Buying a Home
Remortgaging
Landlord
Specialist
Secured Loans
Debt Consolidation
Conveyancing
Finding a Solicitor
Conveyancing near you
Health Insurance
Get matched with a specialist health insurance advisor who can compare quotes from leading UK providers to find the right cover for your needs and budget.
To compare health insurance quotes in the UK, you can use an independent advisor who accesses policies from providers including Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, and Vitality. The average cost of individual health insurance ranges from around £33 to £280 per month, depending on your age, location, medical history, and the level of cover you choose. Key factors to compare include inpatient and outpatient cover, excess amounts (typically £100 to £500), hospital lists, and any exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Policies with higher excesses tend to have lower monthly premiums, but you pay more yourself if you make a claim. An advisor can help you weigh these trade-offs and find a policy that balances cover and affordability. Using a whole-of-market advisor ensures you see options from across the market rather than being limited to a single provider.
Sources: Which?, private health insurance costs by age (21 July 2026, LifeSearch sample quotes at June 2026 prices); Bupa and AXA Health (checked October 2026)
When comparing health insurance quotes, there are several key features to look at beyond just the monthly premium.
Check which hospitals are included on the provider's hospital list, as this directly affects where you can receive treatment.
Health insurance costs vary significantly depending on your circumstances. In sample quotes from broker LifeSearch for Which? at June 2026 prices, the average monthly premium for one person ranged from £32.81 for core cover at age 30 to £280.11 for comprehensive cover at 80. Covering a partner or children adds to the total premium, though some insurers, such as Bupa, may offer a discount for couples and families.
Several factors influence the price you are quoted. Age makes a big difference: in the same sample quotes, core cover averaged £32.81 a month at 30 and £80.96 at 60, and comprehensive cover, which adds outpatient consultations and diagnostics, averaged £55.92 at 30 and £138.52 at 60. These examples are for a single non-smoker in an OX (Oxford) postcode, with a standard excess of about £250 and a guided hospital list. Where you live also matters, because treatment costs vary around the UK and top consultants in London tend to charge more.
The level of cover you choose has a direct impact on cost. A basic inpatient-only policy costs significantly less than a comprehensive plan with outpatient, dental, and optical cover. You can reduce your premium by choosing a higher voluntary excess, opting for a six-week NHS wait option (where you only use private treatment if the NHS waiting time exceeds six weeks), or selecting a guided hospital list rather than an extended one.
For more detail on pricing, read our guide to the cost of health insurance.
Sources: Which?, private health insurance costs by age (21 July 2026, LifeSearch sample quotes at June 2026 prices) and private health insurance cost guide (updated August 2026); Bupa (checked October 2026)
The UK health insurance market has several established providers, each with different strengths. Here is a brief overview of the main ones to consider.
Bupa is the largest private health insurer in the UK, covering around 3.8 million people. Bupa owns and operates its own hospitals and clinics, which can mean faster access to treatment. Bupa's own example puts comprehensive cover for a single non-smoker aged 30 to 50 at £44.89 a month on average, with a £500 excess and a £500 outpatient limit.
AXA Health offers flexible policies with a range of optional extras. AXA is known for competitive pricing and strong digital tools, including a 24/7 GP helpline and health-tracking app.
Aviva provides health insurance alongside its other financial products and is particularly popular for family cover. Aviva offers a 14-day cooling-off period and, if you choose moratorium underwriting, may cover an eligible pre-existing condition once you have gone two continuous years on cover without treatment, tests, medication or advice for it.
Vitality takes a different approach by rewarding healthy behaviour with discounts on gym memberships, cinema tickets, and other perks through its Vitality Programme.
WPA is a not-for-profit insurer that reinvests its surplus into member benefits, often resulting in competitive premiums and high claim acceptance rates. WPA says it authorised 97% of the eligible claims it received, based on its July 2026 data.
For a detailed comparison, see our guide to the best health insurance providers in the UK.
The table below shows how each insurer's personal health insurance works, based on the insurer's own website. It compares features rather than prices, and options can change, so check the policy documents that come with any quote.
