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Introduction
The private medical insurance market in the UK is dominated by two companies: BUPA and AXA PPP healthcare (formerly known simply as PPP). BUPA is reported to have approximately 40% of the market by value and PPP 30%. BUPA (which stands for British United Provident Association) is a registered charity. AXA PPP healthcare is part of the French based insurance giant AXA. BUPA also operates a major private hospital group nationwide.
Other smaller but significant private medical insurance providers include Western Provident Association and two pure insurance companies: Norwich Union and Standard Life. None of these actually own hospitals. There are another fifteen or so smaller providers, both provident societies and commercial companies, including:
Provident societies
- CS Healthcare
- Exeter Friendly Society
Commercial insurers
- Abbey National Healthcare
- Allied Dunbar
- Clinicare
- Legal & General
- Medisure
- OHRA
- Royal & Sun Alliance
- Universal Provident
The policies are described below using a standard format which all insurance companies now include in their descriptions to allow relatively straightforward comparison between schemes. Insurers also encourage potential subscribers to read the general description of private medical insurance in the Association of British Insurers guide.
Complexity of information presented
As you will see if you browse through the different schemes from the different insurance companies, the range of choices is extremely wide. Several companies offer any one individual 50 to 60 different variants of policies and premiums to choose from. This is far more than any person can rationally assess. We apologise for the complexity of the information presented, but CareHealth believes it is important that you have access to information on all the options. The CareHealth site will almost always give you more information than you would obtain by ringing one of the insurance company's call-centres. Call-centre staff cannot remember all the permutations themselves and they know it would be a quick way to lose potential customers to list them all. They therefore pre-select the options which they will tell callers about. By using CareHealth you can make your own selection.
BUPA Policies
BUPA has launched a new policy called BUPA Heartbeat, which it is intended will replace all of its existing schemes. The old policies may still be available through intermediaries, but are no longer being marketed to the public, and hence have been removed from our website.
BUPA Heartbeat
There are five BUPA Heartbeat policies with varying levels of medical insurance cover. All policies offer optional additional cover for certain cash benefits, health assessments, complementary medicine and convalescence care. Individual premium quotations are based on answers to a lifestyle and medical history questionnaire.
On joining, subscribers choose between three hospital options: a National Access list of over 450 hospitals, a Local Access list of 180 Partnership Network hospitals and an Extended Access list covering national access plus the Cromwell Hospital and the Heath Clinic.
BUPA claims that Heartbeat will cover many pre-existing conditions that would be excluded under conventional policies.
Although BUPA requires subscribers to complete a lifestyle and medical history questionnaire, in practice, for a healthy person, the premium is completely determined by age, occupation and postcode.
If you live outside the London postal area, premiums (as you might expect) are between 10% and 20% cheaper.
The effect of occupation is much less predictable: rates for what BUPA considers the "healthiest" occupations are 60% of the rates for the least healthy occupation. For example, a 50-year-old Civil Servant living in the London postal area would pay £55 per month for full National Access cover with no excess, whereas a Lorry Driver would pay £91.
Being "Retired" is considered as unhealthy as being a Lorry Driver, but the call centre says that the premium in fact depends on what occupation you have retired from, so you should make this clear when you apply. You are not required to declare your occupation annually - your initial occupation is what counts.
BUPA Heartbeat health care select 1Comprehensive policy with unlimited cover for out-patient consultations and tests, psychiatric cover and £1000 for physiotherapy and £250 for complementary medicine. Nursing at home not included, but available as an additional option.
For further information about this policy, click here.
BUPA Heartbeat health care select 2Comprehensive policy with unlimited cover for out-patient consultations and tests, psychiatric cover and £500 for physiotherapy. Nursing at home not included, but available as an additional option.
For further information about this policy, click here.
BUPA Heartbeat health care select 3Budget policy which does not cover out-patient consultations before hospital treatment, but includes £500 for out-patient consultations and physiotherapy after hospital treatment. Covers all diagnostic tests. Nursing at home not included, but available as an additional option.
