TL;DR
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands that for UK freelancers, time is money and health is everything. This guide explores which private medical insurance is best for the self-employed, comparing two leading flexible providers: Freedom Health Insurance and WPA.
Key takeaways
- Speedy Diagnosis: Get seen by a specialist quickly, often within days or weeks.
- Prompt Treatment: Schedule surgery or treatment at a time that suits you and your business.
- Choice and Comfort: Choose your consultant and hospital, often with the benefit of a private room for recovery.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing you have a plan in place to get you back on your feet fast reduces a major source of stress.
- Assess Your Needs: What's your main priority? Is it covering major surgery (inpatient), or do you also want cover for consultations and tests (outpatient)? Are therapies like physiotherapy important?
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands that for UK freelancers, time is money and health is everything. This guide explores which private medical insurance is best for the self-employed, comparing two leading flexible providers: Freedom Health Insurance and WPA.
WeCovr looks at two flexible options for self-employed professionals
When you're self-employed, the safety net of company sick pay and employer-provided health benefits simply doesn't exist. Your ability to earn is directly linked to your ability to work. An unexpected illness or injury doesn't just impact your health; it threatens your livelihood. This is where private medical insurance (PMI) becomes not a luxury, but a crucial business tool.
Among the many providers in the UK market, two names often come up for their flexible and customisable approach: Freedom Health Insurance and WPA (Western Provident Association). Both offer distinct advantages for freelancers, sole traders, and contractors who need high-quality cover that adapts to their unique financial and healthcare needs.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about these two specialist insurers, helping you decide which might be the perfect partner for your freelance career.
Why Private Medical Insurance is a Game-Changer for UK Freelancers
The traditional 9-to-5 comes with benefits that freelancers go without. The most significant of these is the security of knowing you can take time off for illness without your income grinding to a halt. For the UK's vibrant community of over 4.2 million self-employed professionals (ONS, 2023), health is the ultimate asset.
So, what's the problem PMI solves? In a word: waiting.
While the NHS provides exceptional care, it is under immense pressure. As the UK heads into 2025, the elective care waiting list in England remains a significant concern, with millions of people waiting for routine procedures. For a freelancer, waiting months for a diagnosis or treatment for a painful condition like a bad back or a joint problem can be financially devastating.
Private medical insurance allows you to bypass these queues. It offers:
- Speedy Diagnosis: Get seen by a specialist quickly, often within days or weeks.
- Prompt Treatment: Schedule surgery or treatment at a time that suits you and your business.
- Choice and Comfort: Choose your consultant and hospital, often with the benefit of a private room for recovery.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing you have a plan in place to get you back on your feet fast reduces a major source of stress.
A Critical Point: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
It is vital to understand what private medical insurance is for. PMI is designed to cover 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 joint replacements, cataract surgery, or hernia repairs.
Standard UK private health cover does not cover chronic conditions—illnesses that are long-term and cannot be cured, only managed (e.g., diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure). It also does not cover pre-existing conditions that you had before you took out the policy.
A Closer Look at Freedom Health Insurance
Freedom Health Insurance entered the market with a clear mission: to make private healthcare more accessible and flexible. They moved away from the traditional "one-size-fits-all" model, which makes them an excellent fit for freelancers who need to control their budget without compromising on essential cover.
Key Features for Freelancers
- Modular Approach: Freedom's greatest strength is its building-block system. You start with a core product and add only the extras you need. For a freelancer watching their outgoings, this is ideal. You don't pay for benefits you're unlikely to use.
- Freedom Essentials Plan: This is their flagship flexible product. It covers the big-ticket items—surgery, hospital stays, and cancer care—as standard. You can then choose to add outpatient cover for diagnostics and consultations, or alternative therapies. This is perfect for freelancers who want peace of mind against major medical events but are happy to use the NHS for initial GP visits and diagnostics.
- Self-Referral Option: A standout feature. With many Freedom policies, you can choose to see a specialist without needing a GP referral first. For a busy freelancer, this can save valuable time and get you on the path to diagnosis even faster.
- UK-Wide Hospital Choices: Freedom offers a broad range of hospitals across the UK, ensuring you can get treated close to home.
Real-Life Freelancer Scenario: Sarah the Graphic Designer
Sarah is a 35-year-old freelance graphic designer. Her income depends on her being able to work at her desk without pain. She's worried about developing a repetitive strain injury or back problems.
She opts for a Freedom Essentials policy. She keeps the core cover for surgery and cancer but decides against full outpatient cover to keep her premium low. She knows she can use her local NHS GP for initial consultations. Six months later, she develops severe wrist pain. Instead of waiting weeks for an NHS physio referral, she uses her policy to see a private specialist, gets a swift diagnosis, and begins treatment immediately, minimising disruption to her client work.
