Can I get health insurance with a pre-existing condition?

Yes — all seven major UK PMI insurers will insure you. The pre-existing condition itself will be excluded (either temporarily on moratorium, or permanently on FMU) but you can still be fully covered for unrelated conditions.

What is moratorium underwriting?

Moratorium underwriting asks no medical questions at quote. Any condition you had symptoms of, treatment for or medication for in the last 5 years is excluded. That condition returns to cover after you have been 24 continuous months symptom-free, treatment-free and medication-free while insured.

What is Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)?

FMU requires you to declare your full medical history at quote. The insurer confirms exactly what is excluded, usually permanently. It offers certainty upfront and is often the right choice for chronic or complex conditions.

Continued Personal Medical Exclusions is a switching mechanism. Your new insurer carries forward the exclusions from your existing PMI, letting you switch without new underwriting or losing built-up cover. All seven UK insurers accept CPME switches.

Which insurer is best for pre-existing conditions?

The Exeter Health+ and WPA Flexible Health lead the market for tailored FMU on complex history. Bupa By You is the strongest all-round choice for CPME switches and standard moratorium. PremierPMI benchmarks all three every time.

Does family history count as a pre-existing condition?

No. A pre-existing condition is something you personally have had symptoms of, treatment for or medication for. Family history of cancer, diabetes or heart disease does not itself count.

Will controlled diabetes or hypertension stop me getting PMI?

No — you can be covered, with the condition itself excluded. Moratorium will bring it back into cover after 24 months symptom-free (rare for chronic conditions on medication). See our dedicated diabetes and blood pressure pages.

What happens if I develop a new condition after taking PMI?

A condition that develops after your policy start date is fully covered — that is exactly what PMI is designed for. It only becomes 'pre-existing' if it was symptomatic before you took the policy out.

Moratorium vs Full Medical Underwriting vs CPME explained. How to get UK PMI with a pre-existing condition — PremierPMI advice. Call 020 4525 0884.

Health Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions UK

UK PMI treats pre-existing conditions in three ways. Moratorium underwriting excludes conditions you had symptoms of in the last 5 years, but returns them to cover after 24 continuous symptom-free/treatment-free months. Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) asks about your history at quote and permanently excludes stated conditions. Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) carries forward exclusions from an existing PMI when you switch insurer. PremierPMI benchmarks all three approaches across all seven UK insurers to find your best route.

'Pre-existing condition' is UK PMI's most misunderstood term. Legally, it is any condition — diagnosed or not — that you had symptoms of, took medication for, or received advice about in a defined lookback period. On moratorium underwriting the lookback is 5 years; on FMU it is your entire medical history. The definition matters because it decides whether treatment for that condition is covered.
Three underwriting approaches exist. **Moratorium** (default on Bupa, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Freedom, The Exeter): no medical questions at quote. Any condition symptomatic in the last 5 years is excluded, but returns to cover after you have been 24 continuous months symptom-free, treatment-free and medication-free while insured. **Full Medical Underwriting** (available on Bupa, AXA, Aviva, WPA, The Exeter): declare full history upfront, insurer confirms exactly what is excluded permanently. Better if you want certainty. **Continued Personal Medical Exclusions** (available across the market for switchers): your new insurer carries forward the exclusions from your existing PMI, letting you switch without new underwriting.
The right choice depends on your history. Well-controlled type 2 diabetes reversed by lifestyle — moratorium wins. A hip that has been fine for 3+ years but had a diagnosis 4 years ago — moratorium wins. Any chronic condition still being treated (bipolar, RA, MS, active cancer) — FMU or CPME, because moratorium will never bring it back into cover. Family history alone is NEVER a pre-existing condition — you cannot be excluded for something you have not had.

PremierPMI is a UK private medical insurance broker specialising in whole-of-market placement across 10+ leading UK health insurers including Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Freedom Health, The Exeter, General & Medical and National Friendly. FCA regulated (Tesha Family Ltd, FRN 1029667). Speak to a broker on 020 4525 0884, WhatsApp 07515 703307, or email contact@premierpmi.co.uk.

Speak to a UK PMI broker

PremierPMI's brokers are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. Call 020 4525 0884, message us on WhatsApp 07515 703307, or email contact@premierpmi.co.uk. You can also request a callback or meet our team.