CPME — continued personal medical exclusions — is a switching basis where your new insurer honours your current underwriting position instead of starting fresh. Conditions that arose while you were insured stay covered, and only your original exclusions carry over. The golden rule: get the new policy agreed on CPME terms before you cancel the old one.
- ✓CPME means your new insurer accepts your existing underwriting position, exclusions and all.
- ✓Conditions that developed while you were insured stay covered after a CPME switch.
- ✓Never cancel your old policy first — a gap in cover can break CPME continuity.
What CPME actually is
When you first buy health insurance, the insurer draws a line through your medical history — typically via a moratorium or full medical underwriting — and excludes pre-existing conditions. CPME, short for continued personal medical exclusions (some insurers say 'switch' or 'continuation' terms), lets you move to a new insurer while keeping that original line exactly where it is.
The new insurer doesn't re-underwrite you as of today. Instead, it asks what terms you're currently on — usually via a short form and your existing certificate — and agrees to mirror them: same personal exclusions, same underwriting position. The practical magic is what that means for anything diagnosed since you first joined: because those conditions arose while you were insured, they were covered on your old policy, and under CPME they generally remain covered on the new one.
CPME vs starting fresh with a new moratorium
The alternative when switching is to be underwritten from scratch, usually on a new two-year moratorium. That resets the clock on your last five years of medical history — including everything that's happened since you first took out cover. The right choice depends entirely on what's in your recent history.
| Your situation | Better basis | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Developed a condition while insured (e.g. asthma, a heart issue, arthritis) | CPME | Fresh underwriting would exclude it; CPME keeps it covered |
| Claimed in the last five years | CPME | A new moratorium would likely exclude the claimed condition |
| Completely claim-free and healthy for 5+ years | Either — compare | Fresh terms may price better; you have little continuity to lose |
| Old exclusion now 2+ trouble-free years behind you | Ask both ways | A new moratorium might cover what CPME would keep excluding |
That last row is the nuance people miss: CPME carries your exclusions forward, including old ones. If your only exclusion relates to a condition that's now years behind you with no symptoms, treatment or advice, fresh moratorium terms might actually improve your position. A good comparison prices both routes.
The right order to switch — never cancel first
CPME depends on continuous cover. The sequence matters more than anything else on this page.
- Get quotes on CPME terms while your current policy is live. You'll need your current certificate of insurance showing your underwriting basis, start date and any exclusions.
- Let the new insurer confirm acceptance in writing. CPME is at the insurer's discretion — wait for the offer, and check the exclusions listed match your current certificate.
- Set the new start date to follow on from the old policy. Ideally the new cover starts the day the old one ends — most people switch at renewal to avoid cancellation penalties.
- Only then cancel the old policy. Confirm the cancellation date in writing so the two policies meet with no gap.
Compare quotes on CPME terms
What breaks CPME continuity
CPME is robust if you follow the sequence, but a few things can break it or narrow what carries over.
- A gap in cover. Even a short lapse between policies generally voids continuity — insurers typically require the new policy to start when the old one ends.
- Insurer discretion. No insurer is obliged to offer CPME. Ongoing claims, serious recent diagnoses or heavy claims history can lead to refusal or modified terms.
- Changing the cover shape. CPME continues your underwriting, not your benefits. Upgrading to a richer plan may mean new options are underwritten from scratch or subject to new terms.
- Switching from certain scheme types. Moving from a company scheme — especially one with medical history disregarded underwriting — to a personal policy doesn't always translate cleanly; see our cover through work guide.
- Non-disclosure. Misstating your current terms or claims history on the switch form can invalidate the new policy entirely.
One more subtlety: CPME transfers your underwriting position, not your policy's specific benefit wording. If your old policy covered something the new one simply doesn't offer — a particular therapy limit, a hospital list, a cash benefit — no amount of continuity brings it across. Compare the benefit schedules line by line as well as the underwriting terms; a switch that preserves your medical position but quietly drops a benefit you use isn't much of a win.
Why people switch — and where a broker fits
The usual trigger is renewal: premiums rise with age and claims, and a double-digit renewal increase is often what sends people shopping. Switching on CPME terms means you can chase a better price across Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA and The Exeter without gambling your accumulated cover — the average UK adult premium is around £80/month, but the same person can be quoted very differently by different insurers.
This is one of the places a broker or comparison service genuinely earns its keep: CPME acceptance criteria differ by insurer, the paperwork has to be sequenced correctly, and pricing both CPME and fresh-underwriting routes takes market knowledge. Commission is built into premiums either way, so the help doesn't typically cost you more.
Frequently asked questions
What does CPME stand for in health insurance?
Continued personal medical exclusions. It's a switching basis where your new insurer agrees to honour your existing underwriting position — carrying over your current personal exclusions rather than re-underwriting you from scratch. Conditions that arose while you were insured generally remain covered after the switch.
Do I lose cover for conditions diagnosed while insured if I switch with CPME?
Generally no — that's the point of CPME. Because the new insurer continues your existing underwriting position rather than drawing a fresh line through today's medical history, conditions that developed while you were covered typically stay covered. Under fresh underwriting, those same conditions would usually be excluded as pre-existing.
Should I switch with CPME or take a new moratorium?
CPME if you've developed conditions or claimed while insured — fresh terms would exclude them. A new moratorium can be worth pricing if you've been claim-free and symptom-free for five years, or if an old CPME-carried exclusion might now be covered under fresh terms. Compare both routes before deciding.
Can I cancel my health insurance before arranging a CPME switch?
No — this is the one mistake that can't be fixed. CPME requires continuous cover, so the new policy must be agreed and dated to follow straight on from the old one. Cancel first and you'll be underwritten fresh, with everything in your recent history treated as pre-existing.
Will every insurer accept a CPME switch?
No — CPME is offered at each insurer's discretion. Most major UK insurers accept CPME switches from comparable policies, but they can decline or modify terms if you have ongoing claims, a serious recent diagnosis or heavy claims history. Always get written acceptance before giving notice on your existing policy.
Does a CPME switch remove my existing exclusions?
No. CPME continues your underwriting position as it stands, so personal exclusions from your original application carry over to the new insurer. If an excluded condition has been trouble-free for years, ask for fresh-underwriting quotes too — a new moratorium can sometimes cover what CPME would keep excluding.
Can I upgrade my cover level when switching on CPME terms?
Sometimes, with caveats. CPME continues your underwriting, not your benefit level — insurers will often let you change excess or hospital list, but newly added benefits may be underwritten separately or subject to new terms. If you're upgrading substantially, ask exactly which parts of the new policy sit on CPME terms.
Does CPME work when leaving a company health scheme?
Often, but not always cleanly. Many insurers offer continuation options from group schemes to personal policies, and some accept CPME-style switches from other insurers' group cover. Medical-history-disregarded group terms don't always translate, so check what underwriting position the new insurer will actually honour before you leave the scheme.
Why would I switch insurer with CPME rather than just staying put?
Price, usually. Premiums rise at renewal with age and claims, and insurers price the same person very differently — so a CPME switch lets you shop across Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA and The Exeter without sacrificing cover you've built up. It turns renewal from a captive negotiation into a real market.
Do I need a broker for a CPME switch?
Not strictly, but it's where intermediaries add most value: they know each insurer's CPME acceptance criteria, sequence the paperwork so cover never lapses, and price both CPME and fresh-underwriting routes. Since commission is built into premiums whether you buy direct or not, the expertise typically costs nothing extra.