
TL;DR
Navigating the world of private medical insurance in the UK can feel like deciphering a code, with acronyms and brand names that seem to change over time. At WeCovr, where we've helped thousands of UK residents find the right cover, we know that clarity is the first step towards peace of mind. This guide cuts through the confusion surrounding terms like "AXA PPP private healthcare" and "AXA Health", giving you the expert insight you need to make an informed decision.
Key takeaways
- Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include joint replacements, cataract surgery, hernia repairs, and appendicitis. PMI is built for this.
- Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs ongoing or long-term monitoring, requires palliative care, has no known cure, or is likely to recur. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Standard UK PMI does not cover the routine management of chronic conditions.
- Moratorium Underwriting (The "Wait and See" Approach): This is the most common type for individual policies because it's simple. You don't have to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire. Instead, the policy automatically excludes treatment for any medical condition you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before your policy start date. However, if you then go for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts without needing any treatment, advice, or medication for that condition, it may become eligible for cover.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) (The "Declare Everything" Approach): With FMU, you complete a comprehensive questionnaire about your medical history. The insurer assesses your health background and lists specific conditions that will be permanently excluded from your policy from day one. While more intrusive, FMU provides absolute certainty about what is and isn't covered.
- In-patient and Day-patient Treatment: This covers costs when you are admitted to hospital for a procedure, including surgery fees, anaesthetist fees, hospital accommodation, and nursing care.
Navigating the world of private medical insurance in the UK can feel like deciphering a code, with acronyms and brand names that seem to change over time. At WeCovr, where we've helped thousands of UK residents find the right cover, we know that clarity is the first step towards peace of mind. This guide cuts through the confusion surrounding terms like "AXA PPP private healthcare" and "AXA Health", giving you the expert insight you need to make an informed decision.
A guide to AXA PPP private healthcare and related searches (AXA PPP private, AXA health PPP), explained clearly
If you've been researching private health cover, you've almost certainly come across the names AXA PPP and AXA Health. Are they different companies? Is one a specific product? The simple answer is that they refer to the same, single entity.
AXA PPP Healthcare is the former name for AXA Health.
The term "PPP" stands for "Private Patients Plan," a pioneering health insurance organisation founded way back in 1940. It later became part of the global AXA Group, a titan in the insurance and asset management world. In recent years, the company rebranded from AXA PPP Healthcare to simply AXA Health.
This change reflects a strategic shift across the industry—moving from being seen as just "sickness insurance" to being a holistic partner in an individual's overall health and wellbeing. While the name has been updated, many long-standing customers, documents, and even online searches still use the old "AXA PPP" name out of habit.
Here’s a simple breakdown to clear up any confusion:
| Term Searched or Used | What It Actually Means | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| AXA PPP Private Healthcare | The historical brand name for AXA's UK health insurance division. | Now officially known as AXA Health. |
| AXA Health PPP | A common search term blending the new and old names. | Refers to private medical insurance policies offered by AXA Health. |
| AXA PPP | A shorthand for the old brand name. | Refers to AXA Health. |
| AXA Health | The current, official brand name. | This is the company you will deal with today for a new policy. |
Insider Tip: Don't worry if you see "AXA PPP" on old policy documents or in articles. The underlying provider and your policy's validity remain unchanged. The new brand, AXA Health, simply encompasses a wider range of services, including proactive wellness support alongside traditional medical treatment.
What is Private Medical Insurance (PMI)? The Fundamentals
Before diving deeper into AXA Health's specific offerings, it's crucial to understand what private medical insurance is and, just as importantly, what it is not.
Private medical insurance (PMI) is a policy you pay for that covers the costs of private healthcare for specific conditions. Its primary purpose is to help you bypass potential NHS waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment, giving you more choice and control over your medical care.
However, a fundamental principle of the UK PMI market must be understood:
Standard private medical insurance is designed to cover acute conditions that arise after you take out the policy.
- Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include joint replacements, cataract surgery, hernia repairs, and appendicitis. PMI is built for this.
- Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs ongoing or long-term monitoring, requires palliative care, has no known cure, or is likely to recur. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Standard UK PMI does not cover the routine management of chronic conditions.
This distinction is the single most important concept to grasp when considering private health cover.
