
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr understands that choosing the right private medical insurance in the UK can feel complex. A core policy provides a fantastic safety net, but optional add-ons are what truly tailor your cover to your specific health and lifestyle needs.
This guide will demystify the world of PMI add-ons, from mental health and dental to therapies and travel cover. We'll explore what each offers, the pros and cons, and the typical costs involved, so you can build a policy that gives you complete peace of mind.
Private Medical Insurance (PMI) isn't a one-size-fits-all product. While a basic policy offers a solid foundation, add-ons allow you to enhance your cover in areas that matter most to you. Think of it like building a car: you start with the standard model and then add the features you want, like a better sound system or satellite navigation.
These optional extras typically increase your monthly premium, but in return, they provide access to a wider range of treatments and services, often much faster than you might get them otherwise. In the following sections, we’ll break down the most common add-ons, helping you weigh the benefits against the cost.
Before we explore the extras, it's vital to understand what a standard private medical insurance UK policy covers—and, crucially, what it doesn't.
The Golden Rule: PMI is for Acute Conditions
The fundamental purpose of PMI is to cover the diagnosis and treatment of 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:
What Core PMI Almost Never Covers
It is critical to understand that standard UK private health cover is not designed for:
Understanding this distinction is the single most important step in having the right expectations for your private health cover.
These three areas represent the most popular and, for many people, the most valuable add-ons to a PMI policy. They address common health needs that can involve long NHS waits or significant out-of-pocket costs.
In recent years, awareness of mental health has grown, and so has the demand for timely support. With NHS waiting lists for psychological therapies sometimes stretching for months, private mental health cover has become a crucial lifeline for many.
Why Consider It?
According to NHS data, over 1.8 million people were in contact with mental health services at the end of 2023, with demand consistently rising. A mental health add-on provides a pathway to bypass long waits and get professional help quickly.
What Does It Typically Cover?
What's Often Excluded?
Pros and Cons of Mental Health Cover
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Fast Access: Get help in days or weeks, not months. | ❌ Increased Premium: A significant addition to your monthly cost. |
| ✅ Choice of Specialist: You often have more choice over who you see. | ❌ Session Limits: Cover is usually for a fixed number of sessions per year. |
| ✅ Privacy and Comfort: Treatment in a private, comfortable setting. | ❌ Exclusions Apply: Doesn't cover chronic or pre-existing conditions. |
Typical Extra Cost: Adding comprehensive mental health cover to a PMI policy typically increases the monthly premium by £20 to £60, depending on the insurer and the level of benefits.
While not life-threatening, dental and optical problems can be painful, inconvenient, and expensive. This add-on is designed to help you manage the costs of routine check-ups and unexpected treatments. It's often sold as a combined package.
1. Dental Cover
The state of NHS dentistry in the UK is a well-documented challenge. A 2023 survey by the British Dental Association found that 9 in 10 NHS practices were not accepting new adult patients. This has pushed many people to pay for private treatment or go without care.
What Does It Typically Cover?
What's Often Excluded?
2. Optical Cover
This part of the add-on helps with the costs associated with maintaining eye health.
What Does It Typically Cover?
What's Often Excluded?
Pros and Cons of Dental & Optical Cover
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Encourages Routine Checks: Knowing you're covered makes you more likely to attend regular appointments. | ❌ May Not Be Cost-Effective: If you have healthy teeth and stable vision, you might pay more in premiums than you claim back. |
| ✅ Spreads the Cost: Avoids large, unexpected bills for things like root canals or new glasses. | ❌ Annual Limits: Cover is capped, so you may still have to pay towards expensive treatments like crowns. |
| ✅ Access to Private Care: Easily access private dentists without worrying about NHS availability. | ❌ Waiting Periods: You often can't claim for certain treatments (e.g., major dental work) in the first few months of the policy. |
Typical Extra Cost: Adding a combined dental and optical package typically increases your monthly premium by £15 to £35.
While mental health, dental, and optical are the most common, insurers offer a range of other add-ons to further customise your private health cover.
This is one of the most widely used benefits in private medical insurance. While some core policies include a limited number of sessions, a therapies add-on expands this cover significantly.
What Does It Include?
