Glossary
Medical history
An insured person's past health events (illnesses, treatments, hospital stays) declared on the medical questionnaire, which can lead to a coverage exclusion or a premium loading depending on the policy.
Medical history — past or ongoing conditions, treatments, hospital stays — is declared on the medical questionnaire when taking out private health insurance. Unlike the CFE, which accepts anyone without a review of their health status, a private insurer can adjust its terms based on the risk this history represents.
Depending on the case, a medical history item may be accepted without condition, lead to an exclusion targeted at the condition in question, result in a premium loading, or lead the insurer to refuse cover. The exact approach varies by insurer and by condition, and should be checked before assuming a benefit is guaranteed.
Example
A history of heart disease, declared on the medical questionnaire, may lead the insurer to exclude care related to that condition while otherwise covering the rest of the policy's benefits normally.
Also searched as: health history · medical background