The Insurance Premium Tax (Taxable Insurance Contracts) Order 1997
This Order, which comes into force on 1st October 1997, amends the exemption for long term insurance provided by paragraph 2 of Schedule 7A to the Finance Act 1994 so that “medical insurance” as defined in the new sub-paragraph (4) inserted by the Order is excluded from exemption. Under the existing law contracts of insurance providing benefits of the kind set out in the definition of medical insurance are taxable if written as general business but exempt when written as long term business. The amendments made by this Order mean that insurance which is commonly referred to as private medical insurance, hospital cash plan insurance and major medical insurance will be taxable whether it is written as general or long term insurance. Certain health insurance which is traditionally written as long term business (i.e. permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and insurance to meet the costs of continuing care for the elderly or chronically sick) will normally remain exempt.