TL;DR
As expert UK private medical insurance brokers who have arranged cover for thousands of clients, we know the market inside out. This guide provides an authoritative overview of Allianz private health insurance, explaining who it's for, what it covers, and how it stacks up against mainstream UK providers. An overview of Allianz private health insurance and what to compare versus mainstream PMI providers Allianz is a global insurance giant, but its presence in the UK private medical insurance (PMI) market is distinct and often misunderstood.
Key takeaways
- You are an employee whose company offers an Allianz group health scheme.
- You are a business owner or HR manager considering Allianz for your company's employee benefits package.
- Corporate Schemes (Primary Focus): Allianz partners with businesses to provide group health insurance plans for their employees. If your employer has chosen Allianz, you and often your family will be eligible to join the scheme. The level of cover, rules, and cost will be determined by the specific policy your employer has negotiated.
- Individuals and Families: It is generally not possible for an individual or a single family to purchase a private medical insurance policy directly from Allianz in the UK. They do not operate in the direct-to-consumer market in the same way as other major insurers.
- Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): While Allianz's sweet spot is larger corporate clients, they do offer solutions for SMEs. A specialist broker like WeCovr can help determine if an Allianz SME plan is a good fit or if another provider offers a more suitable and cost-effective solution for a smaller team.
As expert UK private medical insurance brokers who have arranged cover for thousands of clients, we know the market inside out. This guide provides an authoritative overview of Allianz private health insurance, explaining who it's for, what it covers, and how it stacks up against mainstream UK providers.
An overview of Allianz private health insurance and what to compare versus mainstream PMI providers
Allianz is a global insurance giant, but its presence in the UK private medical insurance (PMI) market is distinct and often misunderstood. Unlike household names like Bupa or AXA Health who offer policies directly to individuals, Allianz in the UK primarily focuses on the corporate health insurance market.
This means their plans are typically offered as an employee benefit by medium to large-sized businesses, rather than being sold to individuals or families on the open market.
For UK consumers, this creates two common scenarios:
- You are an employee whose company offers an Allianz group health scheme.
- You are a business owner or HR manager considering Allianz for your company's employee benefits package.
This guide will demystify Allianz's offering for both groups and compare its features against the providers you might consider as an individual or small business, such as Aviva, Bupa, The Exeter, and Vitality. Understanding these differences is crucial to finding the right private health cover for your needs.
Who is Eligible for Allianz Health Insurance in the UK?
Eligibility for Allianz private health insurance in the UK is almost exclusively tied to employment. This is the single most important factor to understand when researching their plans.
- Corporate Schemes (Primary Focus): Allianz partners with businesses to provide group health insurance plans for their employees. If your employer has chosen Allianz, you and often your family will be eligible to join the scheme. The level of cover, rules, and cost will be determined by the specific policy your employer has negotiated.
- Individuals and Families: It is generally not possible for an individual or a single family to purchase a private medical insurance policy directly from Allianz in the UK. They do not operate in the direct-to-consumer market in the same way as other major insurers.
- Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): While Allianz's sweet spot is larger corporate clients, they do offer solutions for SMEs. A specialist broker like WeCovr can help determine if an Allianz SME plan is a good fit or if another provider offers a more suitable and cost-effective solution for a smaller team.
Broker Insight: A common mistake we see is individuals searching for an "Allianz health insurance quote" and becoming frustrated. If you are not part of a company scheme, your time is better spent comparing providers who cater to the individual market. An independent broker can do this for you instantly.
A Breakdown of a Typical Allianz Corporate Health Plan
If you're an employee covered by Allianz, your policy is a "group scheme." The exact benefits depend on the plan your employer has selected, but they are built from a standard set of components common across the UK PMI market.
Here’s what a typical plan includes:
| Feature | Description | Common Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Core Cover | The foundation of every policy, covering the most expensive treatments. | In-patient and Day-patient Treatment: Hospital charges, specialist fees, diagnostics, and surgery when you are admitted to a hospital bed (even for a day). |
| Out-patient Cover | Treatment and diagnosis where you are not admitted to a hospital bed. This is usually an optional add-on with varying limits. | Specialist Consultations: Seeing a consultant privately before or after hospital treatment. Diagnostic Tests: MRI, CT, and PET scans, X-rays, and blood tests. |
| Cancer Cover | One of the most valued benefits of PMI. Allianz provides comprehensive cancer pathways. | Full coverage for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. May include advanced therapies, palliative care, and monitoring. |
| Mental Health Cover | Increasingly a standard feature, especially in corporate plans, to support employee wellbeing. | Cover for psychiatric treatment, therapy sessions, and consultations. Limits will vary significantly by policy. |
| Therapies | Physiotherapy and other treatments to aid recovery. | Physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic treatment. The number of sessions is usually capped. |
Additional Benefits & Digital Tools
Allianz, like its competitors, enhances its core medical insurance with a suite of value-added services designed to support everyday health and wellbeing. These often include:
- Digital GP: 24/7 access to a GP via phone or video call, providing quick advice and prescriptions.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Confidential support for a range of life, work, financial, and legal issues.
