If you want private health insurance, comparing quotes with MoneySuperMarket and our preferred partner ActiveQuote can help you find the best available deal. All you need to do is tell us a little about yourself and your medical history as well as the level of cover you want, and we’ll find a list of quotes tailored to your requirements.

You’ll be able to compare deals by the overall monthly or annual cost as well as the level of cover you’ll get and any extras included in the policy. Once you’ve found the deal you want, just click through to the provider to finalise your purchase.

Remember that as with all insurance products, the cheapest option available won’t always be the best. We recommend you look for a balance between cost and coverage to make sure you end up with the right level of protection for the best possible price.

The exact definition of a pre-existing condition varies between insurers, though the term normally applies to any conditions which present symptoms or which you’ve been treated for in the last five years. This usually includes any conditions you were diagnosed with over five years ago.

Some insurers might even set the year limit higher or lower, so it always pays to read policy documents and compare your options before buying.

Health insurance is usually intended to cover conditions that occur or develop after you’ve taken out the policy. If you have a pre-existing condition you’ll generally still be able to buy private health insurance, however it’s unlikely you’ll be covered for treatment if it flares up.

Some insurers offer cover for certain pre-existing conditions if they are seen as minor – though the definition for this can vary – or if they believe the symptoms are unlikely to present again. If you haven’t experienced any symptoms for around five years – again, the exact amount of time can vary – providers might be more willing to cover you for the condition.

Private health insurance lets you claim for the cost of private medical care, rather than paying for it yourself or using a publicly funded health services like the NHS. You’ll visit your GP if you suspect you have a health problem as you usually would, however you should let them know you have private cover.

If they need to, they’ll refer you to a specialist. With private health insurance you may be able to choose private hospitals or specialists which might not be available on the NHS.

After this you’ll need to tell your insurance provider that you want to claim, and they’ll confirm whether the treatment you want or need is covered by your policy. If it is, they’ll approve your claim and your GP will book your appointment – the cost will then be picked up by your insurer.

Depending on the provider you choose, some of these may be included as standard while some may be excluded entirely. However you’ll usually be able to choose to add:

• Dentistry cover
• Eyecare cover
• Physiotherapy
• Homeopathy
• Mental health support

Private health insurance providers may have extensive lists of conditions that won’t be covered, as well as certain situations where you won’t be able to claim for treatment costs:

• Organ transplants
• Cosmetic treatment
• Pre-existing conditions
• Chronic conditions
• Self-inflicted injuries
• Injuries related to dangerous sports or activities
• Substance abuse
• Routine pregnancy
• Mobility aids

If you’re looking for ways to cut the cost of private health insurance, you could consider:

• Paying more excess: Excess payments are what you pay towards your claim before your insurer covers the rest. If you choose to pay more in excess it can indicate to insurers that you’ll only claim when you need to, which means they might lower your premiums as a result
• Reduce your hospital list: Reducing the number of preferred hospitals on your list can also bring your premiums down, essentially as a reward for being less fussy
• Take a six-week option: A six-week option is something you can take that means you’ll only claim on your private policy if you won’t be seen within six weeks on the NHS. This can help cut insurance costs as it can reduce the likelihood of you needing to claim
• Co-pay any claims: You might also have the option to pay a certain percentage towards you claim on top of the excess payment – known as co-payment. By reducing the cost of your claim for the insurer, you can also lower your own monthly cost of cover
• Reduce your cover: If you don’t need certain extra levels of cover, stripping them out of your policy can also help keep your premiums down as you’ll only pay for the cover you actually need

Some insurers might have an auto-renewal feature in place, which means you won’t necessarily need to renew it yourself. However auto-renewals can be dangerous as insurers often raise premiums when they renew your policy.

It’s better to compare policies when yours is running out, in order to ensure you can stay on the best available deal for the cover you need.

You’ll be able to take out joint private health insurance if you want to add your partner to your policy, while some providers will also let you add your children. However this will largely depend on the provider and what they can offer, which is why it pays to shop around so you can find the best possible deal.

You’ll likely need to be over 18 to take a policy out for yourself, but under-18s can usually be added to their parent or guardian’s policy – again, it’s best to check beforehand instead of assuming. Some providers might have upper age limits, but even if they don’t you can generally expect to pay more the older you are when you take out a policy.

As with any kind of insurance, some providers might charge more for annual payment and some might charge more for monthly premiums. It’s up to you how you’d like to pay, but insurers will generally let you know which the cheaper option is.

You shouldn’t usually have to undergo a medical in order to get cover – most insurers will simply ask you to fill out a medical history form.

Understanding health insurance can be a daunting task, never mind reading through pages of policy documentation that is full of insurance terms. That’s why we are here to help and have made a directory to simplify what we mean:

• Certificate of insurance: Sometimes referred to as a membership certificate, this is the documentation you receive from your insurer which summarises your cover. You may have to provide it if you wish to switch to another insurer or make a claim.
• Day patient: To qualify as a day patient, you will typically return home on the same day as your test or procedure and have taken up a bed whilst in hospital.
• Excess: An excess is the amount you agree to pay at the point of claim before the insurance starts to pay out. A higher excess can also sometimes be used to reduce a monthly premium.
• Exclusion: An exclusion is something an insurance company will not cover, and can include a specific condition, a treatment or your selection of hospitals.
• FCA (Financial Conduct Authority): The financial regulatory body in the UK, which regulates the financial markets to ensure that firms treat their customers fairly and act with integrity.
• FOS (Financial Ombudsmen Service): An independent service designed to settle unresolved disputes between businesses providing financial services and their customers.
• Full medical underwriting: Based on your full medical history, this may require a medical exam and doctor’s notes. With full medical underwriting, there is more certainty of what is covered on your policy and what is excluded.
• In-patient: To qualify as an in-patient, you must have been admitted to hospital and spent at least one night in a hospital bed.
• IPT (Insurance premium tax): The tax levied on general insurance premiums for those living in the UK.
• Moratorium underwriting: A simpler and quicker form of underwriting that does not require your full medical history, although it may not cover you for illnesses or conditions that have occurred in the last few years. With this option, it’s important to be completely clear on what your provider considers to be a pre-existing condition.
• NCD (No-claims discount): A discount applied to a premium, typically applied when no claim has been made.
• Out-patient: A patient who visits hospital typically for a diagnostic test or consultation.
• Self-pay: Self-pay healthcare is used when someone receives private medical treatment and decides to pay their medical bill directly without claiming on their insurance.
• Underwriting: The underwriting of a policy measures the risk of someone’s health which then stipulates the terms and conditions of a policy.