As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped over 800,000 customers secure various types of insurance, WeCovr understands the UK private medical insurance (PMI) market inside and out. This comprehensive review explores Freedom Health Insurance, a key player known for its affordable and flexible private health cover options.
Affordable PMI from Freedom compared with other providers
Navigating the world of private medical insurance in the UK can feel daunting. With NHS waiting lists remaining a significant concern for many, a growing number of people are looking for the peace of mind that private health cover can offer. In a market dominated by household names like Bupa and AXA, smaller, more agile providers like Freedom Health Insurance are carving out a niche by offering flexible and often more affordable policies.
But is Freedom the right choice for you? This in-depth review will break down everything you need to know. We’ll explore their policies, compare their pricing against major competitors, and highlight the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. And remember, as expert PMI brokers, the team at WeCovr can provide personalised comparisons at no cost to you, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.
Who is Freedom Health Insurance?
Freedom Health Insurance is a UK-based specialist provider of private medical insurance. Established in 2003, their mission has always been to make private healthcare more accessible and straightforward. Unlike some of the market giants, Freedom focuses purely on health insurance, allowing them to offer a more tailored and personal service.
They are part of the Nexus Group, an independent, international insurance broking group, which gives them a strong financial foundation and underwriting capacity. Freedom is known for its:
- Flexibility: Allowing customers to build a policy that suits their specific needs.
- Affordability: Often providing some of the most competitive quotes on the market, particularly for their 'Essentials' plan.
- Simplicity: Aiming to remove jargon and make the process of buying and claiming on health insurance as easy as possible.
Freedom offers policies for individuals, families, and businesses, priding themselves on their UK-based customer service and a clear, no-nonsense approach.
Understanding Private Medical Insurance (PMI) in the UK
Before diving into Freedom's specific products, it’s vital to understand what private medical insurance is and, just as importantly, what it isn't.
PMI is an insurance policy designed to cover the costs of private medical treatment for acute conditions. An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Think of things like a joint replacement, cataract surgery, or treatment for a hernia.
The primary benefits of having PMI include:
- Bypassing NHS Waiting Lists: According to recent NHS England data, the waiting list for routine consultant-led elective care stands at several million. PMI allows you to be seen and treated much faster.
- Choice and Control: You can often choose your specialist or surgeon and the hospital where you receive treatment.
- Comfort and Privacy: Treatment is typically in a private hospital with your own en-suite room, more flexible visiting hours, and better food choices.
The Golden Rule: Pre-existing and Chronic Conditions
This is the most critical point to understand about standard UK private medical insurance: PMI does not cover pre-existing or chronic conditions.
- Pre-existing Conditions: These are any illnesses, diseases, or injuries you have had symptoms of, or received advice or treatment for, before your policy starts. Most policies exclude these for a set period, or indefinitely.
- Chronic Conditions: These are long-term conditions that cannot be cured, only managed. Examples include diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and high blood pressure. PMI is not designed to cover the day-to-day management of these conditions.
PMI is there for the unexpected, new conditions that arise after you've taken out your policy.
A Deep Dive into Freedom Health Insurance Policies
Freedom keeps things relatively simple with two core policy options: Freedom Elite and Freedom Essentials. This allows customers to choose between comprehensive cover or a more budget-friendly safety net.
Freedom Elite: The Comprehensive Choice
This is Freedom's flagship policy, designed to provide extensive cover for diagnosis and treatment.
What's covered as standard with Elite?
- In-patient and Day-patient Treatment: This covers all costs when you are admitted to hospital for a bed overnight (in-patient) or just for the day (day-patient). This includes hospital fees, specialist fees, and anaesthetist fees, all paid in full.
- Cancer Cover: Comprehensive cancer cover is included, covering surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
- NHS Hospital Cash Benefit: If you choose to have your treatment on the NHS, you receive a cash payment for each night you spend in an NHS hospital.
What's optional with Elite?
This is where Freedom's flexibility shines. You can add a range of options to tailor the policy:
- Out-patient Cover: This is for diagnostic tests and consultations that don't require a hospital bed. Freedom offers various levels, from a modest £500 limit up to full cover. Choosing a lower limit is a great way to reduce your premium.
- Alternative Therapies: Covers treatments like physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic care.
- Mental Health Cover: An increasingly popular option that can provide cover for psychiatrist consultations and therapy sessions.
- Dental, Optical & Private GP: This add-on provides cashback towards routine dental check-ups, eye tests, glasses, and private GP services.
Freedom Essentials: The Affordable Safety Net
The Essentials plan is designed for those who want peace of mind against major medical events without the cost of a fully comprehensive plan. It’s a 'major medical' policy that focuses on the big-ticket items.
How does Essentials work?
- It primarily covers in-patient and day-patient treatment.
- Crucially, it does not include out-patient diagnostics as standard. This means if you need a scan or consultation to diagnose a problem, you would typically use the NHS or pay for it yourself.
