Private health insurance- does it go up next year after a claim?

[CosmiaGreen]

I've recently changed to a plan in my own name after 30 years in a company scheme due to retirement. It's a shared responsibility scheme so I pay 25% of the cost anyway up to a limit.

Question is, will they increase annual premiums if I claim for something? I need an investigation which I can afford to pay for and I'm wondering if it's better to do just that, than put in a claim and next year they will ramp up the premium.

Anyone know?

Basically yes they will, because you won't get a no-claims bonus, plus you'll be a year older.

The problem with having a policy whereby you pay a % anyway, or in my case the first £500, you end up not claiming and forking out money here and there. Paying £500 is OK if I were to need something major as I'd see it as getting my money's worth.

I'm seriously considering cancelling my membership as it's getting too expensive and I live near all the top London hospitals.

Thanks.

My policy is not the same as yours. I've opted to pay 25% of any claim up to a total of £5K in a year. So for something costing £400 I'd pay £100 etc etc.

And if it were a major op I'd be able to pay 25% with them paying the rest.

In my experience health insurance does not usually offer no claims discounts as they wouldn't want to discourage someone from claiming, and therefore possibly discourage them from seeing a doctor.

I worked for a fairly large insurer before having children and a claim you made would not increase your policy premium personally.

You will almost definitely see a premium increase next year as a) you will be a year older and medical risk increases with age and b) medical advances mean treatments are likely to cost the insurer more so they have to compensate for this.

For a) the amount your policy increases for age will likely depend on the claims amounts of every person of your age on the same policy type. This is certainly how it worked at my old company anyway.