If you are someone who has a pre-existing medical condition, you may be keen to understand whether this will affect your private health insurance and if so, how.
In this article we take a look at health insurance paying particular attention to how a pre-existing medical condition can impact your health insurance application. We explain what type of medical conditions can impact a health insurance application, what information the health insurance provider will need, whether a pre-existing medical condition impacts the cost of health insurance and how to get the best health insurance quotes.
1 minute summary - Best health insurance with pre-existing conditions
- You won't be expected to pay more if you have a pre-existing health condition
- An exclusion may be applied if you have had any advice or treatment for a pre-existing condition in the last 5 years
- Chronic conditions are often excluded
- Options such as comprehensive cancer cover, dental cover, mental health cover, pregnancy and eyecare cover can be added
- Get an instant online quote and receive £100 cashback* when you take out any private healthcare policy. Offer ends 31st August 2026.
- If you prefer, you can use the link above to request a callback from an expert who can compare health insurance from companies like Axa Health, Aviva, Bupa and Vitality.
What is health insurance and why do I need it?
Health insurance (sometimes referred to as private health insurance or private medical insurance) is an insurance policy that pays for private treatment if you become ill. In addition, a health insurance policy can help you to skip NHS waiting times and in some cases, you may get access to alternative drugs and treatments. There are many things to consider when buying a health insurance policy including the type of cover you need, the amount of excess you are willing to pay and the type of underwriting you would prefer. For more information on how health insurance works, check out our article “How to compare the best health insurance policies in the UK“.
For the purposes of this article, we will focus on how a health insurance policy is underwritten and how pre-existing health conditions can impact the cover you buy.
What is considered a pre-existing condition for health insurance?
A pre-existing condition is any disease, illness or injury for which you have had symptoms or sought advice or treatment in the past. However, health insurance providers only pay particular interest in conditions for which you have had symptoms or sought advice or treatment within the last 5 years and we explain more about how this works in the following section.
Can I get health insurance with a pre-existing condition?
The simple answer is yes. You can get a health insurance policy even if you have sought medication, treatment, or advice for a pre-existing medical condition in the past.
Below is a list of common questions relating to pre-existing medical conditions and health insurance. Click on the links to read the articles in more detail:
- Can I get health insurance with high blood pressure?
- Can I get health insurance with high or raised cholesterol?
- Can I get health insurance with depression, anxiety or mental illness?
It is important to understand how your pre-existing condition impacts your health insurance application and whether you would be able to claim it in the future. To do this, we first need to explain how a health insurance provider will consider your application, a process known as underwriting.
When you apply for health insurance you will be given a choice of how your application is assessed – type of underwriting – and the choices are described in the table below.
How your health is assessed for health insurance
| Type of underwriting | What you will need to disclose | What will be covered |
| Moratorium underwriting | Symptoms that you have experienced, sought medical advice for or had treated in the last 5 years | Any conditions that are covered by the terms of your insurance
A claim assessment may exclude cover if you have had symptoms of or medical advice or treatment for the condition in the last 2 years |
| Full medical underwriting | All of your medical history and the insurer may request a full report of your health history from your GP | Any conditions that are covered by the terms of your insurance
Exclusions may apply based on your health history but these will be made known to you before you start your insurance cover |
Choosing between full medical underwriting and moratorium is likely to depend on your medical history and it is worthwhile checking with a health insurance specialist before deciding which route to take.
If a pre-existing condition reoccurs in the first 2 years of taking out a health insurance policy then it is likely to be excluded permanently. However, The Exeter is the only health insurance provider that has a ‘fixed moratorium' policy, meaning that so long as you do not claim on your policy for the condition in the first 2 years (for example if you seek treatment through the NHS) then an exclusion would not apply.
Can I be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition?
No, it is unlikely that you would be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. However, your health insurance provider generally will not cover claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions, so you should carefully consider whether your expectations are realistic in terms of how and when the insurance could support you. Limitations are likely to apply for claims arising directly and sometimes indirectly due to your health history.
How far back do pre-existing conditions go?
Most insurers will ask about any symptoms, treatment or diagnosis that you have had in the last 2 years but may include conditions up to 7 years ago depending on the type of health condition. As a general rule, less serious health complaints are disregarded after 2 years but serious or chronic ailments may be considered even if they occurred many years ago.
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Can I get health insurance if I have a chronic pre-existing condition?
