How to switch health insurance

Switching health insurance means changing your health insurance policy from one provider to another.

When you switch, your existing health insurance terms and conditions end, and a new set begins with your new insurer.

If you have a health insurance policy with one provider, it may be possible to change to another.

However, the decision to switch is something you should think about, based on your individual circumstances.

If you’re considering switching, the best thing to do is to call your current provider to find out the options they can offer you.

This will help you make an informed decision about whether to stay with your current provider, or to switch to a new one.

Who can switch?

Anyone can switch insurers, but you must consider if:

• You’ve not claimed on your current or any previous health insurance policies
• Your health hasn’t changed in the last five years
• You have a pre-existing health condition, but haven’t had any symptoms related to it in the last two years.

Some things can mean it’s less suitable for you to switch health insurers. You might find it harder to switch if:

• You’ve claimed in the last five years
• You’ve had NHS treatment in the last five years
• You’re claiming on your current policy
• You’ve developed a new condition or symptoms in the last five years

It’s important to understand whether switching health insurance providers could mean you’re unable to claim for health conditions you already have.

Check the terms and conditions for any policies you’re interested in. If you’re not sure how your cover will be affected by your conditions or treatment, you should ask the insurer. You might also want to get independent advice

Knowing this information before deciding to switch can help you choose the best health insurance policy for you.

Reviewing your health insurance options each year can help you find a provider that best suits your needs.

Insurers may offer varying levels of cover and different health insurance benefits. It’s worth exploring these differences, along with the hospitals you’ll have access to if you need treatment.

Remember: you might lose cover for conditions you’ve been claiming for. That’s because conditions you already have when you take out your policy aren’t usually covered by health insurance.

If you want to save money on your health insurance, you might find it more suitable to reduce the level of cover you have instead. For example, you might decide to lower your cover limit or choose from a smaller number of hospitals. You can ask your insurer for ways to bring the cost of your policy down.

Insurers use information about your health and lifestyle to decide what type of cover you can get. This is known as underwriting.

If you’re currently claiming, it may make more sense to wait until your whole treatment period has ended before changing insurers. This is because some insurers won't offer cover for any ongoing or existing conditions.

They may also not cover any future claims relating to your current treatment.

The facilities you can use and the consultants you can see may vary between insurers. If you’re thinking about switching health insurance providers, it’s worth researching the hospital and consultants that are covered by other insurers.

Even if you’re getting treated under your policy, you can be charged an admin fee if you cancel or change your policy mid-year.

You may be able to change health insurance at any point during the year. However, it’s easier to switch if you aren’t undergoing any medical treatment and have no previous claims.

You may be charged for changing or cancelling your policy, mid-year.

If you’ve claimed before, waiting until the end of your current policy may make it easier to switch.

Cancelling or changing your health insurance policy mid-year may lead to admin charges. These admin charges may apply even if you’ve not made a claim.

If you have health insurance through your employer, you might be able to continue having cover, even if you change jobs.

You’d need to speak with your current insurer before you change jobs to see if they can offer you similar cover on a personal policy that you pay for yourself.

Here’s what to do if you’re changing jobs:

1. Ask your employer when your employee health insurance cover ends.
2. At least a month before changing jobs, contact the health insurer you’re covered with through your employer.
3. They may give you a quote for personal health insurance, based on your medical history and the level of cover you’d like. You’d have to pay for your own policy, either monthly or in one payment for the year.
4. You’ll usually have a few weeks to decide if you’d like to stay with your current insurer, after you’ve left your job. If you do this, you may be able to have the same or similar cover and continue to claim for ongoing conditions and treatment. If your policy date starts in the past, your payments may be backdated.

Find out more about leaving your employer provided health insurance policy