Health cover – your medical history

It’s possible for most people to find health cover these days, but the amount you pay for your cover may be influenced by your medical history. You are required to declare everything when you apply for health cover, so it’s wise to make sure you’re telling the whole truth.

Applying for health cover

Once you’ve found a health insurance policy that gives you the cover you want, you’ll need to fill in an application form. Amongst other things, this will ask for a declaration of your medical history. In most cases, this comes in the form of a checklist, where you can put a tick or a cross against a number of conditions or illnesses, depending on whether you have suffered from them or not. In some cases, you’ll need to give an element of family medical history, particularly if you have a parent or grandparent who died early. Each application form is different, but every health cover provider needs to know what type of risk they’re dealing with before they offer cover to you.

Your medical declaration

When you sign your application form, you are declaring that the information you have given is accurate. Your health cover provider may get in touch with your doctor to verify details or to ask for further information. If you haven’t disclosed everything, the provider may decide not to offer cover to you, so it’s important to be as honest as possible.

What if I have a poor medical history?

You may still be able to find health cover if you have a poor medical history. If you are in this situation, the best thing to do is to talk to someone who has an expert knowledge of the market. They can recommend health cover providers who can give you the cover you need at a price you can afford. Some pre-existing conditions may be exempt from cover, but you should still be able to find a policy that will cover you for other medical problems.

Right to Health is a leading UK health insurance intermediary, helping individuals and corporations find the best private health insurance cover. With access to the UK’s top health insurance companies, Right to Health has advised thousands of clients and can help you to get great health coverage for a competitive premium. Right to Health is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, which means that you can be confident that the recommendations you are given really are in your best interests. To find out more or to get a review of your current health insurance, call 08000 753 999 or click the Free Online Quote button at the top of the page.

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