Private health insurance in the UK: how to compare cover and cost
Checked: July 2026Private Health Compass compares private medical insurance by checking what a policy actually covers, not just its headline price. Cost depends on your age, health history, chosen excess, and how comprehensive the cover is. Every UK health insurer and broker must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, so that register is where you start.
How private medical insurance actually works
You pay a regular premium, monthly or annually, to keep a policy active. When you need eligible treatment you typically get a referral, from your GP or, for some insurers, a private GP, then contact your insurer to authorise the claim before treatment starts. Once authorised, you are treated at a private hospital or clinic your insurer works with, and the insurer settles the bill directly with the provider for what your policy covers; you are responsible for any excess and for anything outside your cover. According to the Association of British Insurers, 6.5 million people were covered by private medical insurance in 2024, up 4% on 2023, with a record 4.8 million of those covered through workplace schemes. Insurers paid out a record £4 billion in claims across individual and workplace policies that year, with 1.8 million people making a claim, figures the ABI published in January 2026.
What actually changes the price
- Your age and health history at the point you apply, and whether the insurer uses full medical underwriting or moratorium underwriting for pre-existing conditions.
- The excess you choose to pay per claim; a higher excess generally lowers the premium.
- How comprehensive the cover is: core hospital treatment only, or add-ons such as outpatient diagnostics, mental health cover, or dental and optical.
- Individual cover versus a couple, family, or workplace group scheme.
- The ABI frames PMI as built around acute conditions, ones that respond quickly to treatment, rather than long-term chronic conditions; check a policy's own definitions before assuming a condition is covered.
NHS, self-pay, or insurance: the three routes compared
No single "best" route exists: each suits a different situation. The table below sets out how the NHS, self-pay, and private medical insurance actually work, so you can weigh them against your own circumstances rather than a generic recommendation.
| Route | How you pay | How it works | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS (GP referral) | Free at the point of use, aside from standard charges such as prescriptions | If your GP refers you, you generally have a legal right to choose your hospital or clinical team, including some private providers that treat NHS patients | Anyone eligible for NHS care who is willing to wait for a booked slot |
| Self-pay / private pay-as-you-go | You pay per consultation, test, or procedure as billed | Priced either as an itemised bill or a hospital "package" price; prices are published by individual providers and can be compared using PHIN | A one-off appointment or procedure, without an ongoing premium |
| Private medical insurance | A recurring premium, sized to your age, health, chosen excess, and cover level | The insurer pays the provider directly for treatment your policy covers once a claim is authorised | Ongoing peace of mind and a shorter route to diagnosis and treatment for eligible conditions |
Where to check the facts before you buy
- FCA Register, check that any insurer or broker you are considering is actually authorised.
- Insurance Product Information Document, the insurer or broker must give you one before you buy; read the exclusions and limits, not just the headline cover.
- MoneyHelper, free, government-backed guidance if you want an impartial second opinion before comparing quotes.
- ABI's consumer guide to buying private medical insurance, a plain-English explainer from the industry body.
- PHIN, compare published self-pay prices directly if you decide against insurance for a specific treatment.
Private medical insurance is a different product from travel insurance, which covers a single trip or a year of travel rather than everyday or ongoing healthcare. If you are looking at cover for a trip instead, see our independent review of Flysure travel insurance, aimed specifically at airline personnel, as one example of how that market is structured.
Want to see a doctor before you decide on cover, or need a specialist route instead?
We do not name or recommend a specific insurer on this page. See our editorial policy for how we handle affiliate links.
Sources checked
Checked in July 2026. Figures are the latest published by the ABI at the time of writing and can be revised in later reporting periods.
- Association of British Insurers, insurers process record £4bn (Jan 2026) Used for 2024 coverage, claims, and payout figures for UK private medical insurance.
- ABI consumer guide to buying private medical insurance Used for background on how PMI is typically bought and used.
- FCA Register Used for how to check an insurer or broker is authorised.
- MoneyHelper, is private health insurance worth it Free, government-backed guidance, linked as further reading; no figures from this page are quoted on this site.
- PHIN, self-funding your private treatment Used for how self-pay pricing compares with insurance-funded treatment.
- NHS, your choices in the NHS Used for NHS referral choice rights, for comparison with private routes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need private health insurance to see a private GP or specialist?
No. Most private GPs and specialists accept self-pay patients who book and pay directly, without any insurance policy. Insurance mainly helps if you expect ongoing or higher-cost treatment and want the insurer to settle the bill for you.
Is private health insurance regulated in the UK?
Yes. Every insurer and broker selling private medical insurance in the UK must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check any firm on the FCA Register before you buy, and you must be given an Insurance Product Information Document setting out the key features before you take out a policy.
What does private health insurance typically not cover?
The Association of British Insurers frames PMI as built around acute conditions, ones that respond quickly to treatment, rather than long-term chronic conditions. Exact exclusions vary by policy and insurer, so check the policy wording and IPID for your specific plan rather than assuming.
Can I keep using the NHS if I have private health insurance?
Yes. Having private medical insurance does not remove you from the NHS or change your GP registration. You can use NHS care and private care for different episodes of treatment, though you cannot mix NHS and private funding within the same episode of care.
What's the difference between private health insurance and self-pay?
Self-pay means paying for each consultation, test, or procedure as it happens, with no ongoing premium. Private medical insurance means paying a recurring premium so the insurer covers eligible treatment costs when you need them. PHIN publishes self-pay prices directly if you want to compare that route against a policy quote.
This guide is independent and informational only. It is not financial advice. See our disclaimer and editorial policy for how we research and how we handle affiliate links.