Overview
General & Medical is a Peterborough-based insurer offering a wide ladder of plans from budget Everyday cover to its comprehensive Elite product. It's known for unusual benefits: Elite includes private childbirth cover, a critical illness cash payment and even a pet boarding allowance while you're in hospital.
Most notably for many buyers, G&M offers an option to cover up to two pre-existing conditions (up to £1,000 each per year) — something almost no other UK insurer will consider at any price.
Reviews & ratings
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Strengths
- Optional cover for up to two pre-existing conditions — almost unique in the UK
- Private childbirth cover on Elite
- Critical illness cash benefit built in
- Wide range of plan levels to suit smaller budgets
- Distinctive extras like pet boarding allowance
Things to consider
- Virtual GP cannot refer you directly to specialists
- No traditional no-claims discount
- Policy wording contains more discretionary terms than bigger insurers — read carefully
Who is General & Medical best for?
People with a pre-existing condition other insurers won't touch, and buyers wanting unusual benefits like childbirth cover.
What does it cost?
From £80/month. Indicative for a 30-year-old on Elite cover, 2026. Lower-tier Everyday plans cost significantly less.
Frequently asked questions
Can General & Medical really cover pre-existing conditions?
Partially, yes. G&M offers an optional benefit covering up to two nominated pre-existing conditions, up to £1,000 of treatment each per policy year, for an additional premium. It's capped cover rather than full cover — but it's more than almost any other UK insurer offers on personal policies.
What does the childbirth cover include?
Elite includes cover towards private maternity care and childbirth — a benefit essentially absent from mainstream UK health insurance, which treats normal pregnancy as a general exclusion. Limits and waiting periods apply, so anyone buying specifically for this should check the current policy wording and qualifying periods carefully.
How do G&M's cheaper plans compare?
The Everyday range strips back outpatient limits and hospital choice in exchange for much lower premiums, sitting closer to a budget plan than comprehensive cover. They can suit people who mainly want inpatient surgical cover and faster diagnosis, but compare the limits carefully against mid-tier plans from bigger insurers.
Other insurer reviews
Understand how health insurance works
- Moratorium vs full medical underwriting
- Pre-existing conditions explained
- Why premiums are rising in 2026
- Insurance Premium Tax explained