WeCovr vs Going Direct Who Gets You the Best PMI Deals
As an FCA-authorised expert broker that has helped arrange over 800,000 policies, WeCovr understands the UK private medical insurance market inside and out. Deciding how to buy your policy is as important as choosing the policy itself. This guide explores why using a specialist broker often secures you a better deal than going directly to an insurer.
Find out why brokers like WeCovr often beat direct prices from insurers
When you're looking for private health cover, your first thought might be to go straight to one of the big-name insurers. It seems simple, right? You visit their website, get a price, and you're done. However, this direct approach could mean you're paying more than you need to for cover that isn't perfectly suited to you.
The world of private medical insurance (PMI) is complex, with dozens of policies, options, and pricing structures. An independent broker acts as your expert guide, navigating this landscape on your behalf to find the ideal combination of cover and cost. Let's delve into why this route consistently delivers superior value.
What Exactly is a Private Medical Insurance Broker?
Think of a PMI broker as your personal health insurance shopper. They are independent, expert advisers who work for you, not for the insurance companies. Their job is to understand your unique needs, budget, and health priorities, and then search the market to find the policies that are the best fit.
Key characteristics of a PMI broker include:
- Independence: They aren't tied to a single insurer. A whole-of-market broker, like WeCovr, can compare plans from a wide range of providers, including major names like Aviva, Bupa, AXA Health, and Vitality, as well as specialist insurers.
- Expertise: Brokers live and breathe insurance. They understand the complex jargon, the subtle differences between policies, and the impact of choices like underwriting type, excess level, and hospital lists.
- Regulation: In the UK, all legitimate insurance brokers must be authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This is a crucial mark of professionalism and means they are bound by strict rules to treat customers fairly. WeCovr is proud to be an FCA-authorised broker.
- No Cost to You: This is a point that surprises many people. You do not pay the broker a fee for their service. They earn a commission from the insurance provider if you decide to take out a policy. This commission is already factored into the insurer's prices, so you don't pay extra for the expert advice.
In short, a broker's entire purpose is to simplify the process and secure the best possible outcome for their client.
The "Going Direct" Route: An Honest Look at the Pros and Cons
Going directly to an insurer means approaching a single provider, like Bupa or AXA, to get a quote and buy a policy. While it might seem straightforward, it's important to weigh the benefits against the significant drawbacks.
Potential Positives of Going Direct
- Brand Familiarity: You might already know and trust a particular brand, making it a comfortable starting point.
- Direct Communication: You deal with only one company throughout the process, which some people find simpler.
The Overwhelming Negatives of Going Direct
- A Narrow, Biased View: You will only ever be shown that one company's products. Their salesperson is trained to sell their policies, not to tell you that a competitor might offer better cover for your specific needs at a lower price.
- You Do All the Work: To get a true sense of the market, you would need to repeat the entire lengthy quotation process on multiple insurer websites. This involves filling out forms, answering detailed medical questions, and then trying to compare the complex policy documents side-by-side—a confusing and time-consuming task.
- Missing Out on Better Prices: You won't have access to the special rates or introductory offers that insurers often provide exclusively through their broker partners. You are, in essence, a single customer, whereas a broker represents thousands of potential customers, giving them significant negotiating power.
- Risk of a Poor Fit: Without impartial advice, it’s easy to choose the wrong level of cover. You might end up paying for benefits you'll never use or, worse, discovering you're not covered for something you thought you were when you come to claim.
Going direct puts the entire burden of research, comparison, and decision-making squarely on your shoulders, without the safety net of expert, impartial guidance.
The Broker Advantage: Why WeCovr Can Secure Better PMI Deals
Using an expert broker is about more than just convenience; it's about getting demonstrably better value. Here’s a breakdown of how brokers like WeCovr consistently outperform the direct route.
1. Unrivalled Access to the Whole Market
A broker's primary tool is their access. Instead of you spending a whole weekend getting quotes from individual insurers, a broker does it in minutes.
