Advicemedical

Group health insurance rates have been increasing year after year and employers have been forced to make some drastic changes in their employee benefit programs. Many employers have changed their health insurance to high deductible plans. Dental Insurance has been discontinued by some companies as well as vision care. Disability programs have been trimmed down as well as group life insurance. This has created gaps in coverage and employees have had to look for alternatives for coverage that has been omitted or decreased in their benefit package. The answer to this problem has come in the form of supplemental health insurance. Supplemental health insurance companies will enroll employees with these products and the premiums are paid through payroll deduction.

Supplemental health Insurance Products

1.Disability Insurance Supplemental disability insurance is sold to employees to fill in gaps or replace lost benefits. Long term and short term disability insurance can be purchased with a variety of waiting periods and benefit periods.

2.Life Insurance Supplemental life insurance includes a variety of permanent plans as well as term life insurance. There are non-medical life policies available for larger groups when a certain amount of employees participate in the plan.

3.Dental Insurance This is one of the more popular supplemental health products because it usually the first discontinued by the employer.

4.Cancer Insurance The cancer policy is a single need policy with relatively low premiums.

5.Accident Insurance The accident policy covers accidental injury and death. There are accident disability riders on some accident policies.

6.Hospital Income The hospital income policy pays a daily pound rate to the insured while hospitalized. These policies can pay as low as 10 per day and as high as 200 for each day hospitalized.

The need for supplemental insurance is stronger than ever before. These policies can also be purchased on an individual basis with most companies.

Private medical insurance is a very useful policy to take out, yet the range of policies available means that you should ensure the terms and conditions meet your specific requirements

The origin of private medical insurance goes back a long way before the NHS was formed. In pre-NHS days, people contributed to friendly societies, which provided financial assistance to people in times of need. Some private medical insurance providers, such as BUPA, remain non-profit-distributing bodies, though there are also many commercial insurance companies providing private medical insurance these days. One of the best-known names in private medical insurance cover is AXA PPP healthcare ( http:www.axappphealthcare.co.uk ) which was actually conceived in 1938 to provide a health insurance scheme for middle income earners in London.

The principal aim of private medical insurance is designed to cover treatment of acute illness defined by Which? As conditions which can be cured or substantially alleviated by treatment. Treatment of chronic illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis or arthritis, may not be covered by private medical; so critical illness insurance might be more suitable. Critical insurance cover will be based on your individual requirements so shop around for the right policy and always be completely open with your insurance provider, or you may invalidate a claim at a later date.

Other treatments generally excluded from private medical insurance include cosmetic surgery, treatment for alcohol or drug abuse and infertility treatment. The majority of standard policies exclude private consultations of a GP, routine check-ups and dental work unless it is undertaken in a hospital. However, always check your private medical insurance policy as some will be more comprehensive than others.

Private medical insurance can be an effective way of ensuring swift access to medical care for your family. Just remember that insurance policies reflect your exact circumstances so dont assume that one size fits all.

For additional information on private medical insurance and critical illness insurance:

Be your own financial advisor, Which? Consumer Guides, author Jonquil Lowe

http:www.axappphealthcare.co.ukbodyhtmlconsumerproductsukpmi.jhtml (Private healthcare in the UK)

http:www.moneynet.co.ukinsurancecritical-illnessindex.shtml (Critical illness insurance information)

What is the biggest fear that most people have about visiting the doctor for medical treatment? Well for many it will undoubtedly be the discomfort of a medical examination or other such fear. But for a huge proportion, their big fear of the doctor will be the cost of the treatment.

The problem with visiting the doctor is that you will never know how much the whole service costs until after the treatment and you are presented with the bill. This unknown quantity with medical costs causes many people to shy away from paying the doctor a visit even when they should be getting treatment or at least a check up.

Therefore, one of the greatest assistances to your health could be getting some good medical insurance. Medical insurance can improve your health not just because it will pay out for expensive treatment in the case of a medical disaster or accident, but because it will make you more likely to visit the doctor for routine treatments and check ups. These are things that all medical professionals will advise you against postponing.

Visit the doctor does not have to be something you dread if you have proper medical coverage. Being secure in the knowledge that you and your families health costs are provided for, you can enjoy life more fully and when illness or accidents do occur, you will have one less thing to worry about and can concentrate all your energy and attention on getting well yourself of helping your family member to make a full and speedy recovery.

