Compare private health & medical insurance
The UK's leading insurers side by side — what they're best at, what to watch for, and indicative starting prices for a healthy 30-year-old (2026).
| Insurer | Flagship product | Indicative from* | Standout strength | Main consideration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bupa | Bupa By You | £42/month | Market-leading mental health cover, including long-term conditions | Combined outpatient allowance can feel restrictive on lower cover levels | Review → |
| AXA Health | AXA Health Plan | £45/month | Modular design — pay only for the cover blocks you want | Certain conditions carry an extended five-year look-back | Review → |
| Aviva | Healthier Solutions | £50/month | Full cancer cover as standard | A claim over £250 can drop your no-claims discount three levels | Review → |
| Vitality | Personal Healthcare | £54/month | Rewards programme with real-world perks and renewal discounts | Full value depends on engaging with the rewards programme | Review → |
| WPA | Complete Health | £45/month | Not-for-profit, with the market's highest customer satisfaction (around 4.7/5 on Trustpilot) | Joiners aged 66+ face stricter health checks | Review → |
| The Exeter | Health+ | £53/month | Most protective no-claims discount in the market (claims under £300 have no effect) | GP referral required for all claims — no direct access pathways | Review → |
| Freedom Health Insurance | Freedom Elite | £70/month | Postcode-free pricing — often cheaper for London and South East residents | No traditional no-claims discount | Review → |
| National Friendly | My PMI | £67/month | Joiners accepted up to age 85 — the market's highest | Mental health cover is limited (outpatient sessions only, no inpatient) | Review → |
| Saga | Saga Health Insurance | £88/month | Designed for over-50s, underwritten by Bupa | Every claim reduces the no-claims discount by two levels | Review → |
| General & Medical | G&M Elite | £80/month | Optional cover for up to two pre-existing conditions — almost unique in the UK | Virtual GP cannot refer you directly to specialists | Review → |
Compare any two insurers side by side → Estimate your cost →
*Indicative monthly premiums for a healthy 30-year-old on the insurer's flagship personal plan, 2026 (Saga: age 50, over-50s product). Actual prices depend on age, postcode, excess, cover options and underwriting.
Health insurance guides
The right policy depends on who needs cover and what you want it to do. These guides explain what to look for, what it costs and the questions people ask most.
Health Insurance for Over 50s
What cover costs from 50 onwards, joining age limits, and the options that cut the premium without gutting the cover.
Read the guide →Health Insurance in Your 60s and 70s
Joining ages by insurer, real prices at 60, 70 and 80, and the options that keep cover affordable later in life.
Read the guide →Health Insurance with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
How insurers treat existing conditions, moratorium vs full underwriting, and the rare policies that cover some from day one.
Read the guide →Family Health Insurance
Covering children on one plan, family discounts, newborns, pregnancy, and how one claim can affect everyone's price.
Read the guide →Joint Health Insurance for Couples
Joint or separate policies, how each partner is priced, shared no-claims discounts and what happens if you separate.
Read the guide →Business Health Insurance Plans
How company schemes work, underwriting options that can cover existing conditions, and the tax and NI position.
Read the guide →Health Insurance for the Self-Employed & Sole Traders
Why it matters when you have no sick pay, how tax works for sole traders vs limited companies, and budget-friendly options.
Read the guide →Dental Insurance
What dental insurance covers, how it compares with dental plans and cash plans, and whether it's worth it.
Read the guide →Health Cash Plans
Money back on dental, optical, physio and more — and how a cash plan compares with private medical insurance.
Read the guide →Cancer Cover and Health Insurance
What cancer cover includes, the limits to check, drugs not routinely available on the NHS, and cancer-only policies.
Read the guide →Health Insurance if You Have Diabetes
What insurers exclude for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, what you can still claim for, and the alternatives worth considering.
Read the guide →Health Insurance with Mental Health Cover
How the main insurers compare on therapy sessions, outpatient limits, inpatient days and GP referrals.
Read the guide →Switching Health Insurance
How to switch insurer without restarting your exclusions, when to do it, and what to check first.
Read the guide →How to compare medical insurance properly
1. Cover level first
Decide what matters: outpatient limits, mental health, therapies, dental. A cheap policy that excludes what you'll actually use isn't cheap.
2. Understand underwriting
Moratorium vs full medical underwriting changes how pre-existing conditions are treated — and which insurer suits your history.
3. Check the levers
Excess levels, hospital lists, six-week NHS wait options and no-claims structures can cut premiums by a third or more.
Frequently asked questions
How much does private health insurance cost in the UK?
As a guide in 2026, comprehensive cover for a healthy 30-year-old starts around £42–£55 a month, rising to £110–£165 a month at age 60. Age, postcode, excess, outpatient limits and no-claims discounts all move the price significantly — which is why like-for-like comparison matters more than headline prices.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Generally not at first. Most personal policies use a moratorium: conditions from the last five years are excluded until you've been symptom- and treatment-free for a set period (usually two years) after joining. A small number of insurers offer capped options for pre-existing conditions — our General & Medical review covers one.
Is health insurance worth it with NHS waiting lists so long?
That depends on your priorities and budget. With 7.28 million cases on the NHS list and a median wait of 12.4 weeks, many people buy cover for faster diagnosis, choice of consultant and private rooms. Others prefer to self-pay per treatment. Our waiting times guide sets out the trade-offs.
Is medical insurance the same as health insurance?
Yes. In the UK, private medical insurance (PMI), private health insurance and medical insurance all mean the same thing: a policy that pays for private diagnosis and treatment of new, acute conditions. Health cash plans and critical illness cover are different products. See our health cash plans guide for how those compare.
Can I get cover for my family or my business?
Yes — most insurers offer partner and family options with discounts for children, and separate business products cover employees (often with better tax treatment than paying personally). Tell the specialist who calls you back who needs cover and they'll compare the right product type. See our guides to family health insurance and business health insurance.