For further information about this policy, click here.
BUPA Heartbeat health care select 4Budget policy which does not cover any out-patient consultations or diagnostic tests but includes £250 for physiotherapy after hospital treatment. Nursing at home not included, but available as an additional option.
For further information about this policy, click here.
BUPA Heartbeat health care select HCComprehensive policy providing cover for cancer and acute eligible heart conditions only. All other conditions are not covered. Includes unlimited cover for out-patient consultations and tests and £500 for physiotherapy. Nursing at home not included, but available as an additional option.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Illustration of BUPA Premiums
For a table of BUPA premiums, based on an accountant living in outer London, click here.
AXA PPP healthcare Policies |
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AXA PPP healthcare Platinum
AXA PPP healthcare's top of the range plan, which is so exclusive (and expensive) that it does not appear on AXA PPP healthcare's website. In addition to comprehensive cover, it includes critical illness cover, travel cover, international emergency medical assistance, Denplan cover and optical cover.
Access to 300+ hospitals in AXA PPP healthcare Directory of Hospitals.
CareHealth health warning: premiums for Platinum are significantly higher than those for AXA PPP healthcare's other schemes including AXA PPP healthcare Premier (a highly comprehensive scheme). Platinum, in common with all AXA PPP healthcare policies, is available in two versions: Hospital Cover 1, which guarantees a single room in all hospitals in the AXA PPP healthcare directory, and Hospital Cover 2, which may require you to share a room in top London hospitals. Someone choosing Platinum with Hospital Cover 2 would pay premiums two thirds higher than for Premier with Hospital Cover 1, but could have to share a hospital room.
For further information about this policy, click here.
AXA PPP healthcare Premier and Premier Choice
Fully comprehensive schemes, including unlimited cover for psychiatric treatment, out-patient treatment and complementary medicine plus cover for treatment abroad and international emergency treatment.
Access to 300+ hospitals in AXA PPP healthcare Directory of Hospitals.
Premier Choice is a version of the scheme which includes a no claims discount structure.
For further information about these policies, click here.
AXA PPP healthcare Classic, Classic Choice and Classic 6
Schemes which offer lower premiums by setting a cash limit of £900 on out-patient consultations, tests, physiotherapy and complementary medicine. Also provides cover for treatment abroad and international emergency assistance. Psychiatric treatment is covered on an out-patient basis.
Access to 300+ hospitals in AXA PPP healthcare Directory of Hospitals.
Classic Choice is a version of the scheme which includes a no claims discount structure.
Classic 6 is a lower cost scheme which covers treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for most types of treatment, although immediate treatment is still provided for certain common conditions.
For further information about these policies, click here.
AXA PPP healthcare Ideal, Ideal Choice and Ideal 6
Schemes which offer lower premiums by setting a cash limit of £700 on out-patient consultations, tests, physiotherapy and complementary medicine. Also provides cover for treatment abroad and international emergency assistance.
Access to 300+ hospitals in AXA PPP healthcare Directory of Hospitals.
Ideal Choice is a version of the scheme which includes a no claims discount structure.
Ideal 6 is a lower cost scheme which covers treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for most types of treatment, although immediate treatment is still provided for certain common conditions.
For further information about these policies, click here.
AXA PPP healthcare Key Plan, Key Choice and Key 6
Schemes which offer lower premiums by excluding cover for out-patient consultations, tests and physiotherapy before a stay in hospital and setting a cash limit of £300 for these services following a stay in hospital. Also provides cover for treatment abroad and international emergency assistance.
Access to 300+ hospitals in AXA PPP healthcare Directory of Hospitals.
Key Choice is a version of the scheme which includes a no claims discount structure.
Key 6 is a lower cost scheme which covers treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for most types of treatment, although immediate treatment is still provided for certain common conditions.
For further information about these policies, click here.
AXA PPP healthcare Assure, Assure Choice and Assure 6
Schemes which offer lower premiums by excluding cover for all out-patient consultations, tests and physiotherapy. Out-patient surgical procedures and radiotherapy/chemotherapy are covered. Provides cover for treatment abroad and international emergency assistance.