| Insurer | Underwriting options | Hospital list options | Outpatient cover | Cancer cover | Digital GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bupa | Full medical underwriting or moratorium. If you switch, you may keep your current terms or moratorium start date | Choice of three hospital networks | Comprehensive plan covers appointments, tests and scans before diagnosis. Treatment and Care plan does not | Included on both plans, through every stage of cancer care | Blua in the My Bupa app, with virtual or face-to-face GP appointments |
| AXA Health | Moratorium (looks back three years) or full medical underwriting. If you are leaving a company scheme, you can continue without further underwriting | Treatment at the private hospitals AXA Health approves under your plan | Optional. Specialist consultations are capped at three a year, or you can choose no annual cap | Optional Cancer care module for new cancers, including licensed drugs on specialist referral | 24/7 online GP appointments by video or phone |
| Aviva | Full medical underwriting, moratorium, or continued underwriting from your current policy | Key list or Expert Select option. Extended list adds hospitals in Greater London. Reduced Trust and Signature lists cost less | Included. You can cut the limit to £0, £500 or £1,000 to lower the price (cancer treatment is not affected) | Included, with no limit on eligible cancer diagnosis, treatment and aftercare | Aviva Digital GP app, with unlimited 24/7 video appointments |
| Vitality | Full medical underwriting, moratorium, or continued personal medical exclusions if you switch | Consultant Select (a panel of specialists), Countrywide list, or London Care list including central London | Optional. Cover in full or set a limit from £500 to £1,500 | Included. Eligible cancer treatment is paid in full at hospitals on your plan | Vitality GP video appointments, usually within 48 hours |
| WPA | Moratorium, full medical underwriting, or switch underwriting if you are already insured | More than 1,000 hospitals, clinics and scan centres across the UK. Premium Hospitals option adds higher-cost hospitals, mainly in and around London | Out-patient benefits included. Extra consultations and diagnostic tests are optional extras | Cancer Care is an optional extra. Fast Track Cancer Diagnosis for some symptoms is included | Remote GP by phone or video, included as standard |
| The Exeter | Full medical underwriting, moratorium, continued moratorium, or continued personal medical exclusions | Traditional option: one of three hospital lists. Guided option: no list, and The Exeter suggests a shortlist of specialists | Optional, for example a £500 or £1,000 yearly limit, with an upgrade that covers diagnostic tests in full. CT, MRI and PET scans are in core cover | Included in core cover for all stages of cancer | Digital GP through the free members app |
| Freedom Health Insurance | Moratorium for online applications. Full medical underwriting by phone or through a broker. If you switch, you may be able to transfer on your current terms | Elite hospital list. London Plus extension adds central London hospitals and HCA Healthcare UK facilities | Optional outpatient benefit, including diagnostic tests your GP requests | Comprehensive cancer cover included in all Freedom Elite plans | Unlimited Digital GP by phone or video, 24/7 |
Plans compared: Bupa Comprehensive and Treatment and Care, AXA Health Plan, Aviva Healthier Solutions, Vitality health insurance, WPA Complete Health, The Exeter Health+ and Freedom Elite.
Sources: Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, The Exeter and Freedom Health Insurance (checked October 2026)
Several factors influence the health insurance quote you receive. Understanding these can help you find better value and avoid surprises.
Age: Premiums increase with age because older people are statistically more likely to need medical treatment. Most providers review your premium annually, and costs usually rise as you get older, even if you have not made a claim. If you are over 50, specialist policies may offer better value. Read our guide to health insurance for over 50s.
Medical history: Your existing and previous health conditions affect your cover and premium. Insurers use either full medical underwriting (where you declare your full history upfront) or moratorium underwriting (where pre-existing conditions are excluded for a set period, usually two years). Learn more about health insurance with pre-existing conditions.
Location: Where you live affects the cost of private medical treatment in your area. London postcodes attract the highest premiums.
Smoking status: Smokers generally pay more than non-smokers for the same level of cover.
Occupation: Some providers offer discounts for certain professions, while higher-risk occupations may face additional loading on their premiums.
These factors interact with each other, which is why personalised quotes from a whole-of-market advisor give you a more accurate picture than online estimates.
Choosing the right level of health insurance cover means balancing what you need with what you can afford. Most policies fall into three broad tiers.
Basic (inpatient only): Covers treatment that requires a hospital stay, including surgery, cancer treatment, and diagnostic tests. This is the most affordable option and costs less than comprehensive cover. It is a good starting point if you mainly want protection against serious conditions and long NHS waiting times.
Mid-range (inpatient plus outpatient): Adds cover for consultations, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, and diagnostic scans that do not require a hospital stay. Outpatient cover is useful if you want faster access to GP referrals and specialist opinions.
Comprehensive: Includes everything in mid-range plus extras such as dental, optical, mental health, and therapies cover. These policies cost more but provide the broadest protection.
You can also adjust your cover by choosing your excess level. A higher excess reduces your monthly premium. The trade-off is that you pay more towards the cost of treatment if you claim. Read more about how excesses work in health insurance.
If you are considering whether private cover is right for you, our guide on health insurance vs the NHS explains the key differences.
There is no single best site or service for comparing health insurance. You can compare quotes through an online comparison site, a broker or advisor, or by going direct to insurers, and some banks, building societies and retailers sell health insurance too. Each route gives you something different, so it helps to know what to expect before you start.
