Why PMI?

Not everyone has private medical insurance (PMI). However, it's something that while many people haven't given much thought to it, they'd in fact they'd stand to gain a lot from the benefits it provides.

And a recent Express article makes this point very well indeed - taking the topical subject of Movember, they quote figures from one PMI provider who said that in 2012, fourteen per cent of all its private medical claims involved prostate and testicular cancer.

Part of the challenge for the PMI industry is, of course, that when you're 100% healthy you may be unlikely to think about medical cover. But as one MD of a health insurance provider points out in the article, when you're in 'fine fettle' is the best time to think about a policy rather than wait until you have a problem with your health.

The price of health cover of course depends on a number of factors, including:

• Your age - and of course the longer you leave it, the higher the cost of premiums will be
• What cover you take out. Policies are modular so you don't need to pay for anything you don't require. This can mean that basic cover levels may surprise you with how inexpensive they can be.
• Which provider you use. Worth shopping around and getting the policy and provider that you feel is the best for you.