Access to 300+ hospitals in the AXA PPP healthcare Directory of Hospitals.
Assure Choice is a version of the scheme which includes a no claims discount structure.
Assure 6 is a lower cost scheme which covers treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for most types of treatment, although immediate treatment is still provided for certain common conditions.
For further information about these policies, click here.
Illustration of AXA PPP healthcare Premiums
For a table of AXA PPP healthcare premiums, click here.
Norwich Union Policies
Norwich Union Express Care and Express Care 6
Express Care is Norwich Union's comprehensive medical insurance scheme. It provides cover for nursing at home following a hospital stay.
Like most Norwich Union schemes it has an alternative version, Express Care 6, which offers lower premiums by covering treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for the treatment you need.
For further information about these policies, click here.
Norwich Union Select Care and Select Care 6
Select Care also provides comprehensive cover, but without some of the extras included with Norwich Union Express Care, such as nursing at home or overseas medical cover. Select Care also has a slightly more restricted hospitals list, excluding approximately 11 major independent hospitals in London and the South East.
There is an alternative version, Select Care 6, which offers lower premiums by covering treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for the treatment you need.
For further information about these policies, click here.
Norwich Union Personal Care and Personal Care 6
Personal Care offers lower premiums by excluding cover for out-patient consultations and most out-patient treatment. Personal Care has a slightly more restricted hospitals list than Express Care, excluding approximately 11 major independent hospitals, mainly in London and the South East.
There is an alternative version, Personal Care 6, which offers lower premiums by covering treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for the treatment you need.
For further information about these policies, click here.
Norwich Union Fair+Square
Fair+Square is a low-cost private medical insurance scheme from Norwich Union which gives subscribers a free choice between receiving necessary treatment at an independent hospital or receiving a substantial cash payment (currently £500 for the first night, then £250 per night) if treatment is obtained from an NHS hospital. The core coverage is similar to that of other comprehensive policies.
Fair+Square restricts the choice of hospitals very significantly to 123 hospitals, approximately one third the number available on Norwich Union’s other policies. The choice in London is very limited. The Hospital Plus option expands the range of hospitals to 188, including most independent hospitals in London.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Norwich Union Fair+Square Starter
Fair+Square Starter offers the same high NHS cash payment option as Fair+Square, but charges lower premiums by excluding cover for out-patient consultations with a consultant or specialist before or after hospital treatment and diagnostic tests before hospital treatment.
Fair+Square Starter also restricts the choice of hospitals very significantly to 123 hospitals, approximately one third the number available on Norwich Union's other policies. The choice in London is very limited. The Hospital Plus option expands the range of hospitals to 188, including most independent hospitals in London.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Norwich Union Trust Care and Trust Care 6
Norwich Union's Trust Care offers lower cost private medical insurance by covering treatment at an approved list of NHS Trust private patient units and NHS partnership hospitals (units managed by independent hospital groups on NHS Trust sites). Some experts regard the combination of private facilities and the back-up facilities of NHS Trust hospitals as a sensible choice.
Approximately 90 hospitals are approved for Trust Care, compared to more than 300 on Norwich Union's schemes which include independent sector hospitals.
An alternative version, Trust Care 6, offers lower premiums by covering treatment only if there is an NHS waiting list of more than six weeks for the treatment you need.
For further information about these policies, click here.
Norwich Union Trust Care Starter
Trust Care Starter uses the same overall approach as Trust Care, but offers even lower premiums by excluding out-patient consultations, most out-patient treatment and some other extras.
Approximately 90 hospitals are approved for Trust Care, compared to more than 300 on Norwich Union's schemes which include independent sector hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Illustration of Norwich Union Premiums
For a table of Norwich Union premiums, click here.
Standard Life Healthcare Policies |
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Standard Life Healthcare Primecare
Standard Life Healthcare's key plan, providing comprehensive cover plus psychiatric cover and substantial contributions towards complementary medicine and home nursing. Includes mandatory no claims discount structure.
