Many private medical insurance policies will require you to initially pay for the cost of your treatment. Following this, you will be reimbursed, possible subject to a maximum limit for claims in any year or different limits for different types of treatment.

If treatment is needed, contact your insurer's client service department, who will quickly guide you with advice and support for claim administration, which hospitals are to be used, specialist help etc.

Some insurers pre-authorise all claims so that you do not have to pay doctors and hospital bills but leave all settlement to the insurance company itself. If companies do not pre-authorise, then original bills will be requested with a claim form submission.

Most insurance providers will send a client pack, with Insurance Certificate, Claims Forms and Help line Card, with a range of contact numbers. Many insurers now pre-authorise any in-patient treatment, meaning that you must contact their help lines before seeking treatment and incurring costs. Out-patient costs are usually dealt by routine Claim Forms (i.e. you pay first). If in doubt always call the help lines before seeking treatment and committing yourself to costs.

Normally it takes around ten working days from the date the insurer receives all the necessary documents.