
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 800,000 policies, WeCovr provides expert, free advice on private medical insurance across the UK. This guide uses our expertise to help you estimate your potential costs and understand what drives the price of your health cover.
Wondering how much private medical insurance (PMI) might cost you? You're not alone. With NHS waiting lists in England exceeding 7.5 million treatment pathways, more people than ever are exploring private options for peace of mind. But pricing can seem complex.
This guide acts as a simple health care insurance calculator. We'll break down the three main factors that determine your premium—age, location, and excess—and show you how to get a realistic estimate. While only a formal quote can give you a precise figure, this will give you a powerful head start.
A health insurance calculator is a tool designed to give you a ballpark estimate of your monthly PMI premium. It works by taking a few key pieces of information about you and applying them to standard insurance pricing models.
Think of it less like a final, binding quote and more like an educated estimate. It's the perfect starting point to see if private health cover fits within your budget before you dive into the finer details.
The most important factors a calculator uses are:
Our guide will walk you through each of these, using tables to illustrate how they affect your premium.
Let's explore the three pillars of PMI pricing. Understanding these is the key to estimating your monthly cost.
Age is the most significant factor in health insurance pricing. Insurers base their premiums on risk, and as we age, the statistical probability of developing health conditions and needing treatment increases.
This means a policy for a 30-year-old will be considerably cheaper than for a 65-year-old, even if all other factors are identical. Premiums will typically increase each year upon renewal, reflecting both your new age and general medical inflation.
To illustrate, here is a table of estimated monthly premiums for a standard, mid-level policy with a £250 excess for an individual living outside of London.
| Age Bracket | Estimated Monthly Premium (Mid-Range Cover) |
|---|---|
| 25-34 | £45 - £65 |
| 35-44 | £60 - £85 |
| 45-54 | £80 - £120 |
| 55-64 | £110 - £180 |
| 65+ | £170 - £250+ |
Disclaimer: These figures are for illustrative purposes only. They represent typical market rates for 2025 but are not a formal quote. Your actual premium will vary.
Where you live has a direct impact on your premium. This is because the cost of private medical treatment, particularly for hospital stays and specialist consultations, differs from region to region.
Private hospitals in Central London, for example, have higher running costs and charge more for their services than hospitals in Scotland or the North of England. Insurers pass this cost difference on to the consumer through location-based pricing.
Here’s how a premium for a 40-year-old on a mid-range policy might vary by region.
| Region | Estimated Monthly Premium (Age 40) | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland / N. Ireland | £60 - £75 | Generally lower private hospital costs. |
| North of England | £65 - £80 | Competitive pricing outside of major metropolitan hubs. |
| Midlands / Wales | £70 - £85 | A mid-point in the national cost spectrum. |
| South West / East | £75 - £90 | Higher costs than the North, but less than the immediate London area. |
| London & South East | £90 - £115+ | Highest concentration of expensive, premium private hospitals. |
An "excess" is a fixed amount you agree to pay towards the cost of your treatment when you make a claim. The insurer then pays the remaining amount, up to your policy limits.
Choosing a higher excess is one of the most effective ways to lower your monthly premium. By agreeing to contribute more yourself, you reduce the financial risk for the insurer, and they reward you with a lower price.
Most insurers offer a range of excess options, typically from £0 up to £1,000. A £0 excess means the insurer pays everything, but your premium will be at its highest. A £500 excess offers a good balance for many people.
Let’s see how excess impacts a sample premium for a 45-year-old in Bristol.
| Excess Amount | Impact on Premium | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| £0 | Highest Premium | £105 |
| £100 | Slightly Lower Premium | £98 |
| £250 | Good Balance | £88 |
| £500 | Significant Saving | £79 |
| £1,000 | Lowest Premium | £65 |
Note: The excess is usually payable once per policy year, regardless of how many claims you make, though some policies apply it per claim. It's vital to check the policy details.
While age, location, and excess set the foundation of your price, the level of cover you choose has an equally important role. A basic policy is much cheaper than a fully comprehensive one.
This is the most fundamental choice you'll make about your policy's depth.
A basic, budget-friendly policy might only cover inpatient treatment. A mid-range policy will typically offer some outpatient cover (e.g., up to £1,000 per year), while a comprehensive policy will offer full outpatient cover. Adding extensive outpatient cover can significantly increase your premium, sometimes by 50% or more.
Insurers create "hospital lists"—a directory of private hospitals where you can receive treatment under your policy. The type of list your policy has affects both your choice and your premium.
If you live outside a major city and are happy to use local private facilities, choosing a reduced list can be a smart way to save money.
Most insurers allow you to add optional benefits to your core policy for an extra cost. Common add-ons include:
Let's create a few fictional personas to see how these factors combine to create a final estimated cost.
These examples show just how customisable a policy can be. Navigating these options is where an expert PMI broker like WeCovr becomes invaluable, ensuring you don't pay for cover you don't need.
This is the single most important concept to understand about UK private health insurance.
Standard private medical insurance is designed to cover acute conditions that arise after you take out your policy.
PMI does not cover the routine management of chronic conditions. It is not a replacement for the NHS in this regard.
Furthermore, PMI generally excludes pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any ailment for which you have experienced symptoms, sought advice, or received treatment in the years immediately before your policy begins (usually the last 5 years).
How insurers handle this depends on the type of underwriting you choose:
While our calculator guide gives you a great estimate, the only way to get a firm price is with a personalised quote. Using an independent broker is the smartest way to do this.
Here’s why:
WeCovr is an FCA-authorised PMI broker with a team of specialists ready to help you. We simplify the complex market, explain your options in plain English, and find the most suitable and cost-effective cover for you and your family.
We believe in supporting our clients' overall wellbeing. When you arrange your private medical insurance through WeCovr, you get more than just a policy.
While insurance provides a safety net, the best strategy is to invest in your health every day. Many insurers now reward healthy living with discounts and benefits.
The UK private medical insurance market is served by several outstanding providers. A broker can help you choose between them. Here's a brief look at the main players.
| Provider | Key Features | Best For... |
|---|---|---|
| Bupa | The UK's best-known health insurer. Extensive hospital network and direct cancer care pathways. | Brand recognition and comprehensive, trusted cover. |
| AXA Health | Excellent core product with strong mental health support and a guided specialist pathway. | People seeking strong customer service and guided care. |
| Aviva | A major UK insurer with a strong, flexible PMI product. Often competitively priced. | Value for money and a trusted household name. |
| Vitality | Unique model that rewards healthy living with discounts, cinema tickets, and coffee. | Active individuals who want to be rewarded for their lifestyle. |
| WPA | A not-for-profit insurer known for flexible policies and excellent customer service. | Tailored policies and those who value a personal touch. |
This guide gives you the tools to estimate your costs, but a personalised quote is the next step.
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our friendly, expert advisors will compare the UK's leading insurers to find the right private medical insurance for you, at the right price.






