Frequently Asked Questions
Provided you are living and working outside of your home country then persons of all nationalities and dependants are eligible for cover, with the exception of the following:
Permanent USA Residents
Swiss local nationals
Southern Ireland local nationals
This is due to the insurance legislation in these countries.
Yes, our maximum age of entry is 74 and once you have joined you will be offered lifetime renewal.
Yes, they can be covered under your own policy up until the age of 21 if they are in full time education, provided they have the same level of cover. If you wish your children to have a different level of benefits from your own, then it is possible to cover them under a separate policy.
Yes, provided that there is no break in cover from your previous insurer and a Health Declaration is completed and accepted by our Underwriters. We shall also require a copy of your current Certificate of Insurance.
No, a simple Application Form is required, just detailing who is to be insured, level of cover required and payment details.
Once you have been a policyholder for two years and you have also had, whilst you are a member of the plan, a two-year treatment free period then it is possible to cover pre-existing medical conditions. This is provided that you have had no symptoms, consulted a Doctor or taken medication during that two-year period.
This is called a two-year moratorium.
Yes, the plans are annual and cover is available on a yearly renewable basis. You can pay your annual premium by quarterly or monthly (surcharge will apply).
No, this can only be effected at your renewal date other than a change in your Area of Cover. This is to accommodate a change of residence.
Yes, within your Area of Cover you have complete freedom of choice to select which hospital you wish to use.
In other words, we do not have a Hospital Beds Directory from which you have to use those hospitals listed.
Yes, within your Area of Cover you have complete freedom of choice to select which Doctor or Specialist you wish to use
A Chronic Condition is where it continues indefinitely and there is no known cure, is permanent or needs long term monitoring.
Under the International Healthplan routine management and palliative treatment of chronic conditions are covered in addition to acute phases. Under the Prima plan where there is an acute episode or flare-up of a chronic condition a full refund is given. Routine management and palliative treatment of chronic conditions are not covered under the Prima plan.
No, the premiums are according to your age and your own claiming experience does not affect your premiums.
No, and in the same way we do not increase your premiums if you claim.
Yes, there are up to 8 different excess options available - you can choose a lower or higher excess and this will result in a premium discount or loading. The excess applies to each person per policy year.
The higher your excess the lower your premium.
Under both our international plans the standard excess is £150 : €225 : US$280 and applies to in-patient, day-patient and out-patient treatment only. The excess applies to each person per policy year.
Under our International Healthplan the standard excess is £150: €225: US$280 and applies to out-patient treatment only. If you increase your excess then it applies to both in-patient and out-patient treatment.
In other words, whichever costs you incur first, whether in-patient or out-patient. The excess applies to each new medical condition. Our Prima plan has a standard excess of £150: €225: US$280 and this applies first to either in-patient or out-patient treatment, and to each insured person per policy year.
No, there is just a six month waiting period for dental cover and an eleven month waiting period for pregnancy cover.
You can pay your premium in any PayCurrency and we will provide the exchange rate to the £ sterling. You can also pay your premiums in £ sterling, € euros and US$ dollars and receive benefits in those currencies.
Yes, you can pay quarterly or monthly by credit or debit card.
Your premium will increase as a result of medical inflation and also with increasing age. However, like all insures we work to ensure that any increases are kept to an absolute minimum.
This is the increasing costs associated with treatment and diagnostic procedures carried out in Hospitals and by Consultants. Increased technology means that new equipment is developed and procedures and tests are undertaken that were not available a few years ago.