The best private health insurance for pre-existing conditions
Yes, you can get private medical insurance with a pre-existing condition in the UK — millions do. The trick is matching your medical history to the right insurer and the right underwriting basis. Skip NHS waiting lists for everything else.
- New conditions still covered — even if old ones are excluded
- Compare Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA & The Exeter
- Skip NHS waiting lists for everything other than excluded conditions
- Free, no-obligation comparison — the broker is paid by the insurer, not you
Pre-existing conditions don't have to mean no cover
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, getting health insurance can feel impossible. The good news is that millions of people in the UK live with a pre-existing condition and are still able to get cover — you just have to know how the underwriting works and which insurance provider will give you the best private health insurance for your circumstances.
This guide explains how private medical insurance for pre-existing conditions actually works in the UK, the difference between moratorium and full medical underwriting, what private health insurance covers, what is excluded, how PMI compares to NHS waiting lists, and how a specialist broker can help you find the best PMI cover for your health history.
What is a pre-existing condition for health insurance?
A pre-existing condition is any medical condition you've had before you take out cover — whether it's a chronic condition like asthma or diabetes, an acute issue you've been treated for in the last few years, or any condition that has caused symptoms or required medication. Insurance companies look at your full medical history and personal health when they decide what your private health insurance cover will and will not include.
Examples of pre-existing medical conditions include high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, mental health support needs, back pain, and any cancer or heart condition you've been treated for. They include both ongoing conditions and historical ones. They affect the price of your insurance policy and the conditions covered — but they do not automatically stop you getting health insurance in the UK.
Can you get cover with a pre-existing condition?
Yes. You can get private medical insurance with a pre-existing condition in the UK, but the cover for pre-existing conditions depends on the underwriting basis you choose and which insurance companies you approach. Some private health insurance providers are far more flexible on certain conditions than others — and some insurance products are specifically designed for people with complex medical history.
Most pre-existing medical conditions are excluded from a brand-new policy, but new conditions and conditions that develop after the start date are usually covered by your health insurance. The trick is matching your full medical history to the right insurance product — and that's where a specialist broker earns their keep.
How does PMI underwriting actually work?
Underwriting is how the insurer decides which medical conditions your health insurance cover will and won't pay for. There are two main bases in UK private medical insurance: moratorium underwriting and full medical underwriting. The basis you pick changes how pre-existing conditions affect your PMI policy from day one.
The insurer will look at your medical history, ask about conditions you've had, and either include them, exclude them or rate them. Examples of pre-existing medical conditions the insurer will look at include any treatment, symptoms or medication in the last five years. None of this is designed to catch you out — it's how every insurance provider manages risk on a pre-existing medical condition.
Moratorium or full medical underwriting?
Two ways an insurer can handle your medical history. Pick the one that matches the complexity of your health profile.
Quick to set up — review at claim
Answer a short health questionnaire. Any pre-existing condition you've had symptoms, treatment or medication for in the last 5 years is automatically excluded — until you've been clear of that condition for 2 continuous years, at which point most insurers start to cover it.
Good if: your medical issues are historical and you want cover live this week. Watch out for: uncertainty — you don't know on day one exactly which conditions are excluded.
Slower to set up — certainty on day one
Disclose your full medical history upfront. The insurer reviews everything and either covers, excludes or rates each medical condition individually. By the time the new policy starts, you know exactly what is and isn't covered.
Good if: you have multiple pre-existing conditions, a chronic condition you want clarity on, or simply want peace of mind. Worth the extra effort for most people with complex health histories.
Which PMI is best for your pre-existing conditions?
The headline difference is timing. Moratorium asks little upfront and reviews your medical history when you claim. Full medical underwriting reviews everything upfront and locks the terms in from day one.
Pick moratorium if …
Fast, simple, historical history
- ✓Your health history is straightforward and historical.
- ✓You want cover live this week.
- ✓You're happy to deal with exclusions if a borderline claim comes up.
- ✓You'd rather pay slightly less than know exactly what's covered.
Pick full medical if …
Certainty over speed
- ✓You have multiple pre-existing conditions.
- ✓You have a chronic condition you want clarity on.
