Paul Sanchez
Health insurance, also known as private medical insurance, is designed to cover the costs of private healthcare. It can be provided by a company to their employees or purchased individually or for your family. In the UK, there are several health insurance companies, including AXA, Bupa, Vitality, and WPA, which offer a range of policies to suit different needs and budgets. The cost of health insurance is influenced by factors such as age, medical history, and the selected cover benefits. When choosing a health insurance policy, it is important to understand what is and isn't covered, as policies typically exclude pre-existing or chronic conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Insurer | Which? |
| Type of Insurance | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) |
| Customer Ratings | Aviva, AXA, Bupa, Vitality, and WPA |
| Cost | Depends on age, location, smoking status, and selected cover benefits |
| Age Limit | No age limit, but premiums rise with age |
| Coverage | Acute conditions, elective surgery, medical tests, inpatient and outpatient treatment, therapies, dental and optical cover, mental health cover |
| Notable Features | Bupa covers more mental health conditions than any other UK insurer, AXA offers customisation, Vitality focuses on promoting healthier lifestyles, WPA allows self-referral for counselling and therapy |
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What You'll Learn
Private health insurance providers
Private health insurance is designed to pay for the private treatment of medical conditions that respond quickly to treatment (usually called 'acute' conditions), as well as elective surgery and medical tests. It is worth noting that most policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, or pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. The cost of private health insurance is influenced by factors such as the age of the insured, their place of residence, their smoking status, and the selected cover benefits.
There are several private health insurance providers in the UK, including:
Bupa
Bupa is one of the UK's leading healthcare specialists. Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Bupa offers comprehensive cover for as little as £2.30 per day for a 34-year-old non-smoker living in London. Their cover includes dental and mental health, as well as access to GP appointments, health assessments, and sexual health checks. They also offer business health insurance and family cover.
WPA
WPA has over 120 years of expertise in providing health insurance. They are a not-for-profit company with no shareholders, allowing them to put customers at the centre of their operations. WPA provides mental health benefits, including telephone emotional support from experts in their fields. They also offer guides to help customers understand health insurance and its advantages.
AXA Health
AXA Health provides private healthcare cover and workplace health and wellbeing services. They offer plans such as the AXA Health Plan, Personal Health plan, and Health for You, individual UK private medical insurance.
Aviva, Vitality
Aviva and Vitality are also private health insurance providers that have been rated by customers, along with Bupa, WPA, and AXA.
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What medical treatment is covered
Private health insurance in the UK can be used to cover the cost of private treatment for acute medical conditions that respond well to quick treatment. This includes elective surgery, medical tests, and inpatient and outpatient care. Some policies also cover dental treatment, specialist maternity care, and complementary therapies such as physiotherapy.
Health insurance policies typically do not cover cosmetic surgeries or treatments deemed to be a lifestyle choice rather than a medical necessity. Each insurer will have a list of standard exclusions detailing treatments that are not covered. These exclusions may depend on your medical history and will be unique to you. For example, outpatient cover may exclude some treatments, and you may need an NHS diagnosis first if your policy does not include outpatient cover.
Private health insurance can be helpful for those who want faster access to treatment and diagnosis, or those who live in rural areas where medical services can be limited. For example, citizens with private health insurance can often access treatment as a matter of urgency, avoiding NHS waiting times, which can sometimes stretch into weeks or months.
In the UK, hospital treatment is free for people who are "ordinarily resident" in the UK, provided they are living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis. However, some individuals choose to take out private health insurance or are able to access private healthcare as part of an employment package.
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Best insurers
When it comes to the best insurers for private health insurance in the UK, there are a few that stand out. Here are some detailed descriptions of some of the top-rated providers:
Bupa
Bupa is a well-known health insurance provider in the UK. They offer a range of comprehensive health insurance plans, including their top-rated Bupa By You Comprehensive plan, which is accessible to people of all ages. Bupa covers more mental health conditions than any other UK insurer and offers benefits such as Direct Access, allowing customers to call about symptoms before speaking to a GP. Bupa also provides free advice from health experts and the ability to book appointments at a time that suits the customer. Bupa's quotes include some dental and mental health cover.
WPA
WPA has consistently received excellent reviews on Trustpilot, with an average score of 4.6-4.7 out of 5. They offer flexible health insurance plans for individuals, families, and businesses of all sizes. WPA stands out by giving members the freedom to choose where, when, and who provides their treatment. They also offer mental health benefits, including telephone emotional support, and are a not-for-profit company, allowing them to act differently from shareholder-driven companies.