Access to approximately 300 hospitals in the Standard Life Healthcare Countrywide Hospital List. Options of London Upgrade adding 7 London hospitals or Extended London Upgrade adding 11 London hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Standard Life Healthcare Primecare Plus
Offers benefits of Primecare, plus holiday and business travel insurance, cover for major dental expenses, critical illness and permanent and total disablement benefit. Includes mandatory no claims discount structure.
On joining, subscribers choose between four hospital list options. The Extended Hospital List contains over 500 hospitals and has a London upgrade option adding over 20 further London hospitals. The Countrywide Hospital List contains over 450 hospitals and has a London upgrade option adding eight further London hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Standard Life Healthcare Primecare Gold
Standard Life Healthcare's flagship plan. Offers benefits of Primecare and Primecare Plus, plus unlimited out-patient physiotherapy, UK emergency assistance cover and a contribution to private maternity consultations. Includes mandatory no claims discount structure.
Access to approximately 300 hospitals in the Standard Life Healthcare Countrywide Hospital List. Options of London Upgrade adding 7 London hospitals or Extended London Upgrade adding 11 London hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Standard Life Healthcare Primecare Saver
Value-for-money plan providing comprehensive cover, but without additional benefits such as psychiatric cover or home nursing. Includes mandatory no claims discount structure.
On joining, subscribers choose between four hospital list options. The Extended Hospital List contains over 500 hospitals and has a London upgrade option adding over 20 further London hospitals. The Countrywide Hospital List contains over 450 hospitals and has a London upgrade option adding eight further London hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Standard Life Healthcare Primecare SuperSaver
Policy which cuts premiums further by excluding out-patient consultations and tests before a stay in hospital. Includes mandatory no claims discount structure.
Access to approximately 300 hospitals in the Standard Life Healthcare Countrywide Hospital List. Options of London Upgrade adding 7 London hospitals or Extended London Upgrade adding 11 London hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Standard Life Healthcare Choices
High excess policy which offers low premiums by applying one of three mandatory excess levels: £1000, £2500 or £5000. Excess amount applies to each claim. Above the excess amounts provides comprehensive cover. Includes 28 days cover each year for in-patient psychiatric treatment and unlimited cover for complementary medicine, but only after the excess amount has already been incurred in relation to that claim. Also provides Treatment Information Service to assist with choosing and booking treatment which subscribers pay for themselves.
Access to approximately 300 hospitals in the Standard Life Healthcare Countrywide Hospital List. Options of London Upgrade adding 7 London hospitals or Extended London Upgrade adding 11 London hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Illustration of Standard Life Healthcare premiums
For a table of Standard Life Healthcare premiums, click here.
WPA Policies |
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WPA Flexible Health Standard
New budget policy giving cover for in-patient and day-patient treatment but which controls fees by providing only £100 of cover per year for out-patient consultations. Out-patient surgical procedures and MRI and CT scans are covered. Further options can be added giving cover for out-patient therapy, worldwide medical costs, dental costs and other cash benefits.
Offers "shared responsibility" option for reducing fees, where subscriber agrees to pay 25% of medical costs in any policy year up to a maximum of £1000, £3000 or £5000 and receives discount of 35%, 45% or 55% respectively. Above chosen level WPA pays 100% of costs.
All WPA policies give access to 600 hospitals in WPA's Quality Care Network.
For further information about this policy, click here.
WPA Flexible Health Standard + Out-Patient
New policy which provides comprehensive cover including out-patient consultations and tests. Further options can be added giving cover for out-patient therapy, worldwide medical costs, dental costs and other cash benefits.
Offers "shared responsibility" option for reducing fees, where subscriber agrees to pay 25% of medical costs in any policy year up to a maximum of £1000, £3000 or £5000 and receives discount of 30%, 40% or 50% respectively. Above chosen level WPA pays 100% of costs.
All WPA policies give access to over 600 hospitals in WPA's Quality Care Network.