- Health and Wellbeing Hub: An online portal or app with resources, articles, and tools to manage health proactively.
Understanding your specific corporate plan is key. You should receive a policy handbook or membership guide from your HR department that details your exact levels of cover, any excesses you need to pay, and how to make a claim.
How Does Allianz Compare to Mainstream UK PMI Providers?
This is the crucial question for anyone weighing their options. While Allianz provides robust cover within a corporate setting, how does it compare to the plans you could buy as an individual from providers like AXA, Bupa, or Vitality?
The comparison isn't always direct, as a large corporate scheme negotiated by Allianz for a company with 1,000 employees will have different terms than an individual policy from Aviva. However, we can compare the typical features and philosophical approaches.
Comparison: Allianz Corporate vs. Mainstream Individual PMI
| Feature | Allianz (Typical Corporate Scheme) | Mainstream Providers (e.g., Aviva, AXA, Bupa, Vitality) |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Employees of medium-to-large businesses. | Individuals, families, and small businesses. |
| Underwriting | Often Medical History Disregarded (MHD) for larger schemes. This is a major benefit, as it can cover pre-existing conditions. | Primarily Moratorium or Full Medical Underwriting (FMU). Pre-existing conditions from the past 5 years are typically excluded. |
| Pricing | Based on the overall risk profile of the company workforce. The employer usually pays the premium, sometimes as a taxable benefit. | Based on your individual age, location, lifestyle (smoker status), and chosen cover level. You pay the premium directly. |
| Flexibility | Limited. Your cover level is set by your employer. You cannot easily add or remove major benefits. | High. You can tailor your plan by choosing your excess, hospital list, and out-patient limits to control your premium. |
| Wellness Programmes | Focus on corporate wellbeing, EAPs, and occupational health support. | Often extensive, with rewards for healthy living (e.g., Vitality's points programme, Aviva's gym discounts). |
| Cancer Cover | Comprehensive and a core part of the offering. | Comprehensive, but different providers have different approaches to experimental drugs and ongoing monitoring which are worth comparing. |
| Switching | You are tied to your employer's scheme. If you leave your job, you may be able to get a continuation plan, but often at a much higher cost. | You can switch providers at your annual renewal to find a better deal, often with Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) underwriting. |
Expert Takeaway: The single biggest advantage of a large corporate Allianz scheme is the potential for Medical History Disregarded (MHD) underwriting. This means the policy may cover conditions you had before joining, something that is almost impossible to get on an individual plan. For employees with a history of medical issues, this benefit is invaluable.
For individuals without access to such a scheme, the flexibility and competitive pricing of the mainstream market offer more choice and control. A broker like WeCovr specialises in comparing these individual plans to find the optimal balance of cover and cost.
Key Factors to Compare When Choosing Any PMI Policy
Whether you're evaluating your Allianz company benefit or buying your own policy, the core principles of comparison remain the same. Here are the critical elements our advisers review for every client.
1. Underwriting: The Rules on Pre-existing Conditions
This is the most important and misunderstood aspect of private medical insurance UK.
- Moratorium (Most Common for Individuals): Simple to set up. The insurer will not cover any condition for which you have had symptoms, treatment, or advice in the 5 years before your policy began. However, if you remain symptom and treatment-free for that condition for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts, it may become eligible for cover.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You complete a detailed health questionnaire. The insurer reviews your medical history and applies specific, permanent exclusions to your policy for pre-existing conditions. This provides certainty but is more intrusive.
- Medical History Disregarded (MHD - Common in Large Group Schemes): As mentioned, this is the gold standard, offered to large corporate groups like those Allianz serves. It disregards your prior medical history and covers eligible acute conditions, whether new or pre-existing.
Crucial Point: Standard UK PMI, regardless of the provider, is designed to cover acute conditions (illnesses that are short-term and curable, like hernias or cataracts) that arise after you take out the policy. It does not cover chronic conditions (long-term illnesses that cannot be cured, like diabetes or asthma).
2. The Excess: Your Contribution to a Claim
An excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim each policy year. For example, if you have a £250 excess and your eligible treatment costs £3,000, you pay the first £250 and the insurer pays the remaining £2,750.
- Higher Excess = Lower Premium: Choosing a higher excess is a key way to reduce your monthly cost.
- Corporate vs. Individual: On a company scheme, the excess is often fixed (or even £0). On an individual plan, you can typically choose an excess from £0 up to £1,000 or more.