Freedom Health Insurance: At a Glance
| Feature | Description | Ideal For Freelancers Because... |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Structure | Modular (Core + optional add-ons) | You only pay for the cover you actually need, offering excellent budget control. |
| Key Product | Freedom Essentials | Focuses on essential, high-cost treatments, keeping premiums affordable. |
| GP Referral | Self-referral option available | Saves time and hassle, getting you to a specialist faster. |
| Underwriting | Moratorium & Full Medical Underwriting | Offers choice in how your medical history is assessed. |
| Overall Philosophy | Flexibility and Choice | Puts you in the driver's seat of your healthcare journey. |
A Closer Look at WPA (Western Provident Association)
WPA is one of the UK's most respected health insurers, with a history stretching back over 120 years. As a not-for-profit organisation, their structure is fundamentally different from most commercial insurers. Any surplus they make is reinvested back into the business to improve benefits and services for their members, rather than being paid out to shareholders.
Key Features for Freelancers
- Not-for-Profit Ethos: This is a huge trust signal. It means WPA's primary focus is on its members' health outcomes, not on maximising profits. This often translates to a strong customer service culture and a commitment to fair dealing.
- Shared Responsibility & Co-payment: This is WPA's unique approach to managing costs. With their "Flexible Health" policies, you agree to pay a percentage of any claim (e.g., 25%) up to an annual limit. In return, your monthly premium is significantly lower. This is a brilliant model for freelancers who can afford a one-off cost but prefer a lower fixed monthly outgoing.
- Advanced Cancer Care: WPA is renowned for its comprehensive cancer cover. This often includes access to new and experimental drugs not always available on the NHS, providing immense peace of mind.
- Emphasis on Clinical Governance: WPA places a strong emphasis on proven, effective treatments and works with a network of recognised specialists and hospitals, ensuring you receive high-quality care.
Real-Life Freelancer Scenario: Tom the IT Consultant
Tom, a 48-year-old self-employed IT consultant, wants robust health cover but needs to keep his monthly business expenses predictable. He's healthy but wants a safety net for serious issues like cancer or heart problems.
He chooses a WPA Flexible Health policy with a 25% co-payment. His monthly premium is very competitive. A year later, he needs a minor surgical procedure costing £4,000. Under his Shared Responsibility agreement, Tom pays 25% (£1,000) and WPA pays the remaining £3,000. For Tom, this one-off payment was far more manageable than paying a higher premium every single month for years. (illustrative estimate)
WPA: At a Glance
| Feature | Description | Ideal For Freelancers Because... |
|---|---|---|
| Company Structure | Not-for-profit | Focus is on member benefits, not shareholder profits, fostering trust. |
| Cost Model | Shared Responsibility (Co-payment) | Significantly lowers monthly premiums in exchange for sharing claim costs. |
| Key Product | Flexible Health | Highly customisable policy with the unique co-payment feature. |
| Cancer Cover | Comprehensive and often market-leading | Provides exceptional peace of mind for one of life's biggest worries. |
| Overall Philosophy | Partnership and Sustainability | You partner with them to manage costs, ensuring long-term affordability. |
Freedom vs. WPA: A Head-to-Head Comparison for Freelancers
So, which provider is right for you? The best choice depends entirely on your priorities, budget, and how you prefer to manage your healthcare and finances. Let's compare them directly.
| Feature | Freedom Health Insurance | WPA (Western Provident Association) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Excellent. The modular "Essentials" plan allows you to build a policy from the ground up. | Excellent. The "Flexible Health" plan offers huge customisation, especially with the Shared Responsibility model. |
| Cost & Affordability | Premiums are controlled by adding or removing modules (e.g., outpatient cover). A high excess can also reduce costs. | Premiums are significantly reduced by choosing a co-payment percentage. A higher co-payment means a lower monthly cost. |
| Who It's Best For | The freelancer who wants total control over their policy components and may want to self-refer to a specialist. | The freelancer who prefers a lower fixed monthly cost and is comfortable paying a share of any potential claim. |
| Core Cover | Strong inpatient and day-patient cover for surgery and eligible treatments, including cancer. | Robust inpatient and day-patient cover, often with an annual financial limit that can be topped up. |
| Outpatient Options | Can be added as a module, with different levels of cover available, from diagnostics only to full specialist consultations. | Can be added as an option. The cost of this is also affected by the co-payment you choose. |
| Cancer Cover | Comprehensive cover for diagnosis and treatment is standard on their main policies. | Market-leading and extensive, often including drugs and treatments not readily available on the NHS. |
| Mental Health | Mental health cover is typically an optional add-on, allowing you to include it if it's a priority. | WPA provides access to support lines, and more extensive cover can be added to the policy. |
| Hospital Network | Offers a wide choice of UK hospitals, with options to restrict the list to lower the premium. | Provides access to a nationwide network of several hundred quality-assessed hospitals. |
| Unique Selling Point | Self-referral. The ability to bypass the GP for a specialist consultation is a major time-saver. | Not-for-profit status & Shared Responsibility. A focus on members and a unique way to make cover affordable. |
The Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Freedom Health Insurance if: You want to build your policy piece by piece, paying only for what you need. The idea of skipping a GP referral and going straight to a specialist is highly appealing to you.
