Private Health Insurance
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How can we help you find your perfect cover?
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What is private health cover?
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How much does it cost?
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How does it work?
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What's covered?
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Advantages of cover
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Helpful tips
We'll get your private health insurance quotes from the UK's leading insurers.
In the UK, we’re fortunate to have access to the National Health Service (NHS), a free public healthcare system. However, the NHS is facing challenges, including long waiting lists for diagnosis, testing, surgery, and treatment.
With private health insurance (also known as private medical insurance, or PMI), you can access quality healthcare, top consultants, and treatment quickly for you and your family. Compare Life experts are on hand to help you get sorted.
What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance is designed to cover medical conditions that respond quickly to treatment (commonly known as ‘acute conditions’). Typically, it covers costs such as medical tests and diagnostic scans, elective surgery, hospital accommodation, consultant fees, treatment drugs, and nursing care.
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Private health insurance helps pay for some or all of the medical treatment you need. It allows quick access to top healthcare professionals, enhancing your chances of a quick and full recovery.
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Most policies can be tailored to meet your needs and budget. You can choose the types of medical treatment covered, the level of cover, the location for your treatment, whether you want outpatient care, and the contribution you might be willing to make to the treatment cost (known as ‘the excess’).
Do I need private health insurance?
While we have the NHS, it may not always offer access to all medications and treatments. Private healthcare provides an alternative, but it can be expensive if you’re paying out of pocket (often referred to as ‘self-funding’). If you're employed, check if your employer has a scheme that you and your family can join.
Many of us will likely face a condition, illness, or need for medical treatment during our lives. Private health insurance can provide a more affordable way of accessing private healthcare.
Did you know that 5.8 million people in the UK are covered by private health insurance, 4.4 million through their employer and 1.4 million individually? (ABI statistics, 2023)
How much does private health insurance cost?
The cost of private health insurance depends on various factors:
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Who is covered – yourself, you and your partner, or your family.
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The level of cover you require – basic or comprehensive cover, and optional benefits.
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Your postcode – where you live can significantly affect treatment costs and private medical facilities.
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Your age – the older you are, the more expensive it is.
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Your medical history and family history.
Most policies have limits, such as a financial limit for treatment types or cover, consultant fees, or limits on the choice of hospitals. They may also have an excess, meaning you pay an amount towards a claim. A larger excess generally results in a cheaper premium.
The most important factor is ensuring the policy you choose meets your needs. Any like-for-like comparison is challenging due to the many variables, as some policies may include cover as standard, while others may offer it as an optional extra.
Our examples below show illustrative price ranges for health insurance – with zero excess and full cancer treatment coverage*. Prices vary considerably depending on specific cover options, age, medical history, and location.
Age Lower range (basic plans1) Upper range (comprehensive plans2)
35 From £36.00 to £113.90 a month
45 From £48.54 to £149.33 a month
55 From £70.46 to £217.27 a month
65 From £101.66 to £320.76 a month
Assumed living in the Midlands (Worcester), with illustrations from 4 leading insurers (4C platform, February 2024).
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‘Basic plans’ do not include any outpatient care cover.
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‘Comprehensive’ plans often include unlimited outpatient care cover.
Most ‘basic’ plans don’t include ‘outpatient cover’, but some standard plans do, up to specified limits. Options to extend coverage are available, and most comprehensive plans include unlimited outpatient care. Compare Life will always recommend including some level of outpatient cover. Don’t worry, we’ll also provide a cost breakdown to help you make an informed choice
Private health insurance allows you to claim the cost of private medical care instead of using the NHS or self-funding.
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Different insurers have different claims processes. If you're considering private treatment, check your insurer's website and policy documents for specific guidance.
Get a referral from your GP
Every claim starts with an appointment with your GP. If you suspect a health problem, contact your GP or healthcare provider as you would for any medical issue, but inform them that you have private cover.
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Following your consultation, if needed, they’ll refer you to a specialist. Depending on your health insurance policy, you might choose private hospitals or specialists not available on the NHS.
