Medical underwriting
Learn about medical underwriting and choose what works best for you.
Edited by:
Jordan Ayrey, health insurance expert at Bupa
Last updated 1 November 2024
2 minute read
What is medical underwriting?
Medical underwriting is how a health insurer creates your insurance policy.
Common types of medical underwriting
- Full medical underwriting – Insurers use your medical history to decide what is covered before the policy begins
- Moratorium – Insurers only ask about your medical history when you make a claim
- Medical history disregarded – Insurers do not ask about your medical history at any stage
Full medical underwriting
Full medical underwriting is when an insurer asks about your lifestyle and medical history before the policy starts.
This tells them if you have any pre-existing conditions so they can confirm what you’re covered for.
With this type of medical underwriting, you’ll only be able to claim for any new conditions. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
For example, if you injured your knee before your policy started, any treatment linked to this injury may not be covered.
Why choose this?
Full medical underwriting gives you a clear idea of exactly what’s covered, and what isn’t, before your policy starts. The application takes a little longer, but making a claim is quick and easy.
Moratorium underwriting
With moratorium underwriting, you don’t have to tell insurers about any health issues before cover starts. Instead, they’ll only ask for your medical history when you make a claim.
When you claim the insurer will decide if the condition was pre-existing and whether it can be covered.
If you’ve not had any symptoms, treatment, or medical advice for this condition for at least two years, you may be able to have the condition treated.
For example, if you injured your knee but have not needed any treatment or medical advice for this injury in the last two years, you should be covered.
Important to know
Although it’s quicker to get insured this way, it might take longer to have claims approved while checks take place. And it might cost you money to get a pre-treatment form completed by your doctor.
Are pre-existing conditions the only things not usually covered?
There are usually other general exclusions as part of any health insurance cover.
These usually include cosmetic surgery, pregnancy and chronic conditions.
More about exclusions
Is it cheaper to have full medical underwriting?
In general, price is based on age, location and lifestyle.
Full medical underwriting lets insurers check what they can and can’t cover and doesn’t usually impact price.
Insurers may also ask general health questions. This includes smoking habits and how active you are, which could affect your price.

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Health insurance guides
How does private health insurance work?
Everything you need to know about how cover works.
Pre-existing conditions
Learn about pre-existing conditions and what you’re covered for.
Types of health insurance
We explain about different types of cover.
Health insurance exclusions
What is and isn’t covered by health insurance?

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