Frequently asked questions

The Lateral Health Plan is built around a shared commitment.

We ask our members to take an active role in looking after their health by completing an annual health check each year.

At renewal, we'll also ask you to confirm that you continue to meet our health eligibility criteria, including things like maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and keeping conditions such as diabetes well controlled.

In return, we commit to supporting you with preventative healthcare, nurse-led guidance and affordable health insurance that's designed specifically for healthy, proactive people over 60.

These renewal requirements are a fundamental part of how we've designed the Lateral Health Plan. By ensuring our members remain committed to healthy ageing, we're able to keep premiums lower while continuing to provide cover that's relevant, affordable and sustainable for everyone.

The annual health check is a really important part of the Lateral Health Plan because we don't believe healthcare should only start when something goes wrong.

It's designed to help identify potential health issues early, often before symptoms develop, so you can take action sooner and stay healthier for longer.

Each year, members receive a comprehensive health check through our partner, Bluecrest, with more than 40 health assessments carried out at one of hundreds of locations across the UK.

The results are explained in a clear, easy-to-understand report. If anything needs further investigation, you can speak to your GP, use our Virtual GP service, or contact our nurse-led healthcare navigation team to help you understand your options.

It's all part of our belief that good healthcare isn't just about treating illness. It's about helping people stay healthy and independent for longer.

This is an important question, and we think it's important to explain it in plain English.

Like most health insurers, we don't cover medical conditions you were already aware of before your policy started.

But we've made our approach simpler and more transparent.

We only consider your medical history from the last two years when assessing pre-existing conditions. If a condition falls within that period, it won't initially be covered. However, if you then go 12 continuous months without symptoms, treatment, medication or medical advice for that condition, it may become eligible for cover.

If you're ever unsure whether something would be covered, please speak to us before you join. We'll always do our best to explain where you stand.

We made a conscious decision not to include private cancer treatment.

The NHS provides high quality, integrated cancer care through specialist centres, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to coordinate diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care.

Including private cancer treatment would significantly increase premiums. Instead, we chose to focus the Lateral Health Plan on the areas where private healthcare can make the biggest difference to our members, like faster access to consultations, diagnostic tests and selected procedures that improve quality of life.

And if you're diagnosed with cancer, you're not on your own. Our nurse-led healthcare navigation team, together with our specialist cancer support partner, is there to help you understand your diagnosis, treatment pathway and the support available to you throughout your NHS care.

No. Lateral is designed to complement the NHS, not replace it.

The NHS provides outstanding care in many areas, particularly emergency care, cancer treatment and the long-term management of chronic conditions.

We've focused the Lateral Health Plan on the areas where private healthcare adds the most value, helping members avoid unnecessary delays by providing access to private consultations, diagnostic tests and selected procedures.

Our nurse-led healthcare navigation team also helps members understand their options across both the NHS and private healthcare, so they can make informed decisions about what's right for them.

We believe the best healthcare isn't about choosing one system over the other. It's about helping people access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Traditional private health insurance is designed to pay for treatment when something goes wrong.

Lateral is different. We are designed to help members navigate their healthcare, not just pay for treatment.

That's why every member has access to our nurse-led healthcare navigation service. If you develop a new health concern, our nurses help you understand your options, explain how your cover works, and support you in navigating both NHS and private care.

We also include preventative services, like an annual health check, because we believe good healthcare should be about helping people stay well, not just treating them when they're ill.

So, Lateral isn't just there when something goes wrong. We're here to help you stay healthy and navigate healthcare with confidence.

One of the things we've done differently at Lateral is make health insurance much simpler to understand.

Instead of lots of different options, excesses, discounts and complicated pricing structures, we use straightforward five year age bands. That means everyone aged 60 to 64 pays the same premium, everyone aged 65 to 69 pays the same premium, and everyone aged 70 to 74 pays the same premium.

As of today, premiums start from £125 a month for members aged 60 to 64, £150 for members aged 65 to 69, and £200 for members aged 70 to 74.

Prices may change over time, so the easiest way to see your current premium is to get a personalised quote on the Lateral website. And if you'd like to talk it through, our team is always happy to help.