TL;DR
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands that choosing private medical insurance in the UK can feel overwhelming. With so many options, comparing quotes effectively is the key to finding cover that truly protects your health and your finances. This guide will provide you with the expert knowledge to do just that.
Key takeaways
- Pre-existing Conditions: Any illness or injury you had symptoms of, received medication for, or sought advice about before taking out the policy.
- Chronic Conditions: Illnesses that cannot be cured and require long-term management, such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, or high blood pressure. The NHS provides care for these conditions.
- Speed of Access: Bypass long NHS waiting lists for eligible treatments.
- Choice and Control: Choose your specialist, consultant, and the hospital where you receive treatment from a list provided by your insurer.
- Comfort and Privacy: Access to private rooms, often with en-suite facilities, flexible visiting hours, and other amenities.
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands that choosing private medical insurance in the UK can feel overwhelming. With so many options, comparing quotes effectively is the key to finding cover that truly protects your health and your finances. This guide will provide you with the expert knowledge to do just that.
WeCovr's expert tips for evaluating quotes side by side
Receiving a handful of private medical insurance (PMI) quotes is the first step. The next, more crucial step, is understanding what they truly offer. It's rarely a simple case of picking the cheapest option. The lowest price often comes with significant compromises in cover, which could leave you facing unexpected bills when you're most vulnerable.
Effective comparison means looking beyond the monthly premium to dissect the policy's core features, benefits, and limitations. It’s about matching the policy to your specific needs, health priorities, and budget. Our experts at WeCovr specialise in this analysis, helping thousands of clients navigate the market to find optimal value.
This guide will walk you through the exact process we use, empowering you to compare quotes like a professional.
Before You Compare: Understanding the Basics of UK Private Health Cover
Before diving into quotes, it’s essential to grasp what private medical insurance is designed for and why you might consider it.
What is Private Medical Insurance (PMI)?
Private Medical Insurance, often called private health cover, is an insurance policy designed to cover the costs of private healthcare for acute conditions that arise after your policy begins.
An acute condition is 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, or treatment for infections.
Crucially, standard UK PMI policies do not cover chronic or pre-existing conditions.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Any illness or injury you had symptoms of, received medication for, or sought advice about before taking out the policy.
- Chronic Conditions: Illnesses that cannot be cured and require long-term management, such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, or high blood pressure. The NHS provides care for these conditions.
PMI is your partner for new, curable health issues, giving you speed, choice, and comfort when you need it most.
Why Consider PMI in the UK?
While the UK is rightly proud of its National Health Service (NHS), the system faces significant pressures. For non-urgent, elective treatments, this can lead to long waits.
According to NHS England data, the referral to treatment (RTT) waiting list has consistently included several million people in recent years. While urgent care remains a priority, waiting for procedures like a hip replacement or cataract surgery can significantly impact your quality of life and ability to work.
Private medical insurance offers a compelling alternative by providing:
- Speed of Access: Bypass long NHS waiting lists for eligible treatments.
- Choice and Control: Choose your specialist, consultant, and the hospital where you receive treatment from a list provided by your insurer.
- Comfort and Privacy: Access to private rooms, often with en-suite facilities, flexible visiting hours, and other amenities.
- Access to Specialist Drugs and Treatments: Some policies provide access to breakthrough drugs or treatments that may not yet be available on the NHS due to cost or other guidelines.
The Anatomy of a PMI Quote: What to Look For
When a quote lands in your inbox, it contains several key components. Understanding each one is vital for a fair comparison.
| Component | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | The monthly or annual fee you pay for the policy. | The most visible cost, but it's influenced by all other components. |
| Level of Cover | The scope of treatment covered (e.g., in-patient only, or including out-patient). | This is the core of your policy. A cheap plan might only cover you once admitted to hospital. |
| Excess | A fixed amount you agree to pay towards a claim each year. | A higher excess (£500, £1000) will lower your premium, but you must be able to pay it. |
| Hospital List | The network of private hospitals and facilities you can use. | A limited list reduces cost but restricts your choice. A premium list includes top London hospitals. |
| Underwriting | The method the insurer uses to assess your medical history. | This determines which pre-existing conditions are excluded and is a critical choice. |
| No Claims Discount | A discount that increases each year you don't claim, reducing future premiums. | Rewards you for staying healthy but can be lost after a claim, increasing future costs. |
The Core Components of Your Quote Explained
Let’s break down these elements in more detail.
1. Level of Cover:
- In-patient and Day-patient Cover: This is the foundation of all PMI policies. It covers treatment when you are admitted to a hospital bed, either overnight (in-patient) or for the day (day-patient). This includes surgery, accommodation, nursing care, and consultant fees.
- Out-patient Cover: This is one of the most important variables. It covers diagnostic tests, consultations, and therapies that do not require a hospital bed. This could be an MRI scan, a consultation with a specialist, or a course of physiotherapy. Out-patient cover is often capped at a certain amount per year (e.g., £500, £1,000, £1,500) or offered as unlimited. A policy with no out-patient cover means you would need an NHS diagnosis before you could use your private cover for treatment.
