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Insurance is there to give you peace of mind in case you become injured or unwell. It’s meant to make a difficult situation a little easier and give you one less thing to worry about. Yet when it comes to private health insurance, making a claim can feel surprisingly daunting.
Whether a persistent pain has prompted you to see your GP or an unexpected diagnosis means you need treatment, your focus should be on your health – not worrying about whether using the insurance you’ve been paying for could leave you facing a higher premium next year.
But with some health insurance policies, making a claim can affect how much you pay in future. And if the prospect of rising costs makes you think twice about claiming, it’s worth considering if your cover is working the way you need it to.
To show you how straightforward insurance can be, we’ve partnered with private medical plan provider HMCA (Hospital & Medical Care Association), a family-owned health insurance specialist which takes a very different approach. The only premium increase is due to age. Making a claim won’t affect your future HMCA premium, so you don’t have to worry that using your cover could make it more expensive later on.
After all, private health insurance should be something you feel comfortable using. So, whether you already have cover or you’re considering it for the first time, what should you know about making a claim – and what else is worth looking for in a policy?
Why can making a claim affect your health insurance premium?
Lots of things can affect the price of private health insurance, from your age and where you live to the type and level of cover you choose. But with some insurers, whether you’ve made a claim can also affect how much you pay when it’s time to renew.
For example, certain health insurers offer a no-claims discount, which works in a similar way to car insurance; the longer you go without claiming, the bigger your discount may become. Make a claim, however, and you could lose some or all of it – potentially leaving you with a higher premium at renewal. Other insurers may take your claims history into account when working out what you’ll pay in future.
Of course, none of this means you shouldn’t claim when you need to – that’s exactly what insurance is there for. But it’s worth understanding how your particular policy works before you find yourself needing treatment.
Health insurance should be there when you need it
Private medical insurance can give you access to private consultations, tests, and treatment for eligible conditions, potentially allowing you to be seen sooner and giving you more choice over aspects of your care. But if you’re worried that actually using your policy could make it more expensive, some of that reassurance can quickly disappear.
With HMCA, making a claim won’t affect your future premium. And if you’re diagnosed with a serious health condition, HMCA also aims to maintain competitive subscription levels rather than leaving you facing an increase at a time when you may need your cover most. Needing medical treatment can be stressful enough without worrying about what making a claim might cost you further down the line.
Worried your premium will rise if you make a claim?
At HMCA, claims don’t impact your premium, so you can claim with confidence. Whether you’re choosing private medical insurance for the first time or switching, their comprehensive plans and personal service give you peace of mind.
Join today and get £150 off your first-year subscription^
^Offer only applies to Medical Plans
A simple claims process can make a big difference, too
Of course, what happens to your premium isn’t the only thing that matters. Forms, automated phone systems, long waits for answers, and uncertainty about what comes next can be frustrating at the best of times – and when you’re already worried about your health, they’re the last things you want to deal with. So, when comparing plans, it’s worth finding out how straightforward it is to claim.
HMCA has a dedicated UK-based claims team, and there are no automated phone menus to navigate; instead, members can speak directly to someone from the team. The process is designed to move quickly too: HMCA says that 93% of claims were processed on the same day between 1st May and 31st August 2026.
HMCA are also happy to pay a specialist directly on your behalf or reimburse you, taking one more job off your hands when you already have enough to think about.
Other things worth checking
Price is obviously an important consideration when comparing private health insurance. But a cheaper policy isn’t necessarily better value if it doesn’t offer the right cover or flexibility. So, whether you’re choosing a plan for the first time or thinking about renewing, here are a few other questions worth asking.
- Is there an excess? This is the amount you agree to pay towards treatment before your insurer contributes. HMCA’s Medical Care Plan doesn’t have a compulsory excess, although members can choose one if they’d like to reduce their subscription.
- Can I choose where I’m treated? Some policies offer more choice than others, so it’s a good idea to check which hospitals and specialists you’ll be able to use. HMCA members can choose from a wide range of participating private hospitals and specialists.
- What exactly is – and isn’t – covered? Be sure to check any exclusions and benefit limits carefully. Private medical insurance won’t cover every health problem or type of treatment, so it’s important to know what you’re paying for before you sign up.
Already have private health insurance? It could be worth reviewing it
Once we’ve taken out insurance, it’s easy to let the same policy roll over year after year. But, just as you might shop around for a better deal on your home or car insurance, it’s worth checking whether your health cover is still giving you good value.
Switching providers doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch, either. If you transfer to HMCA from another medical plan, future claims for acute conditions that began while you were covered by your previous plan can be honoured. However, any treatment or investigations already underway when you join will need to be fully disclosed and accepted by HMCA.
Shopping around could save you money, too. According to HMCA, 96% of members who transferred from another provider between 1st May and 31st August 2026 saved money by switching.
Aim to protect your future health by getting health insurance early
If you don’t currently have private health insurance, it can be easy to put it off – especially when you’re feeling fit and well. But that can actually be one of the best times to consider your options. If you wait until you develop symptoms or receive a diagnosis, you may find that the condition isn’t covered by a new policy.
It’s helpful to think of private medical insurance as protection against what might happen, rather than something you take out once you know you need treatment.
HMCA accepts new members of any age and doesn’t require a medical examination. If you don’t already have private medical cover, pre-existing conditions may initially be excluded. However, HMCA says that a pre-existing condition can become eligible for cover after one full year of membership, provided you’ve been free from both symptoms and treatment for 12 consecutive months.
Worried your premium will rise if you make a claim?
At HMCA, claims don’t impact your premium, so you can claim with confidence. Whether you’re choosing private medical insurance for the first time or switching, their comprehensive plans and personal service give you peace of mind.
Join today and get £150 off your first-year subscription^
^Offer only applies to Medical Plans
What else does HMCA offer?
HMCA has been providing private medical plans for more than 48 years, although its plans aren’t available to the general public. They’re exclusive to members of recognised groups, professional bodies, and associations, including Rest Less, which allows HMCA to offer a more personalised service to its members.
Its Medical Care Plan includes benefits towards outpatient, day-case, and inpatient treatment, and there’s no upper age limit for joining. There are also several levels of cover available, making it easier to find an option that suits both your needs and your budget.
If you’re thinking about joining, HMCA is currently offering new Medical Plan members the choice of a £100 Amazon, Marks & Spencer, or John Lewis gift card, or £150 off their subscription.
Final thoughts...
Nobody takes out health insurance because they plan to become ill, and ideally, you’ll stay healthy and rarely – if ever – need significant medical treatment.
But the real test of any policy comes when you have to make a claim. At that point, you want to know your cover will make life easier, not leave you worrying about what it might cost you later on.
So, whether you’re considering private health insurance for the first time or have had the same policy for years, it’s worth asking yourself a simple question: would you feel comfortable actually using your cover?
After all, health insurance should give you one less thing to worry about when you’re unwell – not one more.