For further information about this policy, click here.
WPA XS health |
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High excess policy with choice of compulsory excess of £1500, £3000 or £5000 at ages 30 to 59; £3000 or £5000 at age 60 and above; with £1500 only option at age 29 or below. Excess amount is maximum charge payable during any 12 months (not the policy year) irrespective of number of claims. Above the excess amounts provides comprehensive cover, including unlimited cover for complementary medicine. Premiums must be paid annually by direct debit or credit card.
XS health was launched as an internet-only policy but is now available by phone and post.
All WPA policies give access to over 600 hospitals in WPA's Quality Care Network.
For further information about this policy, click here.
WPA Self-Pay Protect |
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New policy which provides partial protection for people deciding against comprehensive private medical insurance and ready to pay a share of private treatment costs themselves. Premiums are significantly lower than for conventional medical insurance. Subscribers handle arrangements with hospital, negotiate fees and pay for treatment. They are reimbursed a percentage of fees by cheque within seven days. There is a choice of three percentage levels of reimbursement: 30%, 50% or 75%.
Out-patient tests and consultations prior to treatment are not covered. Follow-up out-patient consultations and treatment are covered for 90 days after leaving hospital. Does not provide additional benefits such as complementary medicine, psychiatric cover, nursing at home, etc.
Subscribers can choose any private hospital in the UK or overseas (that is locally recognised) or any NHS hospital offering private treatment.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Illustration of WPA Premiums
For a table of WPA premiums, click here.
Exeter Friendly Society Policies
Exeter Care - Preferred Plan
Exeter Care's flagship plan, providing full cover for hospital treatment for up to 140 nights a year plus £500 towards out-patient consultations and £1500 towards diagnostic tests. Includes contribution towards nursing at home, private ambulance and cover abroad excluding USA and Bahamas.
On joining, subscribers choose between Level 1 List of approximately 325 hospitals or Level 2 List of approximately 300 hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Exeter Care - Low Cost Plan
Exeter Care's budget plan, providing full cover for hospital treatment for up to 70 nights a year but with limited cover for out-patient consultations and diagnostic tests.
On joining, subscribers choose between Level 1 List of approximately 325 hospitals or Level 2 List of approximately 300 hospitals.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Illustration of Exeter Friendly Society Premiums
For a table of Exeter Friendly Society premiums, click here.
Clinicare Policies
Clinicare Carte Blanche
Clinicare's flagship plan, providing comprehensive plus psychiatric cover, nursing at home and full cover for complementary medicine. Also covers a range of primary care benefits, with substantial contributions towards private GP consultations, out-patient prescriptions, routine dental treatment and spectacles and contact lenses. Covers normal maternity and delivery in a private hospital or NHS maternity cash grant. Includes NHS cash benefit. Includes worldwide travel insurance. Covers many pre-existing conditions subject to additional subscription payment.
On joining, subscribers choose between three bands of hospital accommodation, each containing over 600 hospitals but with the lower bands excluding a small number of private and NHS hospitals, mainly in London.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Clinicare Classic
Comprehensive plan plus psychiatric cover, nursing at home and full cover for complementary medicine. Offers NHS cash benefit and NHS maternity cash grant. Includes worldwide travel insurance. Covers many pre-existing conditions subject to additional subscription payment.
On joining, subscribers choose between three bands of hospital accommodation, each containing over 600 hospitals but with the lower bands excluding a small number of private and NHS hospitals, mainly in London.
For further information about this policy, click here.
Clinicare Club
Budget plan which offers lower premiums by restricting out-patient consultations and treatment to £1000 per year and when linked to hospital treatment. Excludes psychiatric cover and home nursing. Offers NHS cash benefit. Includes worldwide travel insurance. Covers many pre-existing conditions subject to additional subscription payment.
On joining, subscribers choose between three bands of hospital accommodation, each containing over 600 hospitals but with the lower bands excluding a small number of private and NHS hospitals, mainly in London.
For further information about this policy, click here.
For a table of Clinicare premiums, click here.