2. Underwriting Options: There are two main types of underwriting. The choice you make has a long-term impact on your cover.
-
Moratorium (Mori) Underwriting: This is the most common type. You don’t need to declare your full medical history upfront. Instead, the insurer applies a general rule: they will not cover any condition you have had symptoms of, or received treatment for, in the five years before your policy started. However, if you then go two continuous years on the policy without any symptoms, treatment, or advice for that condition, it may become eligible for cover. It's simpler to set up but can create uncertainty at the point of a claim.
-
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): With FMU, you provide your full medical history via a detailed questionnaire when you apply. The insurer assesses your health and lists specific, permanent exclusions on your policy documents from day one. It takes longer to set up, but you have complete clarity on what is and isn't covered from the start.
3. Hospital Lists: Insurers group hospitals into tiers to manage costs.
- Local/Trust Networks: Include a select list of private hospitals or private patient units within NHS hospitals in your local area. This is the most budget-friendly option.
- National Networks: A comprehensive list of hospitals across the UK, excluding the most expensive ones in Central London.
- Premium/London Networks: Includes all national hospitals plus the prestigious, high-cost facilities in Central London like The London Clinic or The Cromwell Hospital.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Comparing Your PMI Quotes
Now, let's put this knowledge into practice. Follow these steps to conduct a thorough, side-by-side evaluation.
Step 1: Standardise Your Core Requirements
Before you even look at prices, decide what is most important to you. Ask yourself:
- Out-patient Cover: Do I want peace of mind for diagnostics? Is a £1,000 limit enough, or do I want fully comprehensive cover?
- Hospital Access: Do I need access to a specific hospital near my home or work? Or am I happy with a more limited list to save money?
- Excess: What amount could I comfortably afford to pay if I needed to make a claim? £0? £250? £500?
By setting these benchmarks, you can request quotes that are genuinely comparable. A broker like WeCovr can do this for you, ensuring the quotes you receive are all based on the same core criteria.
Step 2: Create a Comparison Table
Don't rely on memory. A simple table is the most powerful tool for comparison. Laying out the details visually makes it easy to spot the differences.
Here is a template you can use:
| Feature | Provider A Quote | Provider B Quote | Provider C Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | £XX.XX | £XX.XX | £XX.XX |
| Underwriting Type | Moratorium / FMU | Moratorium / FMU | Moratorium / FMU |
| Excess Amount | £XXX | £XXX | £XXX |
| Hospital List | Local / National | Local / National | Local / National |
| In-patient Cover | Full | Full | Full |
| Out-patient Limit | £500 / £1000 / Full | £500 / £1000 / Full | £500 / £1000 / Full |
| Cancer Cover | Basic / Comprehensive | Basic / Comprehensive | Basic / Comprehensive |
| Mental Health Cover | Limit? / Included? | Limit? / Included? | Limit? / Included? |
| Therapies (Physio etc.) | Limit? / Included? | Limit? / Included? | Limit? / Included? |
| Added Benefits | Virtual GP? / Wellness? | Virtual GP? / Wellness? | Virtual GP? / Wellness? |
| No Claims Discount % | X% | X% | X% |
Step 3: Scrutinise the 'Level of Cover' Details
This is where the real value lies.
- Out-patient Limits: A quote with a £500 out-patient limit might be £15 cheaper per month than one with a £1,500 limit. However, a single MRI scan can cost over £500 privately. The cheaper policy would leave you with a significant shortfall.
- Cancer Cover: This is a key reason many people take out PMI. Check if the cover is "comprehensive." This should include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy with no financial or time limits. Some cheaper policies might cap cancer treatment or only cover the initial diagnosis.
- Mental Health Cover: Support for mental health is increasingly included in PMI, but the level varies wildly. Some policies offer limited out-patient therapy sessions, while more comprehensive ones include in-patient psychiatric treatment. Check the limits carefully.
Step 4: Understand the Excess and Co-payment Options
The excess is the amount you pay per claim or per policy year. A £500 excess can dramatically reduce your premium compared to a £0 excess. However, you must be sure you can pay this sum if you need treatment.
Some policies also offer a co-payment option. This is where you agree to pay a percentage of the claim cost (e.g., 20%) up to a certain limit. This can also lower premiums but introduces more financial uncertainty at the point of a claim.
Step 5: Check the Hospital List Carefully
Don't just glance at the name of the hospital list (e.g., "Signature" or "Key"). Ask for the actual directory of hospitals.
- Is your nearest private hospital included?
- Are there respected specialist centres on the list for conditions that concern you?
- If you travel for work, does the list have good national coverage?
Choosing a more restricted list is a great way to save money, but only if it still provides practical access to care for you.