Pre-existing Conditions and Underwriting
Insurers will not cover medical conditions you had before you joined. This is managed through a process called underwriting. There are two main types:
-
Moratorium Underwriting (The "Wait and See" Approach): This is the most common type for individual policies because it's simple. You don't have to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire. Instead, the policy automatically excludes treatment for any medical condition you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before your policy start date. However, if you then go for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts without needing any treatment, advice, or medication for that condition, it may become eligible for cover.
-
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) (The "Declare Everything" Approach): With FMU, you complete a comprehensive questionnaire about your medical history. The insurer assesses your health background and lists specific conditions that will be permanently excluded from your policy from day one. While more intrusive, FMU provides absolute certainty about what is and isn't covered.
| Underwriting Type | How It Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moratorium | Automatically excludes conditions from the last 5 years. | Quick and easy application. | Can be uncertainty about what's covered for the first 2 years. Claims can be slower as medical history is checked then. |
| Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) | You declare your full medical history upfront. | Total clarity from the start. Claims can be faster as underwriting is done. | Requires a detailed application. Exclusions are typically permanent. |
An expert broker at WeCovr can provide invaluable guidance on which underwriting type is most suitable for your personal circumstances.
A Deep Dive into AXA Health’s Core UK PMI Policy
Like most leading UK providers, AXA Health structures its main individual policy, "Personal Health," around a core foundation with optional extras. This allows you to tailor your cover to your specific needs and budget.
AXA's Core Cover
This is the standard, foundational part of the policy that everyone gets. It is focused on the most significant medical costs.
- In-patient and Day-patient Treatment: This covers costs when you are admitted to hospital for a procedure, including surgery fees, anaesthetist fees, hospital accommodation, and nursing care.
- Comprehensive Cancer Cover: This is a major strength of most top-tier PMI policies. AXA's cancer cover is extensive, typically including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and advanced therapies like biological or targeted drug treatments. It also provides ongoing support from dedicated cancer nurses.
- Out-patient Surgery: Covers surgical procedures carried out in an out-patient setting where you are not formally admitted to a hospital bed.
- Extensive Support Services: This includes access to a 24/7 health support line for medical advice and the "Doctor at Hand" digital GP service.
Popular Optional Add-ons
These modules allow you to build a more comprehensive plan.
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Out-patient Cover: This is one of the most popular and important add-ons. Core cover deals with what happens in hospital; this add-on covers the steps to get you there. It includes specialist consultations and diagnostic tests like MRI, CT, and PET scans. AXA typically offers different levels, such as a yearly limit of £500, £1,000, or a fully comprehensive "unlimited" option.
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Therapies Cover: This provides a set number of sessions for treatments like physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic care, usually following a GP or specialist referral.
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Mental Health Cover: In response to growing demand, this option provides cover for psychiatric treatment, including specialist consultations and in-patient care for mental health conditions.
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Dental and Optical Cover: This usually works as a cashback benefit, where you pay for routine check-ups, fillings, or new glasses and then claim a portion of the cost back from AXA, up to an annual limit.
Here's how a policy is typically constructed:
| Policy Component | What It Covers | Is It Standard on AXA's Plan? |
|---|---|---|
| Core Cover | Hospital stays for surgery, comprehensive cancer care, virtual GP. | Yes, this is the foundation. |
| Out-patient Add-on | Specialist consultations, MRI/CT/PET scans, diagnostic tests. | Optional. You choose the level of cover. |
| Therapies Add-on | Physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic sessions. | Optional. |
| Mental Health Add-on | Consultations and treatment for mental health conditions. | Optional. |
Getting this mix right is key to creating a policy that offers real value. It's often a false economy to skip out-patient cover, as without it, you may still face lengthy waits for the very diagnostic tests needed to get approved for private surgery.
How Much Does AXA Health Insurance Cost?
This is the most common question we hear, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on you and the cover you choose. There is no "one-size-fits-all" price for private medical insurance UK.
The premium is calculated based on a range of risk factors:
- Age: This is the single most significant factor. Premiums increase as you get older.
- Location: Treatment costs vary across the UK, with central London being the most expensive. Your postcode will influence your premium.
- Level of Cover: A policy with comprehensive out-patient cover and therapies will cost more than a core-only plan.
