What is private health insurance?

Private health insurance is a policy that covers the cost of private medical treatment for acute conditions. It gives you faster access to specialists, diagnostic tests, and surgery without relying on NHS waiting lists.

How much does private health insurance cost in the UK?

Premiums typically range from £50 to £150 per month for an individual, depending on your age, medical history, level of cover, and chosen excess. Family policies cost more but often offer better value than insuring each person separately.

Does private health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Most standard policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Some providers offer moratorium-based underwriting where pre-existing conditions may become covered after a period without symptoms or treatment, typically two years.

Can I use private health insurance alongside the NHS?

Yes. Many policyholders use the NHS for routine care and their private cover for specialist referrals, elective surgery, or when NHS waiting times are long. Some policies include a six-week NHS wait option to reduce premiums.

What is the difference between an excess and a co-payment?

An excess is a fixed amount you pay towards each claim or policy year before your insurer pays. A co-payment means you pay a percentage of every claim. Both reduce your premium but increase your out-of-pocket costs when you claim.

How do I compare private health insurance plans effectively?

Compare policies based on the level of cover, the hospital and consultant network, exclusions, excess amounts, and annual claim limits. Getting quotes from multiple providers ensures you find the best value for your needs.

Private Health Insurance for Individuals UK

Buying Health Insurance as an Individual

If you do not have access to a corporate health scheme through your employer, buying private health insurance as an individual is straightforward. Individual policies give you complete control over your cover — you choose the provider, cover level, excess, and hospital list that best match your needs and budget.

The trade-off is cost: individual policies are more expensive per person than corporate group schemes because there is no employer contribution and no group discount. However, the flexibility and personal control often make individual cover the better fit.

What Individual Cover Costs

Individual premiums depend primarily on your age, location, and chosen cover level:

Age	Budget	Mid-Range	Comprehensive
25–34	£30–£45/mo	£45–£70/mo	£70–£100/mo
35–44	£40–£60/mo	£60–£90/mo	£90–£130/mo
45–54	£55–£80/mo	£80–£120/mo	£120–£170/mo
55–64	£75–£110/mo	£110–£160/mo	£160–£220/mo

Best Providers for Individuals

AXA Health — best value. Competitive pricing with Personal Health fund and 24/7 GP. From £40/mo.
Aviva — best for customisation. Build exactly the policy you want with the modular builder. From £38/mo.
The Exeter — best for self-employed individuals. No GP referral needed, excellent claims service. From £42/mo.
Bupa — best for hospital choice. 500+ facilities, direct specialist access. From £45/mo.
General & Medical — cheapest option. Essential cover from £35/mo.

Individual vs Couple vs Family

If you have a partner, check whether a joint policy is cheaper than two individual policies. Most providers offer a couples discount of 5–10%. If you have children, a family policy usually includes children free of charge, making it significantly better value than separate individual policies.

How to Reduce Your Individual Premium

Six-week NHS wait — saves 20–40%
£250+ excess — saves 15–25%
Guided hospital list — saves 10–20%
Inpatient only — saves 35–50% vs inpatient + outpatient
Annual payment — saves 5–10% with some providers

Combining strategies 1–3 alone can reduce a £90/month mid-range policy to around £45–55/month.

Private Health Insurance for Individuals

Buying Health Insurance as an Individual

What Individual Cover Costs

Best Providers for Individuals

Individual vs Couple vs Family

How to Reduce Your Individual Premium

Related Guides