- Once diagnosed and deemed to require eligible in-patient or day-patient surgery or treatment, the Essentials policy kicks in to cover the costs.
- This structure significantly reduces the premium, making it one of the most affordable plans on the UK market.
Comparison: Freedom Elite vs. Freedom Essentials
| Feature | Freedom Elite | Freedom Essentials |
|---|
| Primary Focus | Comprehensive cover | Core surgical & treatment cover |
| In-patient/Day-patient | Covered in full | Covered in full |
| Out-patient Cover | Optional add-on (from £0 to 'Full') | Not included as standard |
| Cancer Cover | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Mental Health Cover | Optional add-on | Not available |
| Therapies Cover | Optional add-on | Not available |
| Ideal For | Those wanting full peace of mind | Those on a budget needing a safety net |
How Does Freedom's Pricing Compare to Other UK Providers?
This is the question on everyone's mind. While Freedom often comes out cheaper, it's essential to compare like-for-like benefits. A lower price usually means a trade-off in the level of cover.
Let's look at some illustrative examples. The costs below are hypothetical monthly premiums for a 35-year-old, non-smoking individual living outside London, with a £250 excess. These are for guidance only; your actual quote will vary.
| Provider | Policy Type | Estimated Monthly Premium | Key Features |
|---|
| Freedom | Essentials | £30 - £40 | Core in-patient cover, no out-patient diagnostics. |
| Aviva | Speedy Diagnostics | £35 - £45 | Focus on fast diagnosis, then use of NHS for treatment. |
| AXA Health | Guided Option | £45 - £55 | Mid-range cover using a guided network of specialists. |
| Freedom | Elite (with £1k out-patient) | £50 - £65 | Comprehensive cover with a limit on diagnostics. |
| Vitality | Personal Healthcare | £55 - £70 | Comprehensive cover linked to a wellness programme. |
| Bupa | Bupa By You | £60 - £75 | Comprehensive and customisable from a leading brand. |
What do these numbers tell us?
- Freedom Essentials is highly competitive on price. It often competes with 'diagnostic-only' plans from other insurers but provides cover for the actual treatment, which is a significant advantage.
- Freedom Elite offers a strong middle-ground. By choosing a sensible out-patient limit (e.g., £1,000), you can get comprehensive cover at a price that is often lower than the big brand equivalents.
- Providers like Vitality may seem more expensive, but their price includes access to a wide range of wellness benefits, rewards, and discounts. If you are active and will use these perks, they can offer excellent value.
An expert broker like WeCovr is invaluable here. We can instantly model these different scenarios for you, adjusting cover levels and excess to find the sweet spot between comprehensive protection and an affordable premium.
Key Features and Benefits of Freedom Health Insurance
Beyond the core policies, several features make Freedom an attractive option.
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Flexible Underwriting: Freedom offers two main ways to underwrite your policy:
- Moratorium (Mori): This is the most common type. You don't declare your full medical history upfront. Instead, the insurer will automatically exclude any condition you've had in the 5 years before the policy started. However, if you go 2 full years on the policy without any symptoms, treatment, or advice for that condition, it may become eligible for cover.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You complete a full health questionnaire. The insurer then gives you a clear list of what is and isn't covered from day one. This takes longer but provides more certainty.
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Switching Made Easy (CPME): For those already with a PMI policy, Freedom offers "Continued Personal Medical Exclusions" (CPME) underwriting. This allows you to switch to Freedom without losing cover for conditions that have developed while you were insured with your previous provider. This is a massive benefit and a key reason people switch.
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Generous No Claims Discount (NCD): Freedom operates a 14-level NCD scale, reaching a maximum discount of 70%. For every year you don't claim, you move up a level and your renewal premium is discounted. This rewards healthy members and can lead to significant long-term savings.
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Choice of Hospital Lists: You can reduce your premium by choosing a more restricted hospital list. For example, excluding expensive central London hospitals can cut costs considerably if you don't live or work nearby.
What are the Drawbacks of Freedom Health Insurance?
No provider is perfect, and a balanced review must consider the potential downsides.
- Fewer 'Frills': Freedom's focus is on core medical insurance. Unlike Vitality, they don't have an integrated wellness programme with cinema ticket rewards or coffee discounts. If these perks are important to you, another provider might be a better fit.
- Less Brand Recognition: While well-regarded within the industry, Freedom doesn't have the same public brand awareness as Bupa or AXA. For some, the reassurance of a household name is a priority.
- Limited Mental Health Options on Essentials: The budget-friendly Essentials plan does not have the option to add mental health cover, which is a key consideration for an increasing number of people. You would need to opt for the more comprehensive Elite plan for this.
Who is Freedom Health Insurance Best For?
Based on our extensive market knowledge, Freedom Health Insurance is an excellent choice for several types of customers:
- The Budget-Conscious Individual or Family: If your main priority is securing a safety net against the cost of major surgery and treatment while keeping monthly costs low, the Freedom Essentials plan is one of the best options on the market.
