This is one of the most important aspects of your policy for you to understand. All policies carry a list of general exclusions from cover and some companies exclude more or place financial limits on certain benefits offered, particularly benefits such as routine dental cover or maternity cover. The most common exclusions are:

• Alcoholism or drug abuse
• Dental treatment
• GP services
• HIV or AIDS
• Hazardous sports
• Infertility
• Normal pregnancy
• Sterilisation
• Treatment Overseas
• Cosmetic surgery

In addition to any general exclusions, others may be applicable depending on the people who you wish to have covered. If information on the application form names medical conditions which you have recently suffered from, often going back 5 years, an insurer may exclude such conditions from cover or qualify such cover.