🏥 Health insurance compared
UK avg single adult: ~£74–80/mo (2026, ABI/comparison indices)PMI buys faster access to private diagnosis and treatment. It does not replace the NHS, and standard policies exclude chronic and pre-existing conditions.
Bupa
- UK's largest health insurer
- Direct access: cancer, MSK, mental health
- Huge consultant network
- Flexible excess levels
AXA Health
- Fast-track appointments
- Working-body & online GP services
- Strong outpatient options
- Business and personal plans
Vitality Health
- Defaqto 5-star plans
- Premium discounts for activity
- Full cover promise on cancer
- Apple Watch / rewards ecosystem
Aviva Health
- Healthier Solutions flexible plan
- Expert Select guided option
- Mental health pathways
- Add family members easily
WPA
- Not-for-profit insurer
- Shared-responsibility excess model
- Open referral flexibility
- Strong customer service record
Freedom Health
- Budget-friendly fixed plans
- Simple underwriting choices
- Optional outpatient modules
- Good entry-level PMI
Quickest way to compare: run one quote and see multiple 🏥 health insurers side by side.
MoneySuperMarketWhat to compare before you buy
- Underwriting type: moratorium (last 5 years' conditions excluded, reviewed at claim) vs full medical underwriting (declared upfront).
- Outpatient cover limits are the biggest price lever — £0, £500, £1,000 or full outpatient change premiums dramatically.
- Hospital list tier: national lists with London teaching hospitals cost more than regional lists.
- The 6-week NHS wait option cuts premiums: insurer only pays if the NHS wait exceeds 6 weeks.
- Cancer cover depth varies more than anything else — check drug coverage and monitoring rather than assuming.
Frequently asked questions
Does private health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Standard UK PMI excludes pre-existing and chronic conditions. Moratorium underwriting may cover a past condition again after a set symptom-free period — check terms carefully.
Is private health insurance worth it alongside the NHS?
PMI buys speed and choice — faster diagnostics, choice of consultant, private rooms. Emergencies still go through the NHS. With NHS elective waiting lists still long in 2026, many buy PMI specifically for diagnostics and surgery.
How can I cut the premium?
Raise the excess, choose a 6-week NHS wait option, limit outpatient cover, or pick a regional hospital list. Healthy-living rewards (e.g. Vitality) discount premiums for measured activity.
Will switching insurers reset my pre-existing exclusions?
Often it can — moving to a new insurer on standard terms may re-apply exclusions to conditions you've since developed. Ask about 'continued personal medical exclusions' (switch) terms, which carry your existing cover basis across rather than starting fresh.
Can I use private cover and the NHS together?
Yes — many people use the NHS for emergencies and GP care and private cover for faster diagnosis and planned treatment. The six-week wait option formalises this: the insurer only pays if the NHS wait exceeds six weeks, which cuts the premium.