- Comprehensive Comparison: WeCovr can generate quotes from a wide panel of the UK's leading insurers simultaneously. This gives you an instant, bird's-eye view of the best PMI providers and what they offer.
- Saving You Time and Hassle: The process is simple. You have one conversation with an expert adviser who gathers your requirements. They then do all the legwork, returning to you with a curated shortlist of the most suitable options.
- Fostering Competition: When insurers know they are competing for your business on a broker's panel, they are motivated to put their most competitive price forward. This market pressure works directly in your favour.
2. Exclusive Broker-Only Deals and Discounts
This is the secret weapon in a broker's arsenal. Insurers value brokers because they act as an efficient sales and marketing channel. Brokers bring them high volumes of well-informed customers who are more likely to buy a suitable policy and remain loyal customers.
To reward this partnership, insurers often provide brokers with:
- Preferential Rates: The premium offered via a broker can be lower than the price quoted to an individual on the insurer's own website.
- Special Offers: This could include deals like "10 months for the price of 12" in the first year or other introductory discounts.
- Enhanced Benefits: Sometimes, a policy sold through a broker might come with added perks at no extra cost.
These deals are simply not available to the public. By going direct, you miss out on this entire layer of potential savings.
3. Expert, Impartial Advice at No Extra Cost
Understanding a private medical insurance policy can be daunting. Terms like "moratorium underwriting," "six-week wait option," and "guided consultant lists" can be confusing. This is where an adviser's expertise is invaluable.
A good broker will:
- Translate the Jargon: They explain your options in plain English, ensuring you understand exactly what you are buying.
- Tailor the Policy: They help you customise your cover to match your budget and priorities. They'll ask the right questions to determine if you need extensive outpatient cover, a nationwide hospital list, or add-ons like dental and optical care.
- Provide Objective Guidance: Because they are independent, their advice is unbiased. Their goal is to find the right policy for you, not to push a particular product. This impartial guidance is something you simply cannot get from an insurer's direct sales team.
4. Long-Term Support, From Claim to Renewal
The relationship with your broker doesn't end once you've bought the policy.
- Help with Claims: While you will claim directly from your insurer, a good broker can offer guidance and support if you run into any issues or are unsure about the process.
- Annual Market Review: This is a huge benefit. When your policy is due for renewal, your premium will likely increase due to age and medical inflation. An insurer will just send you the new, higher price. A broker like WeCovr will proactively review the market for you every year to ensure you are still on the best possible deal. They can help you switch insurers if a better option has emerged, saving you from passively accepting price hikes.
A Real-World Example
Meet David and Chloe: A couple in their late 40s from Manchester. They wanted comprehensive cover, especially for cancer care, but needed to keep their monthly premiums below £150. They first went directly to a major insurer and were quoted £180 per month. Feeling this was too high, they contacted WeCovr. Their adviser listened to their needs, explained how a £500 excess would significantly lower the cost without compromising their core cover, and compared policies from five leading insurers. They found a plan with equivalent cancer cover and a better-rated hospital list for just £145 per month—a saving of £420 a year, secured through a combination of market comparison and expert policy tailoring.
A Clear Comparison: Broker vs. Direct
This table summarises the key differences in the experience.
| Feature | Using a Broker (like WeCovr) | Going Direct to an Insurer |
|---|---|---|
| Market Access | Compares dozens of policies from a wide panel of UK insurers. | Limited to the products of that single insurance company. |
| Price & Deals | Access to preferential rates and exclusive broker-only discounts. | Standard public pricing only. You miss out on special deals. |
| Advice | Free, impartial, and expert advice tailored to your personal needs. | Biased advice from a salesperson employed to sell their products. |
| Time & Effort | One conversation with an expert. The broker does all the research. | Requires hours of repetitive research and form-filling on multiple websites. |
| Policy Choice | Helps you choose the optimal level of cover, excess, and options. | Risk of buying too much or too little cover without expert guidance. |
| Annual Renewal | Proactive market review each year to ensure you're still on the best deal. | You typically receive a renewal price with little context or comparison. |
| Support | Ongoing support, including guidance during the claims process. | You deal with a large call centre for any issues. |
Understanding What UK Private Medical Insurance Covers (and What It Doesn't)
It's vital to have realistic expectations about what PMI is for. It is designed to complement the excellent emergency services of the NHS, not replace them.