Step 6: Evaluate the "Extras" and Value-Added Benefits
Insurers compete by offering benefits you can use even when you're not ill. These can add significant value and shouldn't be overlooked.
Common benefits include:
- 24/7 Virtual GP: The ability to speak to a GP by phone or video at any time is incredibly convenient.
- Wellness Programmes: Discounts on gym memberships, fitness trackers, and health screenings.
- Mental Health Support: Access to helplines or a limited number of therapy sessions without needing a claim.
- Second Opinion Services: The ability to get a remote second opinion from a world-leading expert on your diagnosis.
At WeCovr, we enhance this value further. When you arrange a PMI or life insurance policy through us, we provide complimentary access to CalorieHero, our cutting-edge AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. We also offer our clients exclusive discounts on other types of insurance, helping you protect more for less.
Step 7: Read the Fine Print: Exclusions Are Key
Every policy has exclusions. Beyond the standard pre-existing and chronic condition clauses, look for others such as:
- Routine pregnancy and childbirth
- Cosmetic surgery (unless reconstructive)
- Treatment for addiction
- Professional sports injuries
- Emergency treatment (this is handled by NHS A&E)
Understanding these ensures there are no surprises when you need to use your policy.
Real-Life Example: Comparing Two Fictional PMI Quotes
Let's compare two quotes for David, a 42-year-old software developer from Bristol. He is in good health and wants a policy for peace of mind.
| Feature | Quote A: "Essential Secure" | Quote B: "Comprehensive Plus" | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | £65 | £90 | Quote A is significantly cheaper. |
| Underwriting | Moratorium | Moratorium | Both are simple to set up. |
| Excess Amount | £500 | £250 | David would pay more out-of-pocket with Quote A. |
| Hospital List | Local Network (Guided) | National Network | Quote A limits David's choice of hospital to a smaller, specified list. |
| Out-patient Limit | £500 | Unlimited | This is a huge difference. A single scan and two consultations could exhaust Quote A's limit. |
| Cancer Cover | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Both are strong on cancer cover. |
| Mental Health Cover | None | Up to £1,500 out-patient therapy | Quote B offers valuable mental health support. |
| Added Benefits | Basic Health Support Line | 24/7 Virtual GP, Gym Discounts | Quote B offers far superior day-to-day value. |
Conclusion:
While Quote A is £25 per month cheaper (£300 per year), its value is significantly lower. The £500 out-patient limit is a major risk, and the lack of a national hospital list or mental health cover makes it a very basic policy.
Quote B, while more expensive, offers comprehensive peace of mind. The unlimited out-patient cover, lower excess, and valuable added benefits mean David is getting far more protection and utility for his money. For someone who values choice and comprehensive cover, Quote B is the clear winner, despite the higher premium. This is the kind of analysis an expert PMI broker provides.
The Role of a PMI Broker Like WeCovr
Navigating these details alone can be time-consuming and confusing. This is where an independent broker adds immense value.
- Whole-of-Market Advice: A broker like WeCovr isn't tied to one insurer. We compare policies from a wide panel of the UK's leading providers, including names you know and specialist insurers you might not.
- Expert Guidance: We do the complex comparisons for you. We'll listen to your needs and budget and then present you with the most suitable options, explaining the pros and cons of each in plain English.
- No Extra Cost to You: Our service is free for our clients. We are paid a commission by the insurer you choose, which is already built into the policy price. You get expert advice without paying a penny extra.
- Ongoing Support: Our relationship doesn't end once you buy a policy. We are here to help with renewal, answer questions, and provide assistance if you need to make a claim.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: A Complement to Your PMI
Your private medical insurance is a safety net for when things go wrong. But the best way to manage your health and long-term insurance costs is to invest in your well-being every day. A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of developing many acute and chronic conditions.
The Four Pillars of Well-being
- A Balanced Diet: Focus on whole foods. The NHS Eatwell Guide is a great model, recommending plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, alongside lean proteins and healthy fats. Using an app like CalorieHero, which WeCovr clients get complimentary access to, can make tracking your nutrition simple and effective.
- Regular Physical Activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like brisk walking or cycling) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity (like running or HIIT) per week, as recommended by the NHS.
- Quality Sleep: Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night for optimal physical and mental health. Create a relaxing bedtime routine and make your bedroom a screen-free zone.
- Stress Management: Chronic stress can impact your physical health. Make time for activities you enjoy, practice mindfulness or meditation, and maintain strong social connections with friends and family.
By focusing on these areas, you not only improve your quality of life but also become a lower-risk customer for insurers, which can help keep your premiums manageable over the long term.
Does private medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
What is the difference between moratorium and full medical underwriting?
How can I lower the cost of my private health insurance premium?
Is it worth getting PMI if I have the NHS?
Ready to find the right private health cover for you? Stop guessing and start comparing with confidence.
Let our friendly experts at WeCovr do the hard work for you. We'll search the market to find policies that match your needs and budget, and explain everything in simple terms.











