YOUR GUIDE TO PRIVATE HEALTHCARE
Private health insurance.
Clearer choices.
Greater peace of mind.
Understand your options, know what you’re paying for, and find cover that fits your life. Plain-English guidance on private medical insurance in the UK.
For individuals, couples, families & businesses
A little clarity goes a long way.
✓ Understand the benefits & the limits
✓ Compare more than the price
✓ Keep the NHS in the picture
START WITH THE BASICS
What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance, also called private medical insurance or PMI, helps pay for eligible private medical treatment. You pay a monthly or annual premium; the insurer pays covered costs, subject to your excess, policy limits and exclusions.
It usually focuses on new, acute conditions: illnesses or injuries that can respond to treatment. You may be able to access consultations, tests and treatment sooner, with a choice of hospitals or specialists from your policy’s approved network.
Alongside the NHS.
Not a replacement.
You can still use the NHS when you have private cover. Emergency care and much long-term condition management usually remain with the NHS.
Private care is not always faster or more appropriate. Check what your policy includes before you need to use it.
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Different lives. Different cover.
Start with who you want to cover, then compare the benefits and limits that matter to them.
01
Individual health insurance
Cover for one person. Check outpatient limits, your local hospital network and the excess before comparing premiums.
What to compare ↗02
Family health insurance
Explore cover for adults and children together. Compare each person’s needs, child age limits, parent accommodation and whether any family discount has conditions.
What to compare ↗03
Couples health insurance
One policy for two people can simplify administration. Check whether joint cover actually costs less than separate policies, and how each person is underwritten.
What to compare ↗04
Children’s health insurance
Check minimum and maximum ages, eligible paediatric specialists and hospitals. Routine care, vaccinations and conditions present before joining may not be included.
Explore the checklist ↗05
Health insurance over 50
Age can affect premiums and eligibility. Look beyond the first year’s price and review exclusions, excesses and likely renewal affordability.
Explore the checklist ↗06
Self-employed & business cover
Consider access to care alongside your work commitments. Business schemes have different eligibility and underwriting; medical insurance does not replace lost earnings.
Explore the checklist ↗READ THE SMALL PRINT, WITH CONFIDENCE
What does health insurance cover?
Policies vary. These are common starting points, not a promise that every plan includes each benefit.
Often included
- Inpatient treatment: eligible surgery and hospital stays.
- Day-patient care: treatment where a bed is needed but you do not stay overnight.
- Cancer treatment: the scope, drugs and limits vary significantly.
May be optional
- Outpatient care: specialist appointments, tests and scans.
- Therapies: physiotherapy and other eligible treatment.
- Mental health: check appointment and benefit limits.
- Dental, optical or private GP: benefits differ by insurer.
Usually excluded
- Pre-existing conditions, subject to underwriting.
- Ongoing management of chronic conditions.
- Emergency and A&E treatment.
- Routine pregnancy and childbirth.
- Purely cosmetic treatment.
Always read the policy wording and Insurance Product Information Document (IPID). Ask the insurer to confirm any benefit you are relying on.
COSTS, WITHOUT THE GUESSWORK
How much does private health insurance cost?
There is no single price that fits everyone. A useful quote needs your age, location, who you want to cover and the policy options you choose.
Headline “from” prices describe a particular example. They are not a reliable estimate for your household. Compare quotes using the same excess, hospital list, outpatient cover and underwriting.
Use the comparison checklist →Six things that shape your price
- Age: premiums often increase as you get older.
- Location: treatment costs differ by area.
- Who is covered: one person, a couple or a family.
- Benefits: outpatient limits and optional extras.
- Hospital choice: a wider network may cost more.
- Excess & underwriting: check the terms behind the premium.
FROM CHOOSING COVER TO GETTING CARE
How does private health insurance work?
1
Choose your policy
Compare benefits, exclusions, underwriting, excess and the approved hospital list. Tell the insurer what it asks about your health accurately.
2
Get help when you need it
Speak to a GP or use an eligible direct-access service. Ask your insurer what referral or authorisation is needed before booking.
