Health Hub

Most insurers allow you to pay your premiums monthly or annually, and payments can be made by direct debit or BACS (usually for annual payers only).

It can be. Many insurers do offer a discount to annual payers.

The quickest and easiest way is to contact your insurer directly and notify them of the changes required.

Your insurance company will have a dedicated claims team. Their contact details will be in your membership documents but if you can’t find them, give us a call and we’ll point you in the right direction.

- A type of medical underwriting, usually for those who are new to health insurance, where you don’t need to tell the insurer about your previous medical history. They won’t cover any conditions, or symptoms of a condition, you’ve experienced in the five years prior to the start of your policy. Then, after two years, if you’ve been free from any treatment, medication, diagnostic tests, advice or special diets related to that condition, it’ll be covered… providing you have chosen the relevant cover option(s) on your policy. - Remember, the Moratorium only applies to pre-existing conditions. New conditions which arise after joining will be eligible. Again, providing you have chosen the relevant cover option(s) on your policy. E.g. If you suffered from anxiety, you’d need to have included Mental Health cover on your policy to see a Mental Health professional. - The claims process can be a little longer for policyholders on Moratorium underwriting though, as the insurers may want to check your medical history with your GP before authorising your claim.

- A type of medical underwriting, usually for those who are new to health insurance, where you complete a medical history questionnaire and tell the insurer about any pre-existing conditions. The insurer’s underwriters will review your information and tell you what, if anything, they won’t cover. - FMU is a good option for those who want to be clear from the outset about any exclusions to their policy. New conditions which arise after joining are eligible providing you have chosen the relevant cover option(s) on your policy. - The claims process can be quicker for FMU members as the insurer already has your medical history and is less likely to need to speak to your GP when they need to authorise a claim.

- A type of underwriting for those who already have a health insurance policy in place on MORI (Moratorium underwriting) and wish to transfer (switch) to another insurer. This allows you to continue your Moratorium on with your new insurer as though it had started with them from the date it started with your previous insurer. - This option may require you to submit the certificate of insurance from your previous insurer to your new insurer. This is primarily so that they have proof that you were insured, and your Moratorium start date. - It’s important to remember that you can only switch insurers at renewal. Some insurers will allow you to backdate your switch but generally no longer than 30 days after your renewal.

- A type of underwriting for those who already have a health insurance policy in place on FMU (Full Medical Underwriting) and wish to transfer (switch) to another insurer. This allows you to carry your previous underwriting terms on with your new insurer so that the same exclusions, if any, apply. - This option may require you to submit the certificate of insurance from your previous insurer to your new insurer. This is primarily so that they have proof that you were insured, and any exclusions placed on your policy by your previous insurer. - It’s important to remember that you can only switch insurers at renewal. Some insurers will allow you to backdate your switch but generally no longer than 30 days after your renewal.

- A type of underwriting which does not consider your medical history and is not subject to any waiting period for pre-existing conditions. All conditions are eligible providing you have chosen the relevant cover option(s) on your policy. - MHD is generally only available to group schemes of 15+ main members. - Group schemes on MHD underwriting are usually more expensive given the increased risk to the insurers.

- This depends on your circumstances and the type of underwriting you’ve chosen. It’s always best to discuss with a member of our team to be sure your choice is right for you before you purchase a health insurance policy.

Most health insurance policies are 12-month contracts and renew each year.

- You have a 14-day cooling-off period from the date your policy starts, should you wish to make any changes or cancel. After which, policies are annually renewed. - If you have a personal policy, you can cancel at any time however, it is not recommended unless you fully understand the implications of cancelling. - If you have a company scheme, should your company’s circumstances change, there may be an option to cancel. Depending on the insurer, you may incur charges for cancelling mid-policy term, particularly where claims have been made. - All insurers have different rules around cancellations – please refer to your insurer’s policy handbooks for full details of their cancellation policy and speak to a member of our team before cancelling a health insurance policy.

Yes, you can switch to another insurer, but only on your renewal date.

No, travel costs are not covered by insurers.

- Yes, you can. Pricing for children works differently depending on whether the policy is a personal one or company paid. Generally; - On a personal policy, the price is based on the child’s age. - On a company policy, the price is a multiple of the employee’s premium.

No, dependants can be your spouse/partner or children. Parents would require their own policy.

No, some insurers will cover businesses with one employee however, your rates per employee improve the more you have covered on a group scheme. This typically works in bandings, e.g. 3+ employees.