Medical research is starting to show a correlation between state of mind and recovery rates from illness. If you are happy and relaxed, you are far more likely to make a full recovery from illness, and the recovery is going to take less time, this means that if you can avoid having to worry about your medical bills because you have adequate insurance, your recovery will be helped, and this is before any account is taken of the better treatments and medicines that you will have access to as an insured patient.

These days, medical insurance is available from a variety of insurers at very competitive rates. You can ensure world class, state of the art treatment for you and your family with private medical insurance that will give you access to the services and treatments you need, when you need them, without the same problems of waiting lists and shortages of staff and funding that the public sector might be experiencing.

Medical Review Companies Role in Your Insurance Claims – Your Health, Your Coverage, Your Guarantee

A medical review company supplies more than a second opinion. The unbiased nature of a medical review company is critical not only to the bottom pound, but to the final result. Too often, patients think they are just numbers in a file or bits of information in a computer program. The maligned image of an insurance companys automatic denial of claims without really understanding the patients need contributes consumer dissatisfaction and frustration.

What Does It Have to Do With You?

Patients are people and when they need healthcare, they dont want to read the fine print or a medical dictionary, they just want their claims covered. Most often, its unlikely they would realize that their insurance claim went through an Insurance Review Organizations medical insurance review process. In fact, they probably just fill out the forms, hand a receptionist their insurance card and sign on the necessary release forms.

One of the most common complaints about needing healthcare is the cost followed closely by the complications of paperwork generated through authorization forms, claim forms and more. An insurance review organization is an intermediary company that insurance companies may outsource their claims to in order to determine with medical and insurance coverage accuracy the validity of a claim filed by someone insured by their company.

Your Health Matters

Insurance companies who deny a claim are often portrayed as heartless or more interested in the bottom pound than they are about showing compassion. This perception is only augmented when an insurance company rejects a claim for anecdotal evidence. When a claim goes through a medical review companys insurance review process it will not be rejected or denied based on anecdotal evidence.

For example, a patient suffers from shoulder, back and neck pain as well as bra strap grooving and eczema. Her medical history indicates years of chiropractic treatment as well as advice for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. Tylenol, Advil) and worn specialized support bras to support a 34DD frame and all of it to no success. Excessively large breasts can cause many of the symptoms the womans medical history indicated.

The doctor recommended a breast reduction procedure to alleviate the problem and the symptoms.

Your Coverage Matters

When the claim is submitted to the insurance company, the policy may not cover elective cosmetic procedures. Many policies do not. Claim managers lacking medical expertise will often compare a procedure request against a list of approved procedures. If cosmetic procedures are not covered, it is likely the claim will be denied. The patient is left either choosing to pay for the procedure out of pocket or continuing to suffer.

If the claim is submitted to a third party intermediary such as a medical review company, the answer will be different. The medical review company has access to a large number of medical specialist and insurance experts. The medical specialists will review the patients medical history and the doctors recommendations. When her file is reviewed, the third-party specialist will take into account the history of shoulder, neck and back pain. They will note the visits to a chiropractor and other pertinent symptoms.

If the medical specialist agrees with the patients physician that she is suffering from Macromastia (excessively large breasts), then he or she will understand that the cosmetic surgery of breast reduction provides the patient with the best option for the patients relief.

Confidence Matters

The review process may be transparent to patients whose insurance company uses a medical review company; but the effect is profound. Their coverage premiums will likely be lower. Their medical needs will be addressed. They will not see their healthcare costs rise due to the underwriting of unnecessary procedures. When it comes right down to it, a medical review company gives patients confidence that both their medical and insurance needs will be met. They wont have to suffer misery unnecessarily nor face collections over mounting debt.

Medical Insurance Rate – Why Does It Change And How Is It Decided?

Are you shopping for health insurance? Are you looking for the best rates? Are you totally confused? There are so many people scrambling for health insurance and are trying their best to compare the rates. This is not easy at first because the health insurance companies have had to come up with creative alternatives in their insurance portfolios. Those creative alternatives can give the average person an insurance headache.

The rising costs of hospital and physician services are always passed on to the consumer. The consumer depends on their insurance company to pay for their medical expenses in exchange for a premium. The medical rates are based on several criteria.

Here are a few:

1.Gender MaleFemale rates differ.

