
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 800,000 policies, WeCovr understands that your family's health is your top priority. This guide explores the cost of family private medical insurance in the UK, helping you make an informed decision and secure the best possible value for your loved ones.
Navigating the world of private health insurance can feel daunting, especially when you're trying to find the right protection for your entire family. You want peace of mind, fast access to high-quality care, and a price that fits your budget. But what does that actually cost?
This guide breaks down the typical costs of family private medical insurance (PMI) in the UK for 2025. We'll explore the key factors that determine your premium and share expert tips on how to find a policy that offers excellent value without compromising on the cover your family deserves.
At its core, family private health insurance is a policy that pays for private medical treatment for you, your partner, and your children. Its main purpose is to help you bypass NHS waiting lists for eligible conditions, giving you faster access to specialists, diagnostic tests, and treatment in a private hospital.
It’s designed to work alongside the NHS, not replace it. For accidents and emergencies, you will always go to an NHS A&E.
The Golden Rule of PMI: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
This is the most critical point to understand about private medical insurance in the UK:
Think of PMI as a safety net for new, unexpected health issues that can be resolved, getting you and your family back on your feet quickly.
The cost of a family health insurance policy varies widely based on your circumstances and the level of cover you choose. To give you a clear idea, we've put together some illustrative monthly premium estimates for 2025.
These figures are averages and are intended as a guide only. Your actual quote will depend on the specific factors we discuss in the next section.
Estimated Monthly Cost for Family Private Health Insurance (2025)
| Family Profile | Basic Cover (Core Inpatient) | Mid-Range Cover (+ Outpatient) | Comprehensive Cover (+ Therapies, Mental Health) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Adults (35) + 1 Child (5) | £75 – £110 | £120 – £170 | £180 – £250+ |
| 2 Adults (40) + 2 Children (8, 12) | £110 – £160 | £180 – £240 | £260 – £380+ |
| 1 Adult (40) + 2 Children (10, 14) | £80 – £125 | £130 – £190 | £200 – £290+ |
Note: These estimates assume a mid-range excess (e.g., £250-£500) and a standard UK hospital list.
As you can see, the price can more than double from a basic plan to a comprehensive one. This is why understanding what drives the cost is so important.
Insurers use a range of factors to calculate your premium. Understanding these levers is the first step to controlling your costs.
Age of Family Members: Age is the single biggest factor. The older you are, the higher the statistical likelihood of needing medical treatment, so premiums increase accordingly. Children's premiums are generally low and often stay flat until they reach their early 20s.
Your Location (Postcode): The cost of private medical treatment varies across the country. Treatment in Central London is significantly more expensive than in other parts of the UK. Therefore, policies for families living in or near London are typically more expensive.
Level of Cover: This is where you have the most control.
The Policy Excess: Just like with car or home insurance, an excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. For example, if you have a £250 excess and your treatment costs £3,000, you pay the first £250, and the insurer pays the remaining £2,750.
| Excess Amount | Impact on Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| £0 | Highest premium |
| £250 | Standard, balanced cost |
| £500 | Noticeable premium reduction |
| £1,000 | Significant premium reduction |
Hospital List: Insurers offer tiered hospital lists. A policy that gives you access to every private hospital in the UK, including the prestigious ones in Central London, will be the most expensive. You can save money by choosing a list that includes only your local private hospitals or a national list that excludes the priciest London facilities.
Underwriting Method: This is how the insurer assesses your family's medical history.
Securing the best value isn't just about finding the cheapest price. It's about getting the right cover for your family's needs at the most competitive premium. Here’s how to do it.
This is the most effective strategy. A specialist independent broker, like WeCovr, does the hard work for you. We are not tied to any single insurer. Our role is to understand your family's needs and budget, then compare policies from across the market—including leading providers like Aviva, AXA Health, Bupa, and Vitality.
Using a broker:
Don't pay for features you won't use.
This is a clever way to save a significant amount of money. With this option, if the NHS can provide the inpatient treatment you need within six weeks of when it's recommended, you'll use the NHS. If the waiting list is longer than six weeks, your private medical insurance kicks in. Given that many NHS waiting times for routine procedures currently far exceed this, it’s a highly effective cost-saving measure that still provides a robust safety net.
As discussed, choosing a higher excess is a direct way to lower your monthly premium. For a family that is generally healthy, opting for a £500 excess can be a sensible trade-off. You're betting on not needing to claim frequently, but the insurance is there for a significant event.
Modern private health insurance is about more than just paying for treatment. Insurers are now "health partners," offering a suite of benefits designed to keep your family healthy.
Clarity is key. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what you can generally expect.
| What's Usually Covered | What's Usually Excluded |
|---|---|
| Inpatient & Day-Patient Treatment: Surgery, hospital fees, specialist fees, accommodation. | Pre-existing Conditions: Anything you had before the policy started. |
| Comprehensive Cancer Cover: Access to specialist treatments, drugs, and therapies. | Chronic Conditions: Long-term illnesses like diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure. |
| Outpatient Diagnostics & Consultations: (If included in your plan) MRIs, CT scans, specialist visits. | A&E / Emergency Services: These are always handled by the NHS. |
| Mental Health Support: (Often as an add-on or with limits) Access to therapists and psychiatrists. | Routine Pregnancy & Childbirth: Complications of pregnancy may be covered, but routine care is not. |
| Physiotherapy & Therapies: (Often with limits) To aid recovery after surgery or injury. | Cosmetic Surgery: Procedures that are not medically necessary. |
| Access to Digital GPs: 24/7 access to a doctor via phone or video call. | Routine Dental & Optical Care: (Unless added as an optional extra). |
For generations, the NHS has been the cornerstone of UK healthcare. However, the system is under unprecedented pressure. As of mid-2024, the NHS England waiting list for consultant-led elective care stood at over 7.5 million treatment pathways. For parents, this translates into potentially long and anxious waits for specialist appointments or routine surgery for their children.
Family PMI is not a vote against the NHS. It's a practical choice for:
Ultimately, it provides a layer of control and certainty in an uncertain world, allowing you to focus on what matters most: your family's well-being.
Understanding the costs and options is the first step. The next is to get a clear picture of what a policy would look like for your unique family.
At WeCovr, our friendly experts are on hand to provide clear, straightforward advice. We’ll compare leading UK private medical insurance providers to find you the right cover at the right price, with no obligation.