A comparison site lets you enter your details once and see prices from several insurers side by side, which makes it a quick way to get a feel for costs. Check which insurers each site includes, and do not judge quotes on price alone: a cheaper result may come with a lower outpatient limit, a higher excess or a shorter hospital list. Open the policy details for each quote so you know you are comparing the same cover.
A broker or advisor can compare policies from a range of insurers for you, explain how they differ on cover and underwriting, and help with your application. Which? recommends using a broker, particularly if you have a medical history or need cover for specific illnesses. Ask which insurers they can quote from, because not every insurer is available through every broker.
Going direct means dealing with one insurer at a time, usually online or by phone. You will only see that insurer's own policies, so you would need to repeat the process with others to compare prices and cover. Some options are only available if you speak to someone: Bupa sells its Treatment and Care plan by phone only, and Freedom Health Insurance uses moratorium underwriting for online applications, so you would need to call it or use a broker if you want full medical underwriting.
Asking every insurer, site or advisor the same questions means you can compare quotes like for like, not just on price. When you are ready, the steps below show how to get personalised health insurance quotes to compare.
Sources: MoneyHelper; Which?, best private health insurance (updated July 2026); Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, The Exeter and Freedom Health Insurance (checked October 2026)
Tell us about your needs
Share your age, location, medical history, and the type of cover you are looking for. This takes around two minutes and helps us match you with the right advisor.
Get matched with a specialist
We connect you with a health insurance advisor who has access to policies from across the market, including Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, and more.
Compare personalised quotes
Your advisor presents tailored quotes based on your specific circumstances, explaining the differences in cover, excess options, and cost so you can make an informed choice.
Choose your cover and get started
Once you have found the right policy, your advisor handles the application process and is available for ongoing support if you need to make a claim or adjust your cover.
Speak to a specialist advisor who can compare quotes from leading UK providers and find the right cover for you.
Health insurance can be worth it if you want faster access to diagnosis and treatment, a choice of specialist consultants, and private hospital rooms. It is particularly valuable if NHS waiting times in your area are long or if you need cover for specific conditions. The right policy depends on your health, budget, and priorities.
In sample quotes from broker LifeSearch for Which? at June 2026 prices, individual health insurance averaged from about £33 to £280 a month, depending mainly on age and the level of cover. Core cover averaged £32.81 a month at 30 and £80.96 at 60, while comprehensive cover, which adds outpatient consultations and diagnostics, averaged £55.92 at 30 and £138.52 at 60. These figures are for a single non-smoker with a standard excess and a guided hospital list, so your own price will also depend on where you live and your medical history. Couples and family policies cost more.
Yes, you can still get health insurance with pre-existing conditions, though cover varies. Under moratorium underwriting, pre-existing conditions are excluded at first, but a condition may be covered once you have had two years of continuous cover in which you have stayed symptom-free and have not needed treatment, medication or advice for it. With full medical underwriting, the insurer reviews your history upfront and may exclude specific conditions.
Full medical underwriting requires you to disclose your complete medical history when you apply. The insurer then decides which conditions to cover or exclude. Moratorium underwriting does not require a medical questionnaire, but automatically excludes any condition you had symptoms of, or received treatment or advice for, during the five years before your policy starts (some insurers, such as AXA Health, look back three years). That condition may then be covered once you have had two years of continuous cover without symptoms, treatment, medication or advice for it.
Some health insurance policies include mental health cover, but it varies widely. Policies that include it typically cover a set number of sessions with a therapist or psychiatrist per year, with annual limits that vary between insurers. Check the policy wording carefully, as some plans only cover certain types of therapy.
Yes, you can switch health insurance providers at any time, though it is usually best to do so at renewal. When switching, a new provider may apply fresh exclusions for pre-existing conditions depending on the underwriting type. Some providers offer continued moratorium or continued personal medical exclusion terms to make switching easier. An advisor can help you switch without losing cover.
It depends on the insurer. Some set a maximum age for new customers, while others will accept older applicants, and premiums rise as you get older. Our guides to health insurance for over 50s, over 60s and over 70s explain what to look for at each age.
Customer reviews
Shortly after I spoke with Anna, she was also very helpful and made it effortless and a nice experience.
Had a really good experience regarding arranging a secured loan. They introduced me to a great advisor. Thanks for the help.
For once a loan transaction without stress and complications. Very impressed and highly recommended.
Thrilled to share my exceptional experience with Money Saving Advisors. The website made it incredibly simple and easy to connect with an advisor. They helped me find the best deal on my remortgage and secured a very competitive interest rate!
Great advice and money saved on mortgage.
I have previously declined a loan of the value I needed from various brokers, but this website found me a reputable broker with surprisingly decent rates.
Health Insurance
Protect what matters most. Our advisors compare plans from leading UK health insurance providers.