2.Tobacco – Non-Tobacco Tobacco users are higher

3.Household Status – Single, Parent-child, Parent-children, Husband-Wife, Husband-wife-child, Husband-wife-children

4.Deductible 500 to 5000 (with some companies)

There are some things that you can do to affect the rate. The most cost savings method is to choose a high deductible plan. The higher the deductible calculates into a lower the rate. Low deductibles no longer justify the premiums paid. This trend toward high deductibles is called self-insuring. You are taking on the financial responsibility for the deductible amount.

The best way to offset and prepare for the out of pocket deductible is to start a health savings account. This is a tax deductible savings plan for medical expenses. Its the equivalent of a medical IRA. The tax deduction offsets some of the out of pocket expense you incur with the higher deductible. Contact your tax advisor or accountant about starting a health savings account.

In the UK around 7 million people spend around 3 billion a year on medical insurance. One in seven policies are taken out by individuals with the balance being put in place by their employers. The problem is that Medical Insurance is complex and few policyholders take the time to really study the details of their cover. As a result, many misunderstand what will be covered. If you expect medical insurance to pay every health claim, you’re mistaken.

Medical Insurance is designed to provide protection for curable, short-term health problems and allow policyholders to jump the NHS queues to see consultants, be diagnosed, receive surgery or be treated. That sounds fine, but before you buy you need to appreciate the treatments and situations that fall outside the scope of the cover.

But first a word of warning. This article does not relate to any specific policy and the terms and conditions issued by individual insurers do vary. So please ensure you also check your policy documents. After reading this article, you’ll know what to look out for!

Sorry it’s a chronic condition

If a condition can be cured and is not a long-term problem, your insurance company will classify it as acute and should meet the cost. If your problem is incurable or it’s a problem that, despite appropriate treatment, will be with you for a long time, then your insurance company will classify it as chronic – and no, you won’t be covered.

But deciding whether a condition is acute or chronic is fraught with problems. It’s rarely a black and white decision and this can lead to a major area of conflict between policyholder and insurer.

It’s clear that asthma and diabetes are chronic conditions as you’re almost certain to suffer from them for the rest of your life. So those categories of illness are not covered.

Problems arise when Doctors initially consider a patients’ condition to be curable, but the condition later deteriorates and the medical team changes its’ mind, it’s now become incurable. This can sometimes happen, especially in the treatment of certain types of cancer.

In these circumstances, the condition is initially defined as acute and is therefore insured, but deteriorates and becomes chronic – and outside the terms of cover. This is possible as insurers retain the right to reclassify a condition from acute to chronic during treatment.

Sorry – it’s too long term
The insurance company will not pay out for long term treatment. But you need to check your policy documents to see how they define long-term. You can find the situation where a course of drugs extends for say 12 months, but the insurer will only pay for ten months.

Sorry it’s preventative
Your insurance is designed to pay for the treatment and cure of conditions when they arise. It is not designed to pay for treatments that are used to prevent an illness.

Again, the problem of definition arises. Sometimes it is arguable whether a treatment is preventative or a cure. Take the drug Herceptin for example. This drug can be used in the early stages of breast cancer. Research shows that Herceptin can halve the incidence of cancer returning for women who have a particularly virulent form of the cancer known as HER2. In this situation, is Herceptin offering a cure or is it a preventative?

Insurance companies are split on the debate. Norwich Union, WPA, BUPA and Standard Life Healthcare will pay for Herceptin for HER2 patients whereas Legal and General and Axa PPP will not.

Sorry the drug is not approved
Two of the main attractions for taking out medical insurance are: to jump the queues at the NHS, and to get the latest treatments and drugs. But there’s a rider.

The Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence exists to approve the use of new drugs by the NHS in England and Wales. Until that body has approved the drug your insurer is unlikely to pay for its use. The problem is that the Institute’s brief is to perform a costbenefit analysis to ensure that the financial benefits to the nation from using the drug, outweigh the costs of using it in the NHS. A difficult brief and it has placed the Institute under scrutiny for the extended delays in drug approval.

The compromise hit on by the Financial Ombudsman is that if your medical policy won’t pay for the use of experimental treatments, then it should meet the cost of an approved conventional treatment with the policyholder footing the bill for the balance if the experimental treatment is more expensive.

Sorry it’s a pre-existing condition

The basic principle is that if you are already suffering from a condition when you start a policy, then that condition pre-exists the policy and any claims for its treatment are invalid.