It covers treatment from recognised practitioners for musculoskeletal issues. The main types are:
Why Is It Useful?
Back pain and sports injuries are incredibly common. NHS waiting lists for physiotherapy can be long, and early intervention is often key to a swift recovery. This add-on provides rapid access to treatment, helping you get back on your feet faster.
Typical Extra Cost: Often bundled with core policies, but an enhanced add-on might cost an extra £5 to £15 a month.
Many PMI providers offer a travel insurance add-on that integrates with your health policy.
What Does It Cover?
Pros and Cons of a Travel Add-On
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Convenience: One policy and one number to call for both your UK health and overseas emergencies. | ❌ May Lack Specialist Cover: Might not be as comprehensive as a standalone policy for adventurous activities or pre-existing conditions (which are often insurable on specialist travel policies). |
| ✅ Seamless Cover: The insurer already knows your medical history (from your PMI application). | ❌ Less Flexibility: You can't shop around for a cheaper travel deal each time you go away. |
Typical Extra Cost: This varies widely but can add £10 to £30 a month, depending on your age and travel destinations.
A modern and proactive addition to PMI, these programmes shift the focus from simply treating illness to actively promoting good health.
What Do They Include?
These are often points-based systems or digital platforms that reward you for healthy living. Benefits can include:
For example, at WeCovr, clients who purchase PMI or Life Insurance receive complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, helping them stay on top of their health goals.
Why Consider It?
These programmes incentivise you to take control of your health. By engaging with them, you can often earn rewards, including reductions in your PMI premium for the following year. It's a win-win: the insurer has a healthier (and therefore less costly) client, and you stay healthier while saving money.
Typical Extra Cost: Often included in mid- to high-tier policies, or available as an add-on for £5 to £10 a month.
With so many options, how do you choose? Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the right decision.
1. Assess Your Personal and Family Needs Think about your lifestyle, your family's health history, and your priorities.
2. Compare the Cost vs. Paying Out-of-Pocket Sometimes, it's cheaper to self-fund than to pay for an add-on. Do a quick cost-benefit analysis.
Example: Dental Cover Analysis
| Cost Item | Pay-As-You-Go (Private) | Annual Cost of Add-On |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x Check-ups & Hygiene | £180 (£90 each) | £300 (£25 x 12) |
| 1 x Filling | £150 | - |
| Total Annual Cost | £330 | £300 |
In this simple example, the add-on is slightly cheaper and provides cover for more extensive work if needed. However, if you only needed the check-ups, paying-as-you-go would be more cost-effective.
3. Check for Overlapping Cover Do you have any health benefits through your employer? Some companies provide dental insurance or access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with counselling services. Make sure you’re not paying twice for the same thing.
4. Get Expert, Impartial Advice This is where a specialist PMI broker like WeCovr provides immense value. We can:
To help you budget, here is a summary table of typical monthly cost increases for a healthy 40-year-old. These are estimates and your actual quote will depend on your age, location, lifestyle, and chosen insurer.
| Add-On Type | Typical Monthly Cost Increase | Key Benefits | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | £20 - £60 | Fast access to therapy & psychiatric consultations. | Individuals prioritising mental wellbeing and wanting to bypass NHS waits. |
| Dental & Optical | £15 - £35 | Covers routine checks, treatments, and eyewear costs. | Families, and anyone struggling to access or afford private dental care. |
| Therapies | £5 - £15 | More sessions for physiotherapy, osteopathy, etc. | Active people, sports players, or those with chronic back/joint pain. |
| Travel Cover | £10 - £30 | Worldwide emergency medical cover. | Frequent travellers who value the convenience of an integrated policy. |
| Wellness | £5 - £10 | Gym discounts, health screenings, app access. | Proactive individuals who want rewards for staying healthy. |
When you arrange your private medical insurance through WeCovr, you get more than just a policy. We believe in providing ongoing value to help you lead a healthier life. Our high customer satisfaction ratings are a testament to our client-first approach.
Ready to build the perfect private medical insurance policy with the right add-ons for you? The expert team at WeCovr is here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today and let us compare the UK's leading insurers to find cover that protects your health and your budget.