- Choose WPA if: You prioritise a low, stable monthly premium and are financially comfortable with the idea of sharing the cost if you need to make a claim. Their not-for-profit status and excellent reputation for cancer care are important to you.
Working with an independent PMI broker like WeCovr can help you get detailed quotes for both providers, tailored to your exact circumstances. We can model the costs of different excesses, co-payment levels, and optional extras, giving you a crystal-clear picture of what you'll get for your money.
Understanding the Nitty-Gritty: Underwriting and Excess
When buying private medical insurance in the UK, two terms you'll always encounter are "underwriting" and "excess". Understanding them is key to choosing the right policy.
Underwriting Explained
Underwriting is how an insurer assesses the risk of taking you on as a customer, specifically regarding your past health.
- Moratorium (Mori) Underwriting: This is the most common and simplest option. The insurer doesn't ask for your full medical history upfront. Instead, they will automatically exclude any conditions you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before your policy started. However, if you then go 2 continuous years on the policy without any issues relating to that condition, it may become eligible for cover.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): With FMU, you complete a detailed health questionnaire when you apply. The insurer assesses your medical history and may place specific, permanent exclusions on your policy for certain conditions. The main advantage is clarity—you know exactly what is and isn't covered from day one.
Both Freedom and WPA offer both types of underwriting, giving you the flexibility to choose.
The Role of Excess
An excess is a fixed amount you agree to pay towards the cost of a claim. It works just like the excess on your car or home insurance.
- How it works (illustrative): If your policy has a £250 excess and you have a procedure costing £3,000, you pay the first £250, and your insurer pays the remaining £2,750.
- Why it's great for freelancers (illustrative): Choosing a higher excess (e.g., £500 or £1,000) will significantly reduce your monthly premium. This is one of the most effective ways to make comprehensive private health cover more affordable.
Beyond the Policy: Wellness, Perks, and Added Value
Modern private health cover is about more than just paying for treatment when you're ill. It's about helping you stay well. Many policies now include a fantastic range of value-added benefits at no extra cost:
- Digital GP: Access to a GP via phone or video call, 24/7. Perfect for getting quick advice or a prescription without leaving your desk.
- Mental Health Support: Confidential helplines for stress, anxiety, and other mental wellbeing concerns.
- Wellness Apps and Discounts: Access to gym memberships, fitness trackers, and health apps to support a healthy lifestyle.
At WeCovr, we enhance this value further. When you arrange a PMI or Life Insurance policy through us, we provide:
- Complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, helping you manage your diet and stay healthy.
- Exclusive discounts on other types of insurance, such as income protection or critical illness cover, helping you build a complete financial safety net.
How to Choose the Right PMI Policy as a Freelancer
Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be. Follow this simple, five-step process to find the perfect cover.
- Assess Your Needs: What's your main priority? Is it covering major surgery (inpatient), or do you also want cover for consultations and tests (outpatient)? Are therapies like physiotherapy important?
- Set Your Budget: Be realistic about what you can afford each month. Remember, some cover is better than no cover. A basic plan that covers the big risks is a great start.
- Compare Hospital Lists: Check which hospitals are included in the policies you're considering. Make sure they are convenient for you to get to.
- Understand the Fine Print: Look at the excess options, any annual limits on cover, and what is explicitly excluded. Pay close attention to the mental health and cancer cover.
- Speak to an Expert Broker: This is the most important step. A specialist broker like WeCovr does the hard work for you. We are not tied to any single insurer. Our job is to understand your needs and search the market—including providers like Freedom and WPA—to find the policy that offers the best value and protection for you. Our service is completely free to you.
Common Questions from Freelancers (FAQ Section)
Does private medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Can I claim tax relief on my PMI premiums as a freelancer?
Does PMI cover my income if I'm too ill to work?
Your health is your most valuable business asset. Protecting it with the right private health cover isn't an expense—it's an investment in your career's longevity and your own peace of mind. Both Freedom and WPA offer compelling, flexible solutions for the UK's self-employed workforce.
Ready to find out which is the best fit for you?
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our expert advisors will compare these providers and many more, ensuring you get the right protection at the best possible price.
Sources
- NHS England: Waiting times and referral-to-treatment statistics.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS): Health, mortality, and workforce data.
- NICE: Clinical guidance and technology appraisals.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC): Provider quality and inspection reports.
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA): Public health surveillance reports.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI): Health and protection market publications.