For this reason, insurance companies insist you complete an exhaustive questionnaire before they agree to insure you. After all they need a clear picture of your medical condition before they quote. For many applications, the insurer will, with your approval, also write to your GP for specific details of your medical history. They like to have a complete picture.

So lets say some years ago you twisted your knee playing tennis. It appeared to recover but now it turns out that you have a torn cruciate ligament and it needs to be operated on. Your medical insurance company could argue that the ligament damage was a pre-existing condition and you have to pay for the operation.

Some insurers try to accommodate these grey areas with a moratorium provision within your policy. These provisions typically say that so long as you have been symptom free for two years relating to any condition you’ve suffered from within the last 5 years, they will pay for subsequent treatment. Not all policies have these moratorium provisions and the time periods do vary between insurers. You should carefully read your policy.

Sorry its not covered

Medical Insurance is an annual contract just like your car insurance. So when it comes to renewal, your insurer is at liberty to review not only your premium but also change the conditions on which your cover is provided.

Therefore, if your policy comes up for renewal mid way through a course of treatment, it’s possible to find that your new policy no longer covers that particular treatment. This means that you will have to foot the bill for the balance of the treatment.

Furthermore, with ongoing advances in medical research, more and more conditions are becoming treatable. This progress has the effect of shifting back the dividing line between chronic and acute conditions.

This hits the insurers’ pocket in two ways. With more conditions being reclassified as acute, the number of claims is increasing. And there’s also a trend for new treatments to cost more Herceptin being a good example. The net result is that the insurers are finding themselves having to pay out far more. This is inevitably passed back to you through increased renewal premiums. And in an attempt to reduce their risk exposure, insurers have a tendency to adjust their definitions and exclusions. This means that you must read your renewal notice closely before you decide to renew.

So if you’re tempted to buy Medical Insurance, be aware that everything is not always black and white. If you’ve got insurance and need treatment, you’re well advised to contact your insurer without delay and get them to confirm that they will meet the cost of your proposed treatment.

The funding crisis in the National Health Service is so dire that at least 4,000 frontline jobs might be axed say the Royal College of Nursing. There’s no doubt that there will be an impact on patients, says their spokesperson. This is not the sort of thing that is going to be resolved by cutting back on chocolate biscuits in the boardroom. The staff that we are looking at losing are not office based, they’re people who are providing frontline services. Little surprise therefore, that people in the know are going private for their medical care! According to a recent survey by BUPA, 41% of NHS Consultants have protected their medical care by going private. Isn’t that a vote of confidence!

The British Medical Association (BMA) feebly argues that the Consultants’ commitment to private medical cover doesn’t demonstrate a lack of confidence in the NHS.

The Deputy Chairman of the BMA’s Consultants’ Committee whispers, Consultants may also like the anonymity of private care. One of the problems of being treated in the NHS is that Consultants might find themselves in a bed next to one of their patients.

What a joke! Surely, being treated in a bed next to one of their patients would underline their commitment and confidence in the NHS. Their presence in a private ward only serves to emphasize their lack of confidence!

Remember that private medical insurance doesn’t provide care if you have an accident – that’s still the role of the Accident and Emergency Unit at your nearest NHS hospital. The overwhelming advantage of going private, is to ensure you get prompt care for planned surgery and medical situations that arise at short notice, in a hospital of your choice. The case of Dr Sarah Burnett makes the point.

Dr Burnett is a Radiology Consultant with 15 years service in the NHS. She chose to take out private medical insurance because she was unhappy with the level of care she saw first hand. NHS treatment is not a pleasant experience in any way from the standard of the food, to ward cleanliness and the chance of catching MRSA, she observes.

Last year during a private medical screening, Dr Burnet was diagnosed with multiple small tumours in her breast. The cancer required urgent and specialised surgery. Within hours she saw the consultant surgeon who organised a skin-sparing mastectomy. A few days later she was recovering from the surgery.

I was lucky enough to have exceptionally prompt treatment because I choose to pay for insurance. Under the NHS I would not have been screened for breast cancer until I was 50 and would not have been able to catch my cancer at such an early stage. The type of surgery I had is only rarely available on the NHS, depending on the experience of your local surgeon, said Dr Burnet.

If you, like Dr Burnet and almost half of the UK ’s NHS Consultants, want to sidestep the NHS and go private, it’s wise to take out private health insurance. Choosing the right medical insurance cover is, unfortunately, quite complicated. You need to decide the standard of hospitals you would want to use, the level of cover and various other options. For this reason, you need specialised advice from a professional medical insurance broker. These people know exactly what’s on the market and can access it.