- Excess: This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim each year (e.g., £100, £250, £500). Choosing a higher excess will lower your monthly premium.
- Hospital List: Insurers have different lists of eligible hospitals. A plan that includes all private hospitals, including the high-end London ones, will be more expensive than one with a more restricted regional network.
- No Claims Discount (NCD): Similar to car insurance, your premium can be reduced if you don't make a claim. AXA Health has a generous NCD scale.
To give you a realistic idea, here are some illustrative estimates for a non-smoker.
| Profile | Location | Cover Level | Excess | Estimated Monthly Premium (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35-year-old | Manchester | Core + Full Out-patient | £250 | £55 - £75 |
| 50-year-old | Bristol | Comprehensive (inc. Therapies) | £100 | £110 - £140 |
| 65-year-old | Outside London | Core Cover Only | £500 | £150 - £200 |
Important: These figures are for guidance purposes only. The only way to get an accurate price is to request a personalised quote. A broker like WeCovr can instantly compare prices from AXA Health and other leading insurers to find the most competitive option for your exact needs, at no extra cost to you.
AXA for Businesses: Employer Private Health Insurance
AXA Health is also a dominant player in the corporate PMI market, providing schemes for businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to large multinational corporations.
- For Employers: Offering private medical insurance is a highly valued employee benefit. It can help reduce sickness-related absence, boost morale, and be a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive job market. The premium is typically a tax-deductible business expense.
- For Employees: Group schemes often offer more generous terms than individual policies. For larger groups, a special type of underwriting called 'Medical History Disregarded' (MHD) may be available, which covers eligible pre-existing conditions.
Tax Note: For the employee, private medical insurance provided by an employer is considered a 'benefit in kind'. This means its value is reported on a P11D form, and the employee will pay income tax on the cost of the premium.
Switching to AXA Health from Another Insurer
If you already have a policy with another provider like Bupa, Aviva, or Vitality, you are not trapped. Switching insurers is common and can be a great way to get better value or more appropriate cover.
The process is managed using a special type of underwriting known as Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME).
With CPME underwriting, AXA Health will essentially carry over the exclusions from your old policy. This is designed to ensure you don't lose cover for conditions that your previous insurer had already agreed to cover. You can continue your cover seamlessly, often while still being able to benefit from a more competitive premium or better service.
Adviser Tip: Never cancel your old policy before your new one is fully in place. Switching should always be handled with care to avoid any gaps in cover. An expert adviser can manage this entire process for you, ensuring a smooth and safe transition.
How WeCovr Can Help You Navigate the PMI Market
Choosing the right private medical insurance is a significant financial decision. While you can go directly to an insurer like AXA Health, using an independent, FCA-regulated broker like WeCovr offers several distinct advantages:
- Whole-of-Market View: We compare AXA Health's policies and prices against all other leading UK providers, giving you a complete picture of your options.
- Expert, Unbiased Advice: Our job is to find the best policy for you, not for the insurer. We'll explain the pros and cons of each option in plain English.
- No Extra Cost: You don't pay a penny for our service. We receive a standard commission from the insurer you choose, which is already built into the premium price.
- Tailored Recommendations: We take the time to understand your needs, budget, and health background to recommend the perfect combination of core cover, add-ons, and underwriting.
- Ongoing Support: We're here to help not just with the initial setup, but also with any questions you have about claims or at your annual renewal.
- Exclusive Benefits: When you arrange a policy through us, you gain complimentary access to the WeCovr ecosystem, including discounts on other insurance products and free use of our AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero.
Ready to find out how private healthcare can work for you? Take the first step today.
Is AXA PPP the same as AXA Health?
Does AXA PPP private healthcare cover pre-existing conditions?
How do I make a claim on my AXA Health policy?
Can I add my family to my AXA Health policy?
Finding clarity in the private health insurance market is the first step towards securing fast access to the best medical care. AXA Health, the modern successor to AXA PPP, is a formidable option in the UK market.
To see how AXA Health's policies stack up against the competition and to receive tailored, expert advice, contact our friendly team at WeCovr today. We'll provide a free, no-obligation market comparison to help you find the perfect protection for you and your family.












