Private medical insurance

Published: 19 August 2013

Private medical insurance (PMI) is an insurance policy designed to pay for the cost of private medical treatment for certain ‘acute’ conditions that start after a policy begins.

Most insurers define an acute condition as a disease, illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and aims to return someone to the state of health they were in immediately before suffering the disease, illness or injury, or which leads to their full recovery.

A policyholder won’t normally be covered for any illnesses they are currently suffering from, or have already had. These are known as ‘pre-existing conditions’.

Can you get a PMI policy if you have HIV?

Someone with HIV won’t be able to take out a PMI policy. If they have an existing PMI policy, taken out before a positive HIV diagnosis was made, then it’s advisable to check the terms and conditions of the policy. In most cases HIV will be on a list of exclusions and not be covered. In some cases HIV contracted through industrial injury (such as a needlestick injury to a health professional) might be covered, so it’s important to check the small print.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.