No, this arrangement would not qualify as a company paid scheme.

Some insurers will allow this but will require consent forms to be completed by the company.

- It varies, some company paid policies can cover an employee’s dependants until they’re 30, others will allow them to continue to be covered on a company policy after the reach 25, but charge them a full member rate instead of a dependant. - Some personal policies have no upper age limit, and they simply change the pricing from a child rating to an adult rating when they reach a certain age.

Lots of things, which is why it’s so difficult to give a ‘rough idea of cost! The factors used to price a policy include, but are not limited to; ages, location, underwriting, benefits choices, previous history, ongoing claims and sometimes, other insurer’s quotes.

Yes, usually only on personal policies and it works like car insurance. However, it’s important to note that not all health insurance claims will impact your NCD if you have one, so always refer to your insurer’s membership handbook for full details.

Most insurers’ excesses are only payable once, per person, per year. However, some insurers do allow you to choose an excess which is payable per claim, should you wish to, in order to manage your premiums.

It depends on the insurer and where you move to. You’ll need to inform your insurer immediately of your new address and they’ll advise you.

Only if you choose FMU (Full Medical Underwriting) and it’s not as difficult as it sounds. A member of our team can help you should you need us to.

There are several ways to manage your costs, and you can do this at renewal each year - you could look to reduce or remove certain benefits, add or change excesses, change your hospital list, change your premium frequency, negotiate a discount with your current insurer or switch to a new insurer. Speak to a member of our team to discuss your options.

It is our intention to provide a high level of service at all times. However, if you have reason to make a complaint about our service you should contact us immediately. In writing: 1822 Health Ltd, 3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE or by telephone on 0330 1333 299, or by email to info@1822health.com. If you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer the matter subsequently to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service by telephone on 0800 023 4567 or online and further information is available at http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/. If you do decide to refer any matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service your legal rights will not be affected. We will provide a summary of our complaints handling procedures should you make a complaint which we cannot resolve informally and at any other time, upon your request. Is there an industry association for Health Insurance?

- No. However, you may be able to use certain benefits covered by your plan whilst you’re abroad. E.g. Virtual GP or travel cover (if the benefit option has been chosen on your plan), or treatment abroad where permitted by your insurer. - If you’re not resident in the UK for more than 6 months in a year, IPMI (International Private Medical Insurance) will likely be better suited to you.

- Your employer will usually choose the benefit options for their scheme, and these will apply to all employees however, some schemes do allow for multiple categories within one scheme, so they may have different groups of employees on different levels of cover. - Some insurers also offer member level options, for example, excess levels. So you could have a company scheme where everyone’s excess is £100 as standard, but if the option is available, and your employer allows it, you may be able to vary your own excess, or another benefit choice, for your policy alone.

- If your health insurance is paid by your employer, then yes, it is a taxable benefit. - Typically, employers will class your premium as a business expense, but they will still pay NICs (National Insurance Contributions) as a percentage of your premium. - Employees will normally pay income tax on the benefit (depending on their tax band), but no National Insurance. - It’s important to seek professional advice on tax implications for employee benefits.

- No. Health Insurance provides you with speedy access to private healthcare facilities to diagnose and treat acute (treatable) medical conditions. Life Insurance provides a lump-sum payment to your chosen beneficiaries when you die… Health Insurance insures your health, Life Insurance insures your life.

No, Income Protection is a separate policy which pays you a regular income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

Most insurers will issue renewal documents 5-6 weeks prior to a policy’s renewal.

- Almost, although there are some professions which, understandably, are not covered. E.g. Stuntpeople, some military personnel on active duty, offshore oil rig workers, professional sportspeople (anyone who gets paid, whether they’re a professional or semi-professional) and a few others.

Not always, some insurers will offer child-only policies, and many have no upper age limits either, although they may have different underwriting rules for members over a certain age. It’s best to speak with a member of our team to fully understand your options.

- Speak to us. Tell us what’s gone wrong and if we can remedy the situation, we will. If that’s not possible then we’ll explore the options you have depending on the type of policy in place and when your renewal is.

- Yes, we recommend contacting your insurer directly to instruct them of any additions or removals but if you’re unsure who to speak to, give us a call and we’ll do it for you. - It’s important to remember to inform your insurer of any additions without delay to avoid someone potentially being refused treatment. - It’s equally important to inform your insurer of any removals without delay to avoid paying unnecessary premiums – most insurers will allow a grace period but some will not backdate and refund you if it’s over 30 days.