3
Confirm cover, then book
Your insurer checks eligibility and may give you an authorisation number. Use an approved specialist and hospital where required.
4
Understand your share
The insurer pays eligible costs under your policy. You pay any excess, costs above limits and treatment that is not covered.
BETTER QUESTIONS. BETTER DECISIONS.
Compare the cover.
Then compare the price.
Two policies with similar premiums can offer very different protection.
Your practical checklist
- Outpatient cover: which appointments and diagnostics count towards the limit?
- Cancer cover: what drugs, treatment and follow-up are included?
- Hospital network: are your preferred local hospitals included?
- Excess: is it per person, claim, condition or policy year?
The questions people miss
- Underwriting: full medical underwriting or a moratorium, and what does that mean for your history?
- Renewals: how can age, claims and medical inflation affect the premium?
- Switching: will existing exclusions or ongoing treatment transfer?
- Support: how are claims authorised and complaints handled?
Do not cancel existing cover until the new insurer has confirmed your acceptance and terms. A lower premium is not a saving if you lose cover you need.
A PERSONAL CHOICE
Is private health insurance worth it?
It depends on your budget, priorities and access to care. Some people value greater choice and potentially quicker treatment. Others prefer to use the NHS and keep savings for occasional private appointments.
Check workplace benefits first: you may already have access to a scheme. Think about whether you could comfortably keep paying premiums at renewal, not just today.
Consider the alternatives
NHS care: remains available alongside private cover.
Self-pay treatment: pay for individual appointments or procedures; costs and complications can be unpredictable.
Health cash plans: can reimburse specified everyday costs up to limits. They are different from comprehensive medical insurance.
Discretionary healthcare memberships: have their own rules and are not equivalent to insured PMI.
THE THINGS YOU WANT TO KNOW
Health insurance, explained.
Can I get health insurance with a pre-existing condition? +
You may still be able to buy a policy, but the existing condition and related treatment are usually excluded. Underwriting rules differ. Some employer schemes have different arrangements. Ask for written confirmation of what would and would not be covered.
What is the difference between a moratorium and full medical underwriting? +
With full medical underwriting, you provide health information when applying so the insurer can specify exclusions. A moratorium applies rules to recent medical history and may allow some conditions to become eligible after a defined symptom-, treatment- and advice-free period. The exact rules vary by insurer.
Can I still use the NHS if I have private health insurance? +
Yes. Private health insurance works alongside the NHS. You can continue to use NHS services, including emergency care. Having a policy does not mean all healthcare should or can be arranged privately.
Does family health insurance cover children automatically? +
No. Check who is named on the policy, age and dependency limits, and how children are added. Benefits, underwriting and eligible hospitals can differ from adult cover. Check cover for newborns separately.
Will private health insurance cover an operation I already need? +
A new policy will not usually cover a condition or symptoms you already have, including planned treatment. Check the insurer’s underwriting decision. Self-pay or NHS care may be alternative routes.
Can I reduce the cost without losing important cover? +
You can explore a higher excess, a narrower hospital list or different outpatient limits. Each can change what you pay or access when claiming. Compare the trade-off carefully and only choose an excess you could afford.
Does UK health insurance cover me abroad? +
Do not assume it does. UK private medical insurance is different from travel insurance or international health insurance. Some policies offer travel-related options, but you must check the geographical limits and terms.
Which health insurer is best? +
There is no single best insurer for everyone. Compare policy wording, exclusions, hospital access, claims support and total cost for your circumstances. A rating or headline premium alone cannot tell you whether a policy is suitable.
Start with what matters to you.
Who needs cover? Which benefits matter? What can you comfortably afford? Use these three questions to begin your research.
Our approach & useful sources
This website provides general information about UK private health insurance. It does not provide a personal recommendation or an insurance quote. Cover, eligibility and prices depend on the insurer and policy. No provider ranking or customer rating is claimed on this page.
For independent consumer guidance, read MoneyHelper’s guide to private medical insurance. Policy-specific examples are available from Bupa, AXA Health and Vitality. If you need a recommendation, consider speaking to an FCA-authorised insurance adviser.
Content prepared: 30 October 2026. Check current policy documents before making a decision.