Private health insurance UK — cover that fits your situation
Private health insurance UK sits alongside the NHS for faster access to acute, curable treatment. We compare every UK-authorised PMI provider so you do not have to.
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FSCS covers 90% of valid PMI claims with no upper cap if your insurer fails.
Free, independent escalation through the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Member of AMII. We compare every authorised PMI provider rather than push a single carrier.
What is private health insurance, and how does it work with the NHS?
Private medical insurance (PMI), also called private health insurance, is an optional UK policy that pays for treatment of acute and curable conditions in private hospitals. It runs alongside the NHS, not as a replacement. The NHS still handles emergencies, chronic care and routine pregnancy.
PMI buys you speed and choice. In plain English, a typical claim looks like a consultant appointment within days rather than weeks, a private hospital room, and a faster route to surgery for an acute condition. NHS England's elective waiting list stood at about 7.11 million pathways in March 2026 (NHS England RTT data), roughly 1.6 times the pre-pandemic baseline. That backlog is the biggest reason UK adults now pay for PMI.
PMI does not replace the NHS. It excludes A&E, ambulance services, routine pregnancy and long-term chronic conditions. It is also not the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). If you arrived on a visa, the IHS gives you NHS access; PMI is what you add on top for specialist speed.
Pathways waiting for elective treatment in England. Roughly 1.6× the pre-pandemic baseline. Source: NHS England RTT data.
NHS England RTT data, March 2026 →Is private health insurance worth it in the UK?
For 2026, PMI is worth it if speed of specialist treatment matters more to you than the £40-£200/month premium. That tends to be the self-employed, families with young children, and over-60s facing 18-week waits. It is less compelling for healthy 20-somethings using the NHS rarely. Insurance is risk pooling, not a savings account.
Search interest in 'martin lewis private health insurance' rose +1,329% year-on-year in 2026. We cite the position transparently. We are a broker, not an MSE affiliate.
Source →How much does private health insurance cost in the UK?
UK private health insurance costs from £17 per month for a 30-year-old entry-level policy and rises to roughly £200 a month at age 70 for cover at the comprehensive tier. Industry sampling across 2026 puts the typical age curve at £42 at 30, £132 at 60 and £207 at 70. All quoted UK PMI premiums include Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) at 12%, the rate set by HMRC.
| Age | Entry-level (basic) | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | £17-£32/month | £53-£58/month |
| 40 | from £25/month | £71-£80/month |
| 50 | from £35/month | £96-£110/month |
| 60 | £48/month | £132-£134/month |
| 70 | from £75/month | £203-£207/month |
What private health insurance covers (and what it excludes)
UK PMI is built around acute and curable conditions: issues with a clear start, treatment plan and end. Anything ongoing, emergency or routine sits with the NHS. Treatment usually needs a GP referral first.
Pre-existing conditions and UK underwriting routes
UK private medical insurance uses one of four underwriting routes for pre-existing conditions. Moratorium underwriting looks back 3-5 years and lets a condition become eligible after 2 years symptom-free. Full medical underwriting (FMU) declares everything upfront. CPME transfers exclusions from a previous insurer. Medical history disregarded is rare and usually employer-only.
Excluded; covered after 2 years symptom-free (no treatment, symptoms or advice). Lookback 3-5 years.
Each condition rated, excluded or covered up front.
Your existing insurer's exclusions carry across.
Most pre-existing conditions covered from day one.
How to lower your private health insurance premium
Five practical levers cut a UK private health insurance premium: increase the excess, switch to a guided hospital list, choose a 6-week NHS wait option, drop optional add-ons, and consolidate household policies into one family policy. Each lever typically saves 10-20%, provider-dependent.
Who is private health insurance right for?
Five cards covering the audiences we see most often. Pick the one closest to you.
Paediatric speed of access, plus a mental health add-on for teens. Family policies usually undercut two individual ones.
Speed (every NHS wait day is a lost billable day). Sole traders cannot deduct PMI; Ltd directors face a taxable benefit in kind (reported via payroll from April 2026).
Honest handling of managed conditions. Moratorium-friendly carriers versus mutual flat-fee options.
Mental health, early access, wellness perks. A high-excess savings buffer can rival entry PMI.
Your IHS covers NHS access; PMI adds specialist speed. CPME may transfer prior cover.
How to buy, claim and switch private health insurance
Buying UK PMI is a four-step regulator-driven process: compare via an FCA-authorised broker, read the IPID, underwrite, and use your FCA 14-day cooling-off period to review. Claiming starts with a GP referral and pre-authorisation. Switching uses CPME to carry exclusions across.
Our advisers are FCA-authorised and AMII members, and we are paid by the insurer at no cost to you.
Private health insurance UK — FAQ
Plain-English answers from FCA-authorised, AMII-member advisers.
Compare every UK-authorised PMI provider in under 2 minutes.
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