FAQs

 What if I don't know which options to choose for my health insurance plan?

Don't worry if you're not sure which options are right for you. We can talk through the different options with you and help you decide which ones will suit your needs best. All you have to do is call us free on 0800 33 33 50 or you can use web chat if you want to talk to someone online (Mon-Fri 8am to 7pm).

 Can I choose which hospital/consultant I can go to?

This is dependent on the hospital list you choose. For example, you would be unable to choose your consultant on the Guided Option hospital list. If you would like further details, call us.

 Do you have an upper age limit?

The age limit for joining our plans is 79 (64 for Travel Cover), however once you have joined you can remain insured with Standard Life for as long as you like.

 Do you cover non UK residents?

We only provide cover if you live in the UK for at least six months of the year and have a UK-based GP.

 Do I need to have a medical?

No medical exam is necessary.

 Do you need to write to my GP for my records?

Providing you answer our health questionnaire as fully as possible then we wouldn't expect to write to your GP.

 How does a moratorium work?

The moratorium means that when you take out a plan with Standard Life, all pre-existing conditions that you have received medical treatment for, had symptoms of, asked advice on or were aware existed in the five years before the start of your plan are excluded. These conditions could become eligible for cover if you remain free from medication, treatment and advice for two consecutive years from the start of your plan.

Of course, we strongly advise you not to delay seeking medical advice or treatment for a medical condition during the moratorium period simply to obtain cover under your plan.

 How does my age affect my premiums?

As you get older you are more likely to claim on your plan so premiums rise with age. However, as we have exact age pricing this means your premiums gradually rise each year rather than getting the bigger increase that often happens with wide age bands.

 Will my premiums change after I take out my plan, and if so, when?

Your premium will be reviewed at each annual renewal date of your plan. Several factors affect health insurance premiums. Like all insurers, our premiums are set to reflect the overall level of claims we experience and the effects of medical inflation. As science and medicine is moving forward very quickly the cost of medical treatment generally rises faster than inflation and our premiums need to reflect this.

You can also influence your premiums by opting to pay an excess.

For every year you don't make a claim, you will be rewarded according to our generous no-claims discount scale and move up one level - up to the maximum of 65%. If you need to make a claim, you will go down just two levels on our scale.

 If I have an existing condition, for instance a heart condition or diabetes, would I be able to get a private healthcare plan, or have to pay more for it?

It's rare that we can't offer a plan due to someone's medical history, but we would not be able to include cover for the existing condition or related conditions that arise from it.

You would not have to pay more for your cover.

 What excess levels do you offer?

We offer 15 excess levels - £50 increments from £50 to £500, as well as £75, £750, £1,000, £2,500 and £5,000. You can choose to apply your excess on a per claim basis or per person, per plan year.

 Are there any other ways to further reduce costs without cutting essential cover?

With the NHS wait option you could reduce your premiums by up to 15%. If treatment is available quickly on the NHS then you can't claim on your plan. However, if you have to wait any longer than six weeks for in-patient treatment or day-patient treatment on the NHS, we will immediately step in and pay for you to be treated at a private hospital on your chosen hospital list.

 What if I choose to be treated in an NHS hospital?

If you are eligible for private hospital treatment for a condition covered under your plan, but choose instead to stay as an NHS patient, we will pay a cash sum of £250 for each night you spend as an in-patient, up to a total of £2,000 per plan year.

If you require day-patient treatment we will pay a cash sum of £125 per day for a maximum of four days per plan year.

 I've held private health insurance with my current insurer for eight years. I claimed six years ago, and it's all finished with no ongoing illness. Will the claim affect my premiums?

When you switch to Standard Life we will automatically reward you by giving a starter no-claims discount that reflects your claims history. Because your claim was so long ago, you would be eligible for an enhanced no-claims discount.

 When you say I can switch to you and bring my underwriting terms with me, does that mean my cover will be the same as with my current insurer?

If you're happy with your current benefits we'll do all we can to match them as closely as possible. We'll usually be able to offer you continuous cover on the same underwriting terms you have with your existing insurer, which means that you could be covered for previous conditions. If your current cover is subject to a moratorium clause on pre-existing conditions then this will continue to apply with us.

Of course, our plans won't exactly match your existing cover, so you'll need to check that you're happy with the benefits, terms and conditions we offer you before you cancel your current plan. Also, there must be no break in cover between when your current plan ends and the date that cover begins under your new plan.

 What if I am unhappy with my cover?

With our no-quibble, money-back guarantee you have 14 days to look through your terms and conditions when you first receive them. If you are not completely satisfied, you are free to cancel your plan and receive a full refund of any premiums you have paid, provided you have not made a claim in the meantime.

Should you have a complaint about your plan we have a complaint procedure in place and we will do our utmost to put things right. In the unlikely event that we cannot resolve the issue, you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.