forms and declarations as accurately and completely as possible. Any attempt to distort or hide facts, such as a pre existing sickness, is a big mistake. Should the insurance company get to know of your cover up, which they most likely will if you do fall sick - the medical examination will reveal the nature of the sickness and how long it has been present - it may either cancel your policy or refuse to make payment against the claim you raise.

An insurer may, if the company so desires, contact your doctor to obtain more information about your health or to clarify any statements you have made in your applications. If you are not sure as to whether or not a medical condition that you suffered from in the past should be mentioned or not, it is always safer to do so.

Most policies also contain a clause to the effect that they will not cover any medical condition that you have received treatment for, have taken medicine for, shown symptoms of or obtained medical advice about for a period of 5 years prior to the start of the policy.