When you apply for health insurance, you can choose how we assess any pre-existing medical conditions you have. We’ll use either moratorium underwriting or full medical underwriting to do this.
If this is new to you, or sounds a bit baffling, don’t worry. Here’s a simple guide to what the key terms mean, and what you need to think about when deciding which one’s best for you.
Transcript
When you take out your private medical cover, you have a choice to make about how you want us to deal with pre-existing conditions. You can choose between ‘moratorium underwriting’ and ‘full medical underwriting’. It’s important you understand the difference so that you can make the right choice.
Pre-existing condition
To understand the difference between both types of underwriting, we first need to explain what we mean by a ‘pre-existing condition’. This means if you have experienced symptoms, or received medication, advice, treatment or diagnostic tests for any disease, illness or injury before you join the policy, even if you were not diagnosed at the time, this is classed as a pre-existing condition.
Full medical underwriting
If you choose full medical underwriting, you will have to fill out a health questionnaire and tell us about any pre-existing conditions when you apply for the policy. We may also need your permission to get further information from your GP. We don’t usually cover pre-existing conditions, however once we have assessed your questionnaire and any information from your doctor, we will let you know in your policy documents which symptoms or conditions we can’t cover under your policy.
It is important you answer our questions accurately and fully. Having a complete picture of your health at the beginning means we can be clear about what you are and aren’t covered for at the start. It can also speed up the claims process, as we are already aware of your medical history.
Moratorium underwriting
If you choose moratorium underwriting, we will not need information about your medical history when you apply for the policy. However, each time you make a claim, we will need to ask you questions about your medical history and may need information from your GP. This is to understand if your claim relates to a new or pre-existing condition or symptom. This can sometimes mean it takes us longer to deal with your claim.
Under moratorium underwriting, you may be covered for pre-existing conditions, depending on when you last experienced symptoms or received medication, diagnostic tests, treatment or advice for it. If this was within the five years before you joined, then you will not be covered for it until you have been free from any medication, treatment, diagnostic tests or advice for two continuous years.
Let’s think about that in real terms.
If you had pain in your left knee three years before you joined the policy, treatment for that condition will not be covered when you join. You may still experience symptoms, but will need to wait until two continuous years have passed after joining the policy without any treatment, diagnostic tests, medication or advice for that knee condition. You will then be covered for that condition after that two-year period has ended.
If you receive any treatment, diagnostic tests, medication or advice about the knee condition within two years after you join, you will have to wait until two continuous years have passed from when it all stopped.
Our full terms are available in our policy booklet, and if you still have any questions, you can always call us.
What's a pre-existing condition?
It's when you've had symptoms, medication, advice, treatment or diagnostic tests for a disease, illness or injury before you take out the policy. We need to know about these conditions, even if you weren't diagnosed at the time, so we know what we can and can't cover. That's because health cover is usually meant for new and unexpected medical conditions.
Compare your health underwriting options
There are a few key differences around applying and making a claim when it comes to pre-existing conditions:
Moratorium underwriting
- You won't need to tell us about any pre-existing conditions when you apply
- If you had a pre-existing condition in the five years before you take out cover, you'll only be covered for it once you've been free from medication, treatment, diagnostic tests or advice for the condition for two continuous years after your cover started
- Each time you make a claim we'll look at your medical history, and may ask for information from your GP, to understand if your symptom or condition is new or pre-existing. So the claims process may take a bit longer
Full medical underwriting
- You complete a full health questionnaire and tell us about any pre-existing conditions when you apply. We may also ask for information from your GP
- Pre-existing conditions aren't usually covered. Once we've considered your information, your policy documents will tell you which symptoms or conditions we can't cover
- When you claim, we'll already know what you're covered for, so the process may be quicker
- It may cost less than moratorium underwriting
You can choose which type of underwriting you'd like us to use when you reach the medical history step of your application.
Want health insurance?
Get more control over when, how and where you’re treated.
Health articles
Keep on top of your health and wellbeing with our guides and articles.
Is mental health care covered by health insurance?
Health insurance can offer a helping hand for both your body and mind. But what’s covered and what support you can get will depend on the individual policy.
Health insurance: the different types and how affordable they are
Before you buy health insurance, consider your needs and your budget
How much does health insurance cost?
Learn about the key factors that might affect the cost of health insurance.
Are pre-existing conditions covered by health insurance?
Here's why your health insurance might not cover a pre-existing condition
What to expect from a digital GP consultation
With the help of a smart device, you can now get help for your symptoms without leaving your sofa thanks to a virtual visit to the digital GP.
Heart disease and health insurance
Heart disease may be more common than you think.
The benefits of acupuncture
Could acupuncture help with your headaches, migraines, joint pain or neck pain?
Virtual physiotherapy
What is 'virtual physiotherapy' and could it help ease your back pain?
Long COVID: is it really the right diagnosis?
The symptoms of long COVID are wide-ranging, how do you know when it isn’t long COVID and when you might need support for something else? Find out more here.
Adjusting to life after lockdown
As we move past the peak of the pandemic, life is beginning to resemble what it used to be. Can we simply pick up where we left off? Find out more here.
All about the menopause
The menopause is when a person stops having periods and can’t get pregnant naturally anymore. Find out more about the causes and when it starts here.
Why do my health insurance premiums go up?
When we’re figuring out the price of your health insurance, there are a few different factors we need to think about. Some of them are about you and your lifestyle, and others are about the world around us and what’s happening in the insurance market.
Reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious condition that causes your blood sugar levels to climb too high. Find out more on how to prevent type 2 diabetes here.
Lowering your blood pressure
Simple ways to help lower your blood pressure and protect yourself from serious illness.
Handling seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Most cases of SAD happen in the winter, but it's possible to have symptoms in the summer months.
Ways to enhance or reduce your health insurance
Discover the difference between our health insurance cover types, and what your options are.