To help you understand what medical terms are about, we’ve included this helpful glossary. We have also created a Frequently Asked Questions section for your reference.
 
Acute Illness
An illness that is curable, i.e. the illness can be treated to a point where you are returned to your medical health condition prior to the illness occurring.
 
Acute Phase 
A phase where a chronic condition deteriorates and requires acute treatment to restore your health to the condition (though with a chronic illness still present) that it was prior to the acute phase.
 
Chronic condition
A condition that cannot be cured and will remain as a feature of your medical health, e.g. Asthma. Chronic conditions can have acute phases. Cancer is not considered chronic by medical insurers.
 
Cover
The specific type of indemnifying that a policy offers.
 
Eligible  
Valid under the terms and conditions of the policy.
 
Generic  
Terminology used to describe the whole market availability, not a specific insurer.
 
Indemnifying  
Covering the policyholder for costs associated with eligible treatment required.
 
Insurer  
A company that underwrites and provides cover for the holder of PMI.
 
Palliative  
Refers to treatment that relieves symptoms or pain but makes no attempt to cure the illness. Often used in relation to people with confirmed terminal cancer, however, giving oxygen to someone with advanced lung disease, putting someone with kidney failure on dialysis and giving somebody with an arthritic knee a walking stick are all palliative therapies. Palliative care and terminal care are not synonymous.
 
Patient  
A person receiving treatment.
 
PMI  
Private Medical Insurance, a generic term used in the industry for medical expenses insurance.
 
Policy
The term used for the contract that provides the cover.
 
Policyholder  
The person who holds a policy.
 
Pre-Existing Conditions  
A medical condition that is present before a policy is taken out.
 
Risk  
Term used to describe the level of commitment of indemnifying a policyholder against their medical treatment needs.
 
Terms and Conditions 
Contained within the policy wording and specifies exactly what the policy covers.
 
Treatment
The actual medical assistance, etc. received by a patient.
 
Underwrites
A method of controlling the risk associated with covering pre-existing conditions.