Should you switch your private health insurance?
Do you already have health insurance but wonder whether you’d be better off switching to another provider? Our guide helps you consider your options.
Richard Eagling is the Senior Editor at myTribe, with 25+ years in personal finance journalism and a CII Certificate in Financial Services. Previously at Moneyfacts and NerdWallet UK, his work has featured in The Guardian, BBC and The Telegraph.
Full BioCan you switch health insurance providers?
In most cases, if you want to switch health insurance providers, you can. The only exception is usually if you're in the middle of receiving a course of treatment for a serious illness such as cancer.
The real question is not whether you can switch health insurance providers, but whether it's the right decision for you. Before you switch health insurance companies it's vital you consider your circumstances and reasons for switching providers.
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Whether switching your private health insurance policy makes sense depends largely on whether you've claimed on your current policy and whether you have any exclusions. If you haven't claimed, switching is usually straightforward, and you can focus on finding a better price, level of cover or service.
If you've had treatment since taking out your policy, it's a more complicated situation. A new insurer may exclude conditions your current insurer covers, so you’ll need to carefully weigh up what you could lose as well as what you could gain by switching. The graphic below shows when it's generally safe to switch private health insurance providers.
Switching health insurance providers can offer many benefits. If you've received your renewal quote and want to see if you can reduce your premium it's worth getting a comparison quote to see how other health insurance providers stack up. You may be able to get better health insurance coverage, a wider choice of hospitals or improved customer service with a different provider. Alternatively, you might want to seek better perks and benefits elsewhere.
When you decide to switch health insurance providers, any of the advantages we've described could also be a disadvantage. While there are ways to switch health insurance companies to get a better deal, you may find that your new provider offers less favourable terms and conditions or reduced cover levels.
If you've had medical treatment since taking out health insurance, switching health insurance providers could mean adding new exclusions to your policy, meaning your new provider may not cover treatment that the previous insurer did.
Before you decide to switch health insurance companies, consider your reasons for doing so. That way, when you start the search for a new private medical insurance policy, you know what you're looking for and can make an informed decision about whether a new health insurance policy fits the bill.
Do you want to:
- Reduce your premiums?
- Improve your level of coverage?
- Get better perks and discounts?
- Get better customer service?
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Think about your current circumstances
Switching health insurance can be simple or complex, depending on your personal circumstances and whether you've made a claim with your current health insurance provider. The decision to switch health insurance often depends on the terms a new policy offers and whether any new exclusions will apply.
Here are some factors to consider depending on your circumstances.
You haven’t made a claim on your health insurance policy
With moratorium underwriting, health insurers will usually exclude conditions from coverage if you had medical advice or treatment for a condition in the five years before you bought the policy. If you haven't claimed or had NHS treatment, there shouldn't be any new exclusions when you change. However, if you have existing exclusions, you'll need to stay symptom/treatment-free for two years before they can be removed from your health insurance policy.
Most health insurers in the UK will allow you to use "Switch underwriting" (also known as continued moratorium underwriting), but you'll need to meet their predefined criteria to access it. Before moving, the insurer or your broker will ask you to complete a questionnaire about your medical history. So long as you meet the insurer's criteria, you can switch without adding new exclusions, and your moratorium period won't be reset.
You’ve made a claim on your health insurance policy
If you've made a claim on your existing health insurance policy or are in the middle of treatment, switching without introducing new exclusions is more complicated. After all, pausing cancer treatment and joining an NHS waiting list is unlikely to be in your best interests.
Some conditions need repeated treatment over time. For example, your health insurance may have covered steroid injections for a knee condition. However, this may not be a long-term solution. Switching health insurance may mean your knee problem is excluded from cover, meaning you can't claim on your private medical insurance if you need an arthroscopy or knee replacement.
Again, it's vital that you speak with an experienced broker who will be able to advise on whether it's possible to switch without negatively affecting your cover levels.
If you want to reduce your health insurance premiums but are otherwise happy with the policy and service your current health insurance company offers, there are ways to save money without switching health insurance. These include:
- Haggle with your provider - if you get quotes from other providers and present them back to your insurer, they may consider reducing your renewal premium.
- Review your cover levels - lowering limits or dropping extras you don’t use can reduce your premium, but get advice before making changes.
- Change your hospital list - moving to a standard list or removing higher-fee hospitals can reduce your premium, while a guided consultant list can save around 16%.
- Increase your excess - paying more when you claim lowers your premium, but keep it affordable so you're not put off claiming.
- Add a six-week option - you're treated on the NHS if it can see you within six weeks, which can cut premiums by around 20%.
There are plenty of other ways that could help bring your private health insurance premium down. Our full guide to reducing the cost of health insurance walks you through each one and shows how much you could potentially save.
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If you already have private medical insurance, you likely understand the difference between moratorium and full medical underwriting (FMU). We've already mentioned exclusions for pre-existing conditions; if you have moratorium underwriting, you won't have provided medical information upfront, whereas if you have FMU, you will. You can switch health insurers using the same underwriting terms. However, that may mean adding new exclusions to your policy.
If you'd prefer underwriting terms that let you avoid adding new exclusions or keep your existing moratorium, you'll need CMORI or CPME underwriting.
Continued Moratorium underwriting (CMORI)
Continued moratorium underwriting (CMORI) is like the no-claims bonus on your car insurance. It lets you keep the moratorium you earned on your previous policy, meaning you won't have to start a new moratorium period from scratch. It's ideal if you have an exclusion on your existing policy and have been symptom-free for between one and two years, as it will shorten the time you need to wait before the exclusion can be removed.
Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME)
Continued personal medical exclusions underwriting (CPME) is only available if you had full medical underwriting on your previous policy. It allows you to keep the same exclusions from your existing policy and avoids adding new ones. Earlier, we gave the example of a knee condition that was treated with steroid injections but may need further treatment in the future. CPME would allow you to continue using your health insurance to cover the treatment, including future surgery if needed.
Explore your options
There's a lot to consider if you want to change health insurance providers. While switching health insurers is possible, you must consider whether it's the right choice for your circumstances. While different underwriting options can allow you to keep some of the same terms, there are no guarantees that a new provider will offer it to you. You should also compare quotes carefully to understand whether your new policy is at least as good as the old one.
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Speak to a broker
Comparing quotes from different providers can help you get the best deal. A specialist broker has in-depth knowledge of the health insurance market and can help you compare quotes and ensure you aren’t compromising on coverage. Sometimes, a new insurer can give you lower premiums by reducing cover or offering less favourable terms.
A specialist broker provides unbiased advice to ensure you get the right balance between costs and coverage.
myTribe’s guides help you to understand your health insurance options so you can make an informed choice. Contact us for a comparison quote and we'll put you in touch with a regulated, specialist broker for advice tailored to your needs.
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Disclaimer: This is general information, not personal advice. Speak to a qualified broker before making a decision. Our broker partners compare policies from a panel of leading UK health insurers, but not all insurers may be available.