Please click here to view our Privacy Policy for full details.

- A service which allows you to have consultations with a registered GP, either as a phone or video call, at a time which suits you. - Almost all health insurers have a virtual GP service, and some allow you to chose between male or female doctors and whether you’d prefer a one- or two-way video call. - Virtual GP consultations typically have one of three outcomes, either; general GP advice related to your condition, a prescription for medication, or a referral to a consultant / specialist.

- In-patient treatment means you stay overnight at the hospital, and you're given a bed. You receive 24-hour care for conditions that require constant monitoring or intensive treatment. - Day-patient treatment means you visit the hospital for several hours during the day for your procedure or treatment but go home the same day. You might need a bed or treatment room while you’re there, but you don't stay overnight. - Out-patient treatment means you visit the hospital or clinic for a short appointment (typically less than a few hours) and then go home immediately afterward. This includes consultations, tests, minor procedures, or follow-up appointments.

- Most insurers will offer a ‘Therapies’ cover option. This typically covers you for treatments with a physiotherapist, chiropractor, chiropodist or podiatrist. All insurers’ products vary and some will cover acupuncture, homeopathy and consultations with a dietician.

- Provides you with access to mental health professionals such as Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Counsellors to support your mental wellbeing. - Lots of conditions can fall under mental health, e.g. Stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, phobias, behavioural disorders, and much more.

Yes, some insurers’ plans allow you to have different cover levels for employees and/or member level options.

No, we do not charge our clients for our services, and it is important to note that our advice is impartial. We will always act in the interests of our clients.

- We earn from commissions paid to us by our insurer partners for policies we place with them. - We are unable to flex our commissions and they do not impact on client premiums.

Insurance regulation in the UK operates under a dual-system where the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) oversees market conduct, consumer protection and broker regulation, while the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) monitors insurers' financial stability and solvency requirements. Insurance brokers must be FCA authorised and follow conduct rules on fair treatment, disclosure and complaint handling, while insurance companies face dual regulation, including Solvency II capital requirements. Both operate under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 framework and must comply with anti-money laundering and data protection laws, all designed to ensure market stability and consumer protection.

Each insurer differs but usually between 14 and 30 days.

Yes, 14 days after your policy start date.

Not always, some insurers are happy to cover child dependents who do not live at home. Some insurers do have other criteria for children to remain on cover though, e.g. unmarried.

When you need to make a claim, you should always contact your insurer first so that they can view your underwriting and the benefits covered on your policy. This is to ensure that your claim is eligible. Once approved, they will provide you with a pre-authorisation reference which you then share with your treatment provider so that they can invoice the insurer directly.

If a healthcare professional, usually a GP, recommends that you should be seen by a type of specialist (e.g. Orthopaedic Surgeon, Physiotherapist, Urologist) following a consultation, they will provide you with a referral which does not name a particular specialist (an open referral). Instead, the referral states the type of specialist you need to see, and the insurer can then find one or more of those specialists local to you.

- If you have a named referral from a GP, where they have given the name of a particular specialist you need to see, you can give this to your insurer and if that specialist is recognised by them, they can authorise your consultation or treatment with them. - It is important to note that named referrals do not always guarantee that your policy will cover you to see them, or that the insurer will pay their fees in full. This will depend on your chosen hospital list and whether the specialist is recognised by the insurer. - It is important to speak with us to ensure you choose the right policy for you should you wish to choose the specialists you wish to see without having to cover some, or all, of the costs yourself.

- If you have a policy where you don’t have to source your consultants / specialists yourself, then your insurer does this all for you. You provide them with an open referral and they’ll source the consultant / specialist options local to you before recommending one or more (usually three) for you to choose from based on their preferred list. This option ensures that all fees are covered in full. - If you have a policy where you prefer the freedom to choose the consultant / specialist yourself and have their fees covered in full, then your insurer will wait for you to provide them with either an open or named referral, they can then provide you with a pre-authorisation reference and you can then proceed with your treatment. - There is a hybrid option with many insurers, and that’s when you have a policy where you have the option to provide them with either an open or named referral, and the insurer will then give you options to either see a specialist / consultant that they recommend (fees covered in full) or, they’ll authorise you to see the named specialist if you’d prefer, but advise you beforehand of any shortfalls where you’d have to pay the remainder of the fees.

- It depends on the hospital list option you choose when you take out your policy. The answer to the previous question explains in more detail, but it’s better to speak to a member of our team to ensure you take out the right policy for you.