Where better to find these brokers than the Internet? Just use Google or your favourite search engine, to search for medical insurance. You’ll find all the top medical brokers there. If you see the insurance company’s own sites steer clear – they can only sell you their own products and you really need independent advice to be able to identify which, within the whole market, is best for you.

Oh yes, make sure you chose a site that puts you directly in touch with an adviser. Ideally, you should talk over your requirements and chat to the adviser about the best alternatives. You don’t need a home visit as all this can easily be done over the phone. And buying through a broker won’t cost you a penny more than going direct to the insurance company. In fact a broker can sometimes be cheaper!

The marvels of the Internet!

Medical costs have been rising over the last several years, and have reached levels that an average middle class family cannot afford in the event of a major illness or accidents. With increase in medical facilities and better-equipped hospitals, this is perhaps inevitable, but that doesnt make it less worrying if you are affected.

The best course open to individuals under these circumstances is to opt for medical insurance. The cost of medical insurance is high, and when you consider the fact that you dont get much in return other than when an illness afflicts you, the cost of your medical insurance merits serious consideration. Fortunately, there is a way to resolve this dilemma. You can shop for the best possible combination of coverage and cost.

First of all, you could check out on the governmental and other help available to you in this regard. If you live in a country like the United States and are either elderly or very poor, the government comes to your aid through schemes like Medicare and Medicaid. If you are not covered by any such program, as most likely you are not, then what do you do?

The first step towards obtaining a low cost health insurance is to know what is being offered and how it is priced. Knowing the alternatives in terms of facilities and prices will help you to make decisions that can reduce your cost of medical insurance without compromising on your real requirements. Knowledge, in this case, is truly power and money. You could get this knowledge by doing some research on the Internet. There are a number of sites that offer you comparative information on medical insurance plans, which you can refer before finalizing your medical insurance coverage.

Learn about the different options available to you; research the company and the agent you are proposing to deal with; find out what you are covered for.

Some of the ways by which you can reduce your medical insurance costs are given below:

Pay premiums annually. This will help you avoid or reduce the service fee and might also earn you discounts
Review your policy regularly. Make sure that it covers your real requirements and does not have additional cover that you may not need. For example, additional coverage for pregnancy may not be really required for you and the normal coverage for this might be quite sufficient for your anticipated needs
Keep a reasonable limit on the ceiling of medical expenditure in your policy. If you dont have a ceiling or if you have a very high ceiling, you may be covering every eventuality but may also be paying higher for the coverage unnecessarily. Match the terms of the policy to your needs.
If you have to file insurance claims, make sure that you keep all the documents available and know what you are covered for. In case you are not sure about whether a particular disease or treatment is covered. File your claim anyway
Group plans are another way in which you can reduce your medical insurance costs. Find out about group plans and how they apply to you. See if your company, or member organization, such as your local Chamber of Commerce have a plan in place.
Carry a higher deductible amount: The amount of expenditure that you opt to bear yourself has a great bearing on the medical insurance cost. If you are comparatively free from minor illnesses and you would like to be covered only for major illnesses, you can opt for a higher deductible reducing your premium without sacrificing the coverage you desire.
If you discover a serious medical condition, it is better to continue with your existing insurer, as going to a new insurer will almost certainly increase your costs and will likely limit, or exclude, coverage for any pre-existing conditions.
Avoid supplemental insurance. Supplemental insurance is a policy that gives you additional cash for the same illness that is covered by another insurance.

Life Insurance No Medical Exam – The Pros and Cons

Are you in search of life insurance with no medical exam required? Have you been looking for life insurance online, but maybe youre frustrated with so many choices?

Why spend endless hours searching online when you already know buying life insurance is the right thing to do? And term life insurance offers you the maximum protection at the lowest rates.

Now its quick, easy and affordable for almost everyone to get term life insurance online without taking a medical exam. Actually, theres a few insurers that offer instant approval life insurance if you qualify. You can apply online in about 5 minutes and find out if you qualify instantly. Thats right. No more paperwork. No medical exams. No more pushy agents. And, no more delays of between 4 to 6 weeks to receive your policy.