3. Hospital Lists
Insurers group UK private hospitals into tiers. The list you choose affects your premium and where you can be treated.
- Comprehensive Lists: Include all private hospitals, including the most expensive ones in Central London. This is the priciest option.
- Standard/Regional Lists: Exclude some high-cost city-centre hospitals, offering a good balance of choice and value.
- NHS Trust Hospitals: Some policies allow you to use private wings of NHS hospitals, which can reduce costs. An "NHS Cash Benefit" is also a common feature, paying you a small sum for each night you opt to use the NHS for treatment that would have been covered privately.
Your Allianz company plan will have a pre-defined hospital list. When buying individually, you can select the list that best suits your budget and location.
4. Out-patient and Therapy Limits
This is a major area of variation between policies.
- Full Cover: No annual limit on consultations or diagnostics.
- Capped Cover: A financial limit (e.g., £500, £1,000, or £1,500 per year) on out-patient services. Choosing a lower limit significantly reduces your premium.
- Therapies: The number of physiotherapy or mental health sessions can vary widely. Check the limits carefully.
Adviser Tip: Many clients find a mid-range out-patient limit (e.g., £1,000) offers the best value. It covers the essential diagnostic process for most conditions without the high premium of a "full cover" option.
The Allianz Claims Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Employees
If you are an Allianz member through your work, knowing how to make a claim is essential. The process is straightforward and similar across all UK providers.
- See Your GP: Your first port of call is always your NHS GP (or a private Digital GP if your plan includes it). If they feel you need to see a specialist, they will provide a referral.
- Contact Allianz: Before booking any appointments, you must call the Allianz claims line to get authorisation. Have your policy number ready. They will check your cover and confirm that the condition is eligible for treatment.
- Get a Specialist & Hospital Approved: Allianz will provide a list of approved specialists and hospitals from your plan's network. You can then book your consultation or treatment.
- Send Invoices to Allianz: The hospital and specialist will usually bill Allianz directly. You only need to pay your excess (if any) directly to the hospital.
Important: Never assume a treatment is covered. Always get pre-authorisation from the insurer first to avoid unexpected bills.
What Happens to My Allianz Cover if I Leave My Job?
This is a critical consideration. Your valuable group health cover is tied to your employment. When you leave the company, your cover will cease.
However, you usually have two options:
- Start a New Policy: You can shop around on the open market for a new individual policy from providers like Aviva, Bupa, etc. This will require new underwriting (likely Moratorium), meaning any conditions you claimed for on the Allianz policy will now be considered pre-existing and will be excluded for at least two years.
- Apply for a "Group Leaver" or "Continuation" Plan: Most group insurers, including Allianz, allow you to switch to an individual plan with them without further medical underwriting. This is known as Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) underwriting.
Pros of a Continuation Plan:
- You retain cover for conditions that arose while you were on the company scheme.
Cons of a Continuation Plan:
- It is often significantly more expensive than your employer's subsidised rate and can be more costly than a new policy on the open market.
- The benefits may be different from your old corporate plan.
An expert PMI broker can provide quotes for both a new policy and a continuation option, helping you make the most cost-effective decision.
Why Use a Broker like WeCovr to Navigate Your Options?
Whether you're an individual looking for your first policy, an SME owner wanting to set up a scheme, or an employee leaving a company plan, the market is complex.
An independent, FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr adds value in several ways, at no cost to you:
- Whole-of-Market Comparison: We compare plans from all leading UK insurers, not just one. This ensures you see the best options for your specific needs and budget.
- Expert Advice: We explain the jargon—from moratorium underwriting to cancer cover nuances—so you can make an informed choice. We've helped thousands of clients find the right cover.
- Personalised Recommendations: We don't just give you a price list. We listen to your requirements and recommend the policy that offers the best value for you.
- Application & Claims Support: We can assist with the application process and offer guidance if you ever need to make a claim.
- Exclusive Benefits: All WeCovr clients get complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, to support their health goals. We also offer discounts on other insurance products like life or income protection when you take out a policy.
Navigating the differences between an Allianz corporate scheme and the individual market is precisely where a broker's expertise is invaluable.
Can I buy Allianz private health insurance as an individual in the UK?
Does Allianz health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Is a company health scheme like Allianz's better than an individual policy?
Get Your Personalised Private Health Insurance Quote
Whether you are coming from a corporate Allianz plan or exploring private medical insurance for the first time, the best way to find the right cover is to compare your options.
Our expert team at WeCovr can provide you with a free, no-obligation comparison of the UK's leading insurers. We'll help you understand the key differences and find a policy that protects your health and fits your budget.
Contact us today to get your personalised quotes and expert advice.