- The Self-Employed and Small Business Owners: Freedom's flexible and affordable plans are ideal for freelancers or small companies who want to provide a valuable health benefit to themselves or their staff without breaking the bank.
- People Looking to Switch Providers: The CPME underwriting option makes Freedom a fantastic destination for anyone who has an existing PMI policy but is looking for better value or service, especially if they have developed medical conditions during their previous cover.
- Those Who Prefer Simplicity: If you want a straightforward policy without the complexity of points-based wellness programmes, Freedom's no-nonsense approach is a breath of fresh air.
The WeCovr Advantage: Navigating Your PMI Options
The UK's private medical insurance market is complex. Comparing policies can be like comparing apples and oranges, with subtle differences in cancer cover, out-patient limits, and hospital lists making a huge impact on both price and protection. This is where using an independent, FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr makes all the difference.
Why use WeCovr?
- It's Free: Our expert advice and market comparison service costs you nothing. Our commission is paid by the insurer you choose, and it doesn't affect your premium.
- Whole-of-Market Advice: We are not tied to any single insurer. We compare policies from Freedom, Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, and more to find the one that truly meets your needs.
- Expert Knowledge: We understand the fine print. We can explain the real-world difference between a policy with a £1,000 out-patient limit and one with 'full' cover, or how different cancer cover definitions can affect you.
- Exclusive Benefits: When you arrange your PMI or Life Insurance with us, you get complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, to support your health goals. You can also benefit from discounts on other insurance products, like income protection or critical illness cover.
Lifestyle and Wellness: Making the Most of Your Health
While insurance provides a crucial safety net, prevention is always better than cure. A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of many acute conditions and help manage long-term health.
- A Balanced Diet: Focus on whole foods. The NHS 'Eatwell Guide' is a great resource, encouraging plenty of fruit and vegetables (your '5 A Day'), wholegrains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Cutting down on processed foods, sugar, and saturated fat can have a huge impact on your long-term health.
- Stay Active: The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. This could be a brisk 30-minute walk five days a week, a cycle ride, a swim, or a dance class. Find something you enjoy to make it a sustainable habit.
- Prioritise Sleep: Sleep is not a luxury; it's a biological necessity. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. A consistent sleep schedule, a dark and cool room, and avoiding screens before bed can dramatically improve your sleep hygiene and, consequently, your physical and mental health.
- Mind Your Mental Wellbeing: Stress is a major contributor to poor health. Simple practices like mindfulness, spending time in nature, maintaining social connections, and having a hobby can help manage stress levels and boost your resilience.
Final Verdict: Is Freedom Health Insurance a Good Choice?
Freedom Health Insurance is a strong and highly credible player in the UK PMI market. It stands out for its affordability, flexibility, and straightforward approach.
Its Essentials plan is an excellent, budget-friendly option for those seeking a safety net for major medical events. Its Elite plan offers robust, customisable comprehensive cover that frequently comes in at a lower price point than the big-name brands.
The right provider for you will always depend on your personal circumstances, health history, and budget. For many, Freedom will represent the perfect balance of cost and cover. For others, the extensive wellness programmes of Vitality or the brand reassurance of Bupa may be more appealing.
The smartest move is to compare all your options.
Ready to find out which private medical insurance is right for you? Let WeCovr do the hard work. Get your free, no-obligation quote today and our team of experts will compare the UK's leading insurers to find you the best possible cover at the best possible price.
What does private health insurance not cover in the UK?
Generally, standard UK private medical insurance (PMI) does not cover pre-existing conditions (illnesses you had before the policy started) or chronic conditions (long-term illnesses like diabetes or asthma that require ongoing management rather than a cure). It also typically excludes routine pregnancy, cosmetic surgery that is not medically necessary, and treatment for addiction. PMI is specifically designed for new, acute conditions that arise after your policy begins.
Is Freedom Health Insurance a good provider?
Yes, Freedom Health Insurance is considered a good, reputable provider, particularly for those seeking affordable and flexible cover. Their strengths lie in competitive pricing, especially for their 'Essentials' plan, and their simple, no-nonsense approach. While they may not offer the extensive wellness perks of some larger rivals, they provide solid core medical cover and excellent options for people looking to switch from another insurer.
How much does Freedom Health Insurance cost per month?
The cost of Freedom Health Insurance varies significantly based on your age, location, smoking status, the level of cover you choose, and your excess. However, their 'Essentials' plan can start from as little as £30 per month for a young, healthy individual, making it one of the most affordable options in the UK. A comprehensive 'Elite' plan might cost between £50 and £80 or more per month. The only way to know the exact cost is to get a personalised quote.
Can I switch to Freedom Health Insurance if I have an existing policy?
Yes, switching to Freedom is often a straightforward process. They offer 'Continued Personal Medical Exclusions' (CPME) underwriting, which is designed for people who already have private medical insurance. This method allows you to carry over the terms of your existing cover, meaning you won't have new exclusions applied for conditions that developed while you were with your previous insurer. This is a major advantage and makes switching to find better value much easier.