Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

It's when you need to make a claim that you realise just how wise investing in health and medical insurance can be.

With NHS hospital queues still growing, private medical insurance is an appealing, though often expensive, buy.

And what you pay for is what you get. Premiums are worked out on the basis of age and the type of cover required and there is a wide range of different insurances to choose from.

At the basic level PMI clicks in when you need specialist treatment or you need to go into hospital. Some policies cover you if the NHS cannot provide treatment within a certain period of time.

At the luxury end of the market there are policies that cover a wide range of medical services such as dentistry, eye care and even spectacles, although the more a policy covers, the higher the premium will be.

PMI is complicated for those approaching it for the first time. In order to make sure the policy you choose is the right one to meet your needs it is worth speaking to an adviser who has specialist knowledge in medical policies and can guide you through the maze of different offerings on the market.

The plan will have no cash in value at any time and will cease at the end of the term. If premiums are not maintained, then cover will lapse.