Who is Chase Templeton Ltd?

Chase Templeton Ltd is an independent health insurance specialist; we represent clients large & small using a broad range of medical insurance providers. Chase Templeton Ltd is authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The documentation prepared and sent to you by Chase Templeton Ltd is designed to provide all the information that you need to make an informed decision about purchasing a policy.

If this information has been given to you by an Independent Financial Adviser or other professional, it is possible that they may not be members or have the permission required by the FSA and will therefore, be classed as an Introducer. An Introducer is not permitted to give you any advice on the plan or help you to complete the forms for your health insurance. If you have any questions please call Chase Templeton Ltd’s Freephone number 0800 018 3633.

What is the Financial Services Authority?

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the independent watchdog set up by government under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to regulate financial services in the UK, and protect the rights of retail customers. The FSA aims are to promote and maintain confidence in the UK financial system, protection for consumers and reduce financial crime.

What does the FSA do for me, the customer?

The way the FSA protects your rights varies according to the types of product you buy. It also depends on whether you were given advice or whether you decide to buy without advice.

With most products and services, the regulations give some protection if you are negligently or fraudulently advised to take out a product which turns out to be unsuitable. If you decide to buy without taking any advice, you are responsible for your choice. If you are in any doubt, get advice. The FSA will ensure you have
The rights to:

• firms that are financially sound and trustworthy
• salespeople and advisers who are competent
• information on which to base your decisions
• clear procedures for making a complaint
• compensation if something goes wrong

What is Private Medical Insurance?

Private Medical Insurance is designed to allow you to receive treatment privately, avoiding delays through the NHS in securing treatment for eligible medical conditions.

Private Medical Insurance (PMI) provides cover for acute, treatable medical conditions.

Are there any conditions that are normally excluded on a medical insurance plan?
Yes. In general, most medical insurance plans do not cover the following:

• Normal pregnancy, drug abuse, infertility, GP fees, any medical prescriptions, normal dentistry, alcohol abuse, self inflicted injuries, AIDS, chronic long term illness such as diabetes or asthma, cosmetic surgery or regular renal dialysis.
• Medical conditions suffered prior to joining a new plan are known as pre-existing conditions. All plans for individuals and their families exclude pre-existing conditions either permanently, or for a given period of time.

How does the health insurance company decide what to exclude?

When you complete the application form for membership, you are generally offered two alternative styles of what is called "Underwriting"; in other words the means by which the company reviews and accepts your application.

1. MORATORIUM UNDERWRITING

With moratorium underwriting, the health insurance company will take on each individual covered by the plan, but will exclude any medical condition where medical advice, medication, or treatment has been sought in a given period, usually five years before joining the plan.

Once the individual has been free of all medication, treatments, consultations and symptoms for that condition, or any related condition, for a given period after joining the plan, usually 2 years, they will automatically be covered for that condition.

There are some pre-existing conditions, such as heart problems, cancer and psychiatric conditions that will never be covered by the plan, as the member will have regular checkups and/or medication.

2. FULL UNDERWRITING

With Full Underwriting, a medical declaration is given by each person to be covered by the medical insurance plan. This information is then put before an underwriter, who will assess the risk factors for each person. Normally, any previous serious medical conditions, and possibly non-serious conditions, will be permanently excluded from cover. In extreme cases, cover may be refused.

Usually you are offered the choice of these two methods although some medical insurance providers only offer Full Underwriting. Regardless of underwriting styles, it is important that all questions are answered in full as failure to disclose information could invalidate the policy.

Do all the health insurance companies offer the same sort of benefits?

No, benefits do vary significantly from one health insurance company to the next. Comparing policies is a little easier now because all companies have to offer a benefits table laid out in the same format.

In general terms there are two types of scheme:

• BUDGET PLANS, these cover inpatient and day case costs, but won't cover outpatient consultations and tests. Some of them cover limited outpatient costs if they relate in some way to inpatient procedures.
• COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, these cover outpatient costs as well as inpatient costs, but check the benefit table carefully, sometimes there are limits to the amount you can claim in any one year.

Benefit tables for the medical insurance plan or plans recommended will be enclosed with your documents. If you have any questions about them please call Chase Templeton Ltd.

Which health insurance policy is recommended for me?

The policy or policies suggested will depend on a number of factors:

• Do you want a comprehensive private healthcare plan or are you willing to pay for any outpatient costs yourself to reduce the monthly premiums?
• What is your age, medical insurance plans are good value for younger age groups but get very expensive as you get older.
• Where do you live? Some medical insurance plans are good value in the provinces but more expensive the nearer you live to London.
• Do you have any specific requirements such as cover for complementary therapies?
• Are there any specific hospitals you want the health insurance company to include?
• Are you happy to have a voluntary excess on the plan to reduce monthly premiums, or even pay a proportion of the claim yourself to reduce premiums still further?

Taking into account the above, a personal quotation and Key Features documents of specific health insurance plans should be included within your information pack; together with comparison quotations of alternatives in ascending order of premium. Your pack should also enclose a listing of the benefits of all the comparable policies.