Inform your insurer
Once you have a referral letter, tell your insurance provider that you want to make a claim. You’ll need:
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Your policy number.
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Details of your GP’s diagnosis.
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Information about your condition.
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Details of your referral.
The insurer will confirm whether the treatment is covered by your policy. After seeing a specialist, call your insurer again to discuss the next steps. Understand how to pay for any consultations or treatments, either by paying upfront and claiming back or through direct payment by your provider.
Your insurer covers the cost
If the treatment is covered, the insurer will approve your claim, and you’ll be booked in to see a consultant, have any necessary tests, and receive recommended treatments. Costs will be covered by your insurance provider as long as your policy is active. You may need to pay an excess, and coverage limits may apply depending on your policy.
What does private health insurance cover?
There are many private health insurance policies with different types and levels of cover, including automatically included benefits and optional add-ons. This flexibility lets you tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget.
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Private health insurance is designed to cover the cost of private medical treatment for ‘acute conditions’ that start after the policy begins. It provides access to independent healthcare services, often leading to quicker diagnosis and shorter waiting times for treatment.
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An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that responds quickly to treatment, aiming to restore your previous health or lead to full recovery.
Cover usually includes:
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Cost of hospital admission.
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Diagnostic tests like MRI and CT scans.
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Surgery.
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Consultant fees.
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Hospital accommodation and nursing care.
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Cancer drugs, including those not available on the NHS
Options may include:
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Outpatient consultations.
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Mental health treatment options.
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Complementary therapies.
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Physiotherapy and chiropody
What is not covered?
Insurers typically don’t cover ‘chronic conditions’, defined as diseases, illnesses, or injuries that:
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Need long-term monitoring, control, and relief of symptoms.
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Continue indefinitely.
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Have no known cure or are likely to recur.
Although initial diagnostic tests are usually covered, long-term treatment of chronic conditions isn’t. For example, a diabetes diagnosis may be covered initially, but ongoing treatment would pass to the NHS. However, acute flare-ups might still be covered, so it’s worth checking with your insurer.
Pre-existing conditions (conditions you have or have had) are generally excluded. Typical exclusions include asthma, arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
What are the advantages of private health insurance?
Private health insurance covers the costs of private medical treatment, providing early consultations, quick treatment times, and access to private hospitals and top consultants. It often includes high standards of comfort, reduced superbug risks, and quality care.
Advantages:
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Faster access to healthcare with quick referrals, testing, and treatment.
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Choice of healthcare providers, hospitals, and treatments, including those not available on the NHS.
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Private rooms, quality care, amenities like TV and Wi-Fi, and flexible visiting arrangements.
Disadvantages:
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Premiums can be expensive, especially for more coverage.
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Limited range of cover, with some treatments requiring additional out-of-pocket expenses.
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Exclusion of pre-existing conditions, or limited coverage with higher premiums.
Ensure the policy matches your and your family's needs. Different types of health insurance are available, including basic and comprehensive plans
How Compare Life can support you
Protecting families is our mission. Since our inception, we’ve helped thousands of UK families find insurance that suits their needs, budgets, and future plans.
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Compare Life is an independent intermediary providing top-notch customer service and ongoing support whenever needed.
Why get advice from Compare Life
There are numerous private health insurance options, with basic and comprehensive plans and many optional benefits. Every insurer has different versions of these products. Medical advances, new treatments, and drugs also affect choices.
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With Compare Life, you don’t have to navigate this complex information alone. We handle the research, analysis, and comparison, ensuring you find the perfect policy without hassle.
About us
At Im Insured we're dedicated to helping you protect what matters most. With over 13 years of experience in the insurance industry, we've earned a reputation for providing reliable, personalized insurance solutions tailored to your unique needs.
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Our team of experts understands that life is full of uncertainties, and our mission is to offer you peace of mind through comprehensive coverage options that fit your lifestyle. Whether it's safeguarding your assets, protecting your loved ones, or planning for the unexpected, we're here to ensure you're fully covered.