Yes, however, there is likely to be an exclusion applied for any claims that arise relating to your particular condition, assuming that you have had symptoms or sought advice or treatment within the last 5 years.
It is important to understand that having a pre-existing medical condition will not affect the price that you pay for your health insurance, it will simply place limitations on what you may claim in the future.
Can I pay more to have my health insurance include a pre-existing condition?
If you would like to pay extra to include your pre-existing medical condition, this is possible for some conditions such as Crohn's disease, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, diabetes, eczema, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, glaucoma, hypertension, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, varicose veins. You will find more information about how to include your pre-existing medical condition within your health insurance in our article, “General & Medical health insurance review“.
Does a health insurance policy cover cancer?
It depends. Some health insurance policies come with an element of cancer cover and some provide comprehensive cover for cancer support and treatment at an additional cost. If you are particularly interested in a health insurance policy which offers the most comprehensive cancer cover then you should speak to an independent health insurance specialist* who can compare all of the leading health insurance providers and provide advice and guidance on the policy which may suit you best.
In some cases, you may find that the NHS is the best route to cancer treatment and prefer it to being treated privately. For this reason, some health insurance policies will provide an NHS cancer option so that you are paid a cash benefit if you choose to be treated through the NHS rather than privately for cancer.
Will health insurance cover me if I have had cancer in the past?
If you have had cancer in the past you may be able to get health insurance to cover you in case you have other medical needs. A recurrence of cancer or cancer investigations may not be covered but this will depend on the insurance company you choose and also on the details of your past cancer diagnosis. If your cancer is in remission and has not required treatment or consultations for 5 years or more, you may be able to get health insurance that will cover you without any additional exclusions to the cover. People in this situation should almost always speak to a health insurance expert before choosing a health insurance policy as there may be pros and cons to different contracts. Each insurer will review your past health differently and some may cover you faster than others because they have shorter moratorium periods. This is where health insurance experts have a great deal of insight that they will use to guide you to the best health insurance solutions.
What does health insurance not cover?
Aside from exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions within the last 5 years, some insurers will not provide cover for the following as standard, regardless of your personal medical history:
- Eyecare
- Pregnancy
- Cosmetic surgery
- Overseas treatment
- Dental care
- Optical treatment
However, Many leading insurers provide an option to ‘bolt on' additional benefits that cover some of the above conditions. You should speak to an independent specialist who can explain all the options available. We explain how more about the service an independent specialist can provide as well as who to contact in the next section.
Which health insurance provider is best for pre-existing conditions?
Health insurance quotes will vary from person to person so there isn't one stand-out health insurance provider that offers the best cover for those with pre-existing health conditions. However, some health insurance providers have a shorter qualifying period after which you may be covered for some pre-existing medical conditions. This means that you could get full health insurance cover sooner. You will also find that some health insurance providers offer different tiers of cover and some plan options may have more restrictive terms and conditions for pre-existing medical conditions than others.
To make sure you get the most comprehensive health insurance cover to suit your personal needs and health, you should speak to an independent health insurance specialist*.
For a limited time, you'll receive £100 cashback when you take out any private healthcare policy – offer ends 31st August 2026.
Click on the link above and complete the short form to access instant quotes from the leading health insurance providers for pre-existing conditions, including Axa Health, Bupa and Vitality. Additionally, one of the expert health insurance advisers will be on hand should you need any advice or guidance when it comes to selecting the health insurance policy that best suits your needs.
Summary
- Your premium will not increase due to a pre-existing health condition
- You may have an exclusion applied if you have had any advice or treatment for a pre-existing condition in the last 5 years
- If you choose moratorium underwriting and have not experienced symptoms, treatment or advice in the last 5 years then you will be covered for your pre-existing condition
- If you choose moratorium underwriting and have experienced symptoms, medication or advice for a pre-existing medical condition in the last 5 years then you may still be covered for that condition, so long as you remain symptom, advice and treatment-free for 2 years (from the policy start date)
- Chronic conditions are excluded (you can pay extra to include some conditions)
- Additional options can be added such as comprehensive cancer cover, dental cover, mental health cover, pregnancy and eyecare cover
- Speak to an independent health insurance specialist* to get expert advice and guidance to ensure you are getting the most comprehensive cover at the best possible price. Plus, for a limited time, you'll qualify for £100 cashback when you take out any private healthcare policy
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link, Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses – Howden Life & Health
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