Private health
insurance exclusions
What are health insurance exclusions?
Before you take out health insurance, it’s important that you have a thorough understanding of what is and isn’t covered. This will usually depend on the type of cover you take out, but there are some things that are generally not covered on most policies, whatever provider you choose.
Take a look over our guide to things you can expect not to be covered with health insurance.
To find out more about our Comprehensive health insurance or Treatment and care call us on 01134950976^ or
What are pre-existing conditions?
Health insurance doesn't generally cover pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions, and ailments related to it, are often excluded from your policy because health insurance is designed to treat new conditions that occur after your cover has started.
When you take out health insurance cover with us, we’ll normally ask you to fill out a medical history form to help us confirm what your policy will and won’t cover for you.
There are two different underwriting options: full medical underwriting (available online and over the phone) and Moratorium (available only over the phone).
If you select full medical underwriting, this means that your medical history is taken into account at the point of joining by completing a medical history form. We then decide what conditions we may or may not be able to cover. We usually don’t cover you (or any family members on your policy) for conditions that existed before you take out insurance with us.
With Moratorium you complete a medical form at point of claiming for a new condition. You will not be covered for any pre-existing medical conditions until two years have passed without any incident for each condition.
What are chronic conditions?
Your health insurance policy may not cover any chronic conditions you have. Chronic conditions are conditions that:
- Need ongoing or long-term monitoring through consultations, examinations, check-ups and/or tests
- Need ongoing or long-term control or relief of symptoms
- It requires your rehabilitation or for you to be specially trained to cope with it
- It continues indefinitely
- It has no known cure
- It comes back or is likely to come back
These conditions aren’t covered because health insurance is used to treat acute conditions where you can receive treatment in a private healthcare facility to restore your health back to how it previously was. You can however, sometimes claim for unexpected flare ups of chronic conditions.
What counts as cosmetic surgery?
Procedures to change your appearance – known as cosmetic surgery - are generally not covered by health insurance. This is because most policies are made to cover and treat medical conditions whereas cosmetic surgery is considered a lifestyle choice.
Most insurers will however, pay for reconstructive surgery for medical reasons. We will pay for eligible treatment to restore your appearance as a direct result of an accident or cancer surgery, for example. However, this applies if the accident or surgery was during continuous period of cover under this agreement or under any other Bupa medical insurance provided without a break in your cover.
Additional exclusions from our health insurance policy
There are certain conditions that most insurers won’t cover treatment costs for, as well as pre-existing and chronic conditions, and cosmetic surgery. Some of which include:
- Accident and emergency treatment
- Allergies, allergic disorders or food intolerances
- Birth control, conception and sexual problems
- Gender dysphoria or gender affirmation
- Deafness
- Dental or oral treatment
- Dialysis
- Treatment to correct eyesight (eg long or short)
- Intensive care (other than in some specific circumstances)
- Learning difficulties, behavioural and developmental conditions
- Overseas treatment and repatriation
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Puberty, menopause and ageing
- Sleep problems and disorders
- Speech disorders
- Varicose veins of the legs
Interested in private healthcare? We’ve got you covered.
With our family health insurance, if a member of your family becomes unwell we’ll make sure they get all the help they need, fast – so you can get right back to being you.
Everything you need to know about health insurance
Our useful guides are here to help you understand the fundamentals of health insurance. We also cover a number of key health topics – such as looking after yourself as a parent and taking care of your children’s health.
Getting health insurance when you’re self-employed
If you’re self-employed you may be considering health insurance to give you peace of mind for your business.
Will I need an excess on my health insurance policy?
Health insurance policies often include an excess. This is fairly standard with most insurance policies, but it’s worth understanding the impact excess can have on your cover.
In-patient vs. out-patient cover
When you’re looking at health insurance policies you may come across terms like in-patient and out-patient cover and not fully understand what these include.
Do I need private health insurance?
If you’re considering private health insurance, you may be weighing up if you need it or not. We’ve broken down the benefits so you can see if it suits your personal needs.
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Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.