Today, you can get life insurance online and print your policy immediately after you pay your first premium online. You can actually get life insurance coverage In Force today, if you qualify. Not everyone qualifies for coverage though. You do have to be in good health, generally. But, even if youre taking medication, or may not qualify with other life insurers you might qualify for no exam life insurance.

Okay, you should be aware that life insurance with no exam required may cost you a little more than coverage through other insurers. But the benefits outweigh the costs for some folks. Several benefits include: Instant approval, coverage in force today, no doctors, no invasive needles, no medical tests, no mailing delays, no pushy insurance agents to deal with The list goes on. However, there are two drawbacks – the premium may be a little higher. And, not everyone qualifies for coverage.

Its easy to find out if you qualify for no exam life insurance. You just answer a few simple health questions to get your instant quotes. Then, you decide if you like the rates, and you can apply online in about 5 minutes. You usually get a response within 10 minutes as to whether you are approved for your life insurance coverage. Then, you can pay your first months premium online, and print your policy immediately. Its that simple. No time delays, no mountains of paperwork and no dreaded medical exams.

Make sure to check the financial rating of your life insurer. It is usually provided on their web site. Also, paying an annual premium is usually less expensive than monthly payment options. Finally, when you buy direct online, youre cutting out the uncomfortable sales person at your dinner table trying to talk you into the policy.

Life insurance no medical exam policies can provide the protection you need at affordable rates. Its worth a few minutes to get instant quotes and decide if you want the coverage. Theres no hassle, and no sales pressure.

Life Insurance Medical history increases the cost for 66% of applicants

Lucky applicants for life insurance can be insured within 48 hours and at the premium quoted – but 2 in 3 applicants are faced with delays plus the prospect of having their premium loaded.

So who are the lucky ones? Basically, you’ll have to be as fit as a flea with no family history of serious illness, under 45, in an office type job and probably applying for less than 250,000 cover. For everyone else there is going to be some hassle.

When an insurer provides an initial quote for life insurance, all they know is your age, sex and smoking status. They use these details to make an initial prediction of how long you are likely to live and on that basis they give you an initial quotation. They call it their Standard Terms.

If you want to progress your application you’ll have a multi-page application to complete. This isn’t as daunting as it may seem, as most online operators take your details over the phone and send you a copy of the completed application for you to check over. But the questions are extensive and if you miss out anything that later turns out to be significant, your insurance may well be invalidated. So be warned and take care!

The insurers use your application details to look out for anything that signals current or future concerns about your health or life style. Besides the obvious questions that reveal health problems, they also evaluate your weight, alcohol and nicotine intake, and any potentially inherited health problems. So if your father died of a heart attack or mother died from breast cancer, they’ll be concerned.

Then there’s your life style. If you’re in a type of job where accidents do happen, construction jobs are a good example, or you are involved in any form of dangerous sport or flying, your premium is in line for loading. They’ll even want to know whether you regularly travel to countries that are known to represent health risks for visitors. And whilst the law doesn’t allow discrimination against same sex relationships, the insurance companies will almost always insist on a medical for these applicants.

Insurers freely admit that the number of questions they ask is increasing. They claim it’s to reduce the number of claims they refuse. Whilst that may be partly true, the trend has also coincided with an increase in the proportion of applicants who are seeing their premiums loaded. Some years ago it was nearer 40% – today’s for some insurers the level is virtually 66%.

How much extra might you be asked to pay? That’s a bit like how long is a piece of string. But to give you a feel, a woman aged 40 receiving medical treatment for post-natal depression was recently faced with a 50% loading on an initial quotation of 7.60. A woman whose mother had breast cancer similarly faced a 50 % loading. Seriously overweight people can also expect loadings of 50% to 100% or even refusal.

Faced with a loading what can you do? It’s important to appreciate that the insurance companies giving the cheapest initial quote are also likely to have particularly choosey medical criteria. That’s how they keep their quoted prices low. So if you’re faced with a loading, the best advice is shop around, Try one of the more expensive providers like Friends Provident who are sometimes a bit more lenient.

Whilst this may sound overly complicated, remember that over the years, an extra 10 a month on a 25 year policy represents 3,000 of your hard earned money. If you don’t have the experience or time to do this, and after few of us do, speak to an online life insurance broker.

Competition is high on the Internet and online brokers will normally reduce your premium by cutting their commission. Their systems are also well versed in finding alternative providers to alleviate loading problems. So keep things simple. Let your keyboard fingers do the walking and let the online broker do all the hard work!