With NHS hospital queues still growing, private medical insurance is an appealing, though often expensive, purchase.

And what you pay for is what you get. Premiums are worked out on the basis of age and the type of cover required, and there is a wide range of insurances to choose from.

At the basic level, PMI kicks in when you need specialist treatment or you need to go into hospital. Some policies cover you if the NHS cannot provide treatment within a certain period of time.

At the luxury end of the market, there are policies that cover a wide range of medical services such as dentistry, eye care and even spectacles, although the more a policy covers, the higher the premium will be.

PMI is complicated for those approaching it for the first time. To make sure the policy you choose is the right one to meet your needs, it is worth speaking to an adviser who has specialist knowledge in medical policies and can guide you through the maze of offerings on the market.