- ✓You'd rather wait 2–4 weeks for set-up if it means certainty.
- ✓You want a written exclusion list before you commit.
A specialist broker can model both options against your medical history so you choose with eyes open.
Which pre-existing conditions are excluded from cover?
Conditions you've actively been treated for in the last few years are the most likely to be excluded on a new private medical insurance policy.
Insurers typically still cover new conditions that develop after the start date, including acute conditions and most cancers. So even if your old back problem is excluded, a brand-new private hospital stay for something unrelated would still be covered. Always read the terms and conditions of every medical insurance policy before you take out cover.
How do NHS waiting lists compare to private healthcare?
National Health Service today
Record waiting lists, every region
- ×Millions waiting for a specialist appointment, scan or surgery.
- ×Wait times measured in months — sometimes years — for elective treatment.
- ×Limited choice of consultant, hospital or appointment time.
- ×Mental health support delays well beyond clinical guidelines.
Private medical insurance
Skip the queue when it matters
- ✓Specialist appointments often within days, not months.
- ✓Diagnostic scans and surgery in a private hospital, fast.
- ✓Choose your consultant and your private hospital.
- ✓Mental health treatment, physio and rehab without the wait.
Even if a specific pre-existing condition is excluded, your PMI still covers everything else — private hospital stays, specialist consultations and mental health treatment that the NHS can't deliver quickly.
Can you switch insurer with a pre-existing condition?
Yes — and this is where many people in the UK get stuck. If you switch from one insurer to another on standard underwriting, every pre-existing condition resets and the new insurer will exclude anything you've been treated for. That's a bad outcome if you currently have cover for those conditions.
The fix is "continued personal medical exclusions" (CPME), where the new insurance provider carries forward your existing exclusions rather than starting from scratch. Using continued personal medical exclusions means the conditions covered under your existing policy stay covered when you switch — protecting the value of your current private health cover.
How do you find the best PMI for your conditions?
Start with cover, not price. Look at hospital lists, outpatient limits, mental health support, cancer cover and how each insurance provider treats your specific pre-existing condition. The best private health insurance is the one that covers the cost of private medical treatment when you actually need it.
Compare quotes from at least three insurers — Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA and The Exeter all sell PMI in the UK and underwrite pre-existing medical conditions differently. Some are more generous on mental health, others on chronic conditions, others on cancer cover. The "best" answer is personal — and the right comprehensive health plan depends on your medical history, budget and the level of cover you choose.
How the major insurers treat pre-existing conditions
Every insurer underwrites differently. Here's a rough guide — but always get the actual underwriting decision in writing before you commit.
Largest hospital network
Strong digital tools and well-known underwriting standards. Reliable on most common conditions; can be strict on niche ones.
Strong on mental health
Best-in-class on mental health and therapy access. Often more generous on conditions like anxiety and depression than rivals.
Often best price
Frequently the keenest pricing on standard plans. Underwrites cleanly for most common conditions, especially under 50.
Rewards healthy living
Premium discounts and rewards based on healthy behaviours. Worth a look if your condition is well-managed.
Flexible underwriting
Highly modular cover. Often willing to underwrite conditions other insurers exclude — especially worth a quote for complex histories.
Sharp on niche conditions
Good underwriting flexibility for one-person and complex cases. Often the surprise win on quotes when other insurers exclude.
What cover does PMI provide beyond pre-existing conditions?
Even if you have a pre-existing condition that's excluded, private medical insurance still covers a huge amount. Add critical illness insurance alongside, and you have a full health plan that gives you fast access to private healthcare services that the NHS can't deliver inside its waiting lists.
New & acute conditions
Anything that develops after the policy starts is covered — including acute conditions, new diagnoses and most cancers.
Private hospitals & specialists
Private hospital stays, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and surgery — the bread and butter of any PMI policy.
Mental health & therapy
Most modern policies include mental health treatment, therapy and counselling — even if pre-existing mental health cover is restricted.
Digital GP & rehab
Digital GP access, physiotherapy and rehabilitation are now standard on most plans — bypass NHS waits for everyday care too.
How much does it cost with a pre-existing condition?