Vitality Health and Life
Vitality Health and Life is a unique insurer that focuses on promoting healthier lifestyles. They have received excellent reviews on Trustpilot, with a rating of 4.4/5 based on 52,520 reviews. While some of these reviews cover all of Vitality's services, their fresh approach to insurance sets them apart from traditional insurers.
AXA Health
AXA Health offers private medical insurance with excellent core cover and numerous additional benefits. Their Personal Health plan provides comprehensive cover with options for customisation, making it a flexible choice for customers. AXA also provides small business health insurance, which can be tailored to suit the business's needs while managing costs.
When choosing a health insurance provider, it is important to consider your personal needs, preferences, finances, and medical history. It is also worth noting that premiums tend to rise with age, so it is essential to factor that into your decision-making process.
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Cost of health insurance
The cost of health insurance in the UK varies depending on several factors. The average cost of health insurance in the UK in 2024 is £41.58 for individuals, £77.42 for couples, and £95.19 for a family of four. Households typically spend between £70 and £100 per month on health insurance.
The cost of health insurance is influenced by factors such as age, cover level, the cost of medical treatment, health, claims history, overall claims made, and smoking habits. For example, a basic plan without outpatient cover for a 20-year-old costs £29 per month, while a comprehensive plan with outpatient cover for the same age group costs £41 per month. By age 70, the monthly cost of basic health insurance rises to £141.29, with comprehensive cover reaching £202.51.
The price of health insurance also varies depending on where you live. The average cost of private health insurance is around 23% higher in London compared to the rest of the UK. Edinburgh is the cheapest place to buy health insurance, with monthly premiums approximately 15% lower than elsewhere.
Additionally, the level of cover you choose and the amount of excess you select will impact the cost. A higher level of cover, such as unlimited outpatient cover, therapies, mental health cover, and travel cover, will result in higher premiums. On the other hand, choosing a higher excess amount will lower the cost of the policy, but you will need to pay the excess if you make a claim.
It is important to note that these are average costs, and the price of health insurance can vary significantly depending on individual circumstances and the specific cover options chosen.
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Switching health insurance providers
There are several reasons why you might want to switch health insurance providers. You may be paying too much, or your current plan may not provide enough cover for your health needs. You may be unhappy with the service you are receiving, or you may want to take advantage of the benefits offered by other providers. Your personal circumstances may have changed, and you may want to review your health insurance cover to ensure it is still suitable for your needs.
In most cases, you can switch health insurance providers. The exception is usually if you are in the middle of receiving a course of treatment for a serious illness. If you are looking to switch outside of the 14-day cooling-off period, the insurer may levy a cancellation administration fee. You may also lose your no-claims discount, as this varies between providers.
There are several benefits to switching health insurance providers. You may be able to access a hospital list that is more suited to your needs and location, at the same or a reduced cost. You may also be able to take advantage of member benefits offered by other providers, such as those offered by Vitality, Bupa, and The Exeter.
You can switch health insurance providers by comparing the offers and benefits available to customers who switch. For example, when switching to Vitality Health, you can save up to 10% and access their reward program. Bupa's By You policy does not take into account previous claims records when joining, and they offer broker-only policies through Equity Health. Freedom Health Insurance offers a community-rated policy and continuity of your medical underwriting.
You can also seek advice from independent advisers, who can help you find the most competitive price and ensure that you are happy with the new policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Private medical insurance, also known as health insurance, covers the costs of private healthcare. It can cover you from diagnosis to treatment, including scans, tests, hospital appointments, and inpatient and outpatient treatment. Most health insurance covers conditions that develop after your policy has begun. It can be provided by a company to their employees or purchased individually or for your family.
The cost of private health insurance is influenced by factors such as the ages of covered members, where you live, whether you smoke or vape, and the selected cover benefits. For younger customers, an individual, comprehensive health insurance policy might cost a few hundred pounds a year. For customers over retirement age, cover is more likely to be well into the thousands.
When choosing a private medical insurance provider, it is important to consider your preferences, finances, and recent medical history. You can look at customer ratings and reviews, and the advantages of each provider. For example, Bupa covers more mental health conditions than any other UK insurer, while WPA has the best Trustpilot reviews and allows self-referral for counselling sessions.
