Health insurance in the UK can pay for private medical treatment if you are ill or injured after you take out the policy. It can cover a range of treatment you can't get for free on the NHS.
How to find the right health insurance
You can find a health insurance policy using this comparison. It includes details of what each insurer covers and what benefits come with their policies.
If you want help finding health cover, you can contact a broker. They can get you a range of quotes and help you choose the best policy based on your needs and medical history.
Use our broker form to contact them and get quotes by phone or by filling out your details.
Work out what cover you need
Before you take out a healthcare plan, decide what you need it to cover, including:
Which illnesses, symptoms and injuries
Which treatments need to be included, e.g. physiotherapy
Covering serious illnesses like cancer or treatment for pre-existing conditions like asthma could make your private medical insurance more expensive. But it could be worth it if you need private healthcare for these conditions.
How much is health insurance?
Private health insurance policies come with two mains costs:
The premium, which is how much you pay for it each month
The excess, which is how much you have to pay towards the bill when you claim
Most companies also have limits on how much they can pay out every year and for each:
Individual claim you make
Condition
Type of treatment
Choose a policy
Find policies that cover all of the conditions and types of treatment you need and then compare them online to see which is cheapest.
Some policies let you pick exactly what cover options you include. They base the price on what you choose to add, which can be the cheapest way to get exactly the cover you need.
Health insurance FAQs
Will health insurance cover my existing conditions?
Some policies can include them, but many do not pay out for them. Here is how cover for pre-existing conditions works.
Do I need a medical check before I get health insurance?
Some policies make you fill out a declaration about your health, and some may need to run medical tests. But moratorium policies do not do this.
Will my health affect the cost of my insurance?
Yes, some policies could charge you more if you have existing conditions. Others only charge you more if you need to cover treatment for them.
Which hospitals or doctors can I use?
Most companies give you a choice of several medical facilities when you are referred for treatment.
Can I still use the NHS if I get health insurance?
Yes, you can get free treatment on the NHS or use your policy to pay for private treatment
Does health insurance cover me abroad?
No, most of these policies only cover treatment in the UK, but you could get medical cover from your travel insurance if you go abroad.
Can I get health insurance for my family?
Yes, you could get separate policies for everyone or a single family healthcare policy.
Can I get health insurance if I am disabled?
Yes, but some providers do not cover treatment for any conditions that are related to your disability.