The cost of private medical insurance depends on age, postcode, smoker status, the level of cover you choose, the excess and whether you take moratorium or full medical underwriting. Pre-existing conditions don't always push the price up — but adding cover for chronic conditions you've had usually does.
As a rough UK benchmark, healthy adults in their 30s pay £40–£70 a month for cover; over-55s with pre-existing medical conditions can pay £150–£300+. Compare quotes carefully and use a specialist broker to find the best policy for your budget.
- Healthy 30s: typically £40–£70 a month
- Healthy 40s: typically £60–£100 a month
- Over 55s with pre-existing conditions: £150–£300+
- Excess level, hospital list and add-ons all move the number
How can a specialist broker help?
A specialist health insurance broker compares the entire UK PMI market for you, knows which insurance companies underwrite pre-existing conditions most generously, and structures cover so the conditions you care about are protected. They handle the health questionnaire, the medical history review, and the insurer negotiations.
Brokers are normally paid by the insurer, not by you, so going through one does not push your health insurance premiums up. For anyone looking for private medical insurance with a pre-existing condition, a specialist broker is usually the fastest route to the best PMI cover at the best price.
Ready to compare quotes?
Tell us about your medical history and what you'd like to cover. We'll come back with quotes from the insurers most likely to underwrite generously for your conditions — usually within one working day.
Things to remember
You can get private medical insurance with a pre-existing condition in the UK — millions of people do.
Moratorium and full medical underwriting are the two main UK underwriting bases — pick the one that matches your medical history.
Most pre-existing conditions are excluded from a new policy, but new and acute conditions are still covered.
Use continued personal medical exclusions when you switch insurer, so existing cover for your conditions carries over.
Compare at least three UK insurance providers — they treat pre-existing conditions very differently.
Private health insurance covers far more than pre-existing conditions — private hospital stays, specialist care, mental health support and faster treatment than NHS waiting lists allow.
Cost depends on age, conditions, and the level of cover you choose; PMI starts around £40 a month.
A specialist broker can find the best private health insurance for your medical history at no extra cost.
Always read the terms and conditions of every medical insurance policy before you take out cover.
Pre-existing conditions, answered
Will any insurer cover my specific condition?
Almost certainly — but the terms vary wildly between insurers. The condition you've been told is uninsurable by one provider is often covered, excluded for a defined period, or simply rated by another. Always compare at least three insurers rather than taking the first answer at face value.
How long do I need to be symptom-free for cover to start under moratorium?
Two continuous years with no symptoms, no treatment and no medication for that condition. After that, most insurers will start to cover the condition again under a moratorium policy.
What does "rated" mean?
"Rated" means the insurer will cover the condition but charges an extra premium loading to reflect the higher risk. It's a middle ground between full coverage and outright exclusion — and often the right answer for managed chronic conditions.
Will mental health support be covered?
Modern policies almost all include mental health treatment for new conditions. Pre-existing mental health needs are handled differently by every insurer — AXA Health is generally the most generous on this. Always disclose accurately and ask the broker to compare specifically on mental health.
What happens if a condition I forget to mention comes up later?
It depends on the underwriting basis. Under moratorium, the insurer reviews your medical records when you claim — if a condition was active in the last 5 years and you didn't realise, it'll be excluded. Under full medical underwriting, missed disclosure can void a future claim. Be thorough at application stage.
Can I still skip NHS waiting lists if my pre-existing condition is excluded?
Yes — everything else is still covered. Private hospital stays, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and surgery for new conditions all bypass NHS waiting lists. The exclusion only applies to the specific condition the insurer has flagged.
Can I switch insurer if my current one keeps hiking my premium?
Yes, on a "continued personal medical exclusions" basis — the new insurer carries forward your existing exclusions rather than starting from scratch. Never cancel until the new insurer has confirmed CPME in writing.
How long does full medical underwriting take?
Typically 2–4 weeks. The insurer may ask your GP for medical records, which adds time. The trade-off is certainty — you know exactly what's covered before the policy goes live.
Does using a broker cost extra?
No. The broker is paid by the insurer, not by you. The price of your policy is identical whether you go direct or through a broker — and a broker shops the whole market for you, especially valuable for tricky pre-existing conditions.
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