What Private Health Cover is Designed For
The primary purpose of PMI is to cover the diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions.
What is an acute condition? It's a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Think of things that have a clear start and end point.
Common treatments covered by PMI include:
- Diagnostic Tests: Fast access to MRI scans, CT scans, and PET scans, helping you get a diagnosis in days, not months.
- Surgical Procedures: Things like hip or knee replacements, cataract surgery, and hernia repairs.
- Cancer Care: This is a cornerstone of most policies, covering chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, often with access to specialist drugs not yet available on the NHS.
- Specialist Consultations: Getting a quick appointment with a consultant to understand your symptoms.
- Mental Health Support: Most modern policies include cover for mental health treatment, from therapy to inpatient care.
The main benefit is speed of access. With NHS waiting lists in the UK seeing millions of people waiting for treatment—some for over a year, according to recent NHS England data—PMI allows you to bypass these queues and be treated at a time and place of your choosing.
What Private Health Cover Critically Does NOT Cover
This is arguably the most important section to understand. All standard UK PMI policies have exclusions.
- Pre-existing Conditions: This is the big one. PMI does not cover medical conditions you had symptoms of, received advice for, or were treated for before you took out the policy. How far back an insurer looks depends on the type of underwriting you choose (typically the last 5 years for moratorium underwriting).
- Chronic Conditions: Similarly, long-term conditions that can be managed but not cured are excluded. This includes conditions like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and most allergies. Management of these conditions remains with your NHS GP.
- Other Standard Exclusions:
- A&E / Emergency services
- Normal pregnancy and childbirth
- Cosmetic surgery (unless it's reconstructive after an accident or covered surgery)
- Treatment for drug and alcohol addiction
- Organ transplants
An expert broker will take the time to explain these exclusions clearly, ensuring there are no nasty surprises down the line.
The WeCovr Difference: Added Value Beyond Price
Choosing WeCovr as your broker means you benefit from our market-leading expertise and our commitment to adding real value for our customers, who consistently give us high satisfaction ratings.
We go beyond just finding you a great price. When you become a WeCovr customer, you get:
- Complimentary Access to CalorieHero: All our health and life insurance customers receive free access to our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s a fantastic tool to help you manage your diet, achieve your fitness goals, and live a healthier lifestyle.
- Multi-Policy Discounts: We believe in rewarding loyalty. If you take out a PMI or life insurance policy with us, we can offer you exclusive discounts on other types of cover you might need, such as income protection or critical illness cover. This helps you build a comprehensive financial safety net for less.
- A Commitment to You: As FCA-authorised advisers, our primary duty is to you, our client. We pride ourselves on our friendly, professional, and transparent service, helping thousands of people across the UK find peace of mind.
Wellness & Health: Making the Most of Your Health Cover
Modern private health cover isn't just about being there when you're ill; it's also about helping you stay well. Many top insurers now include a fantastic range of wellness benefits designed to support a healthier lifestyle.
Here are some tips to stay healthy and get the most from these benefits:
- Stay Active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. Many PMI providers (like Vitality) offer rewards for being active, including discounted gym memberships, fitness trackers, and even cinema tickets.
- Balanced Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains is your best defence against many health issues. Using an app like CalorieHero can make it easy to track your intake and ensure you're getting the right nutrients.
- Prioritise Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. It's crucial for mental and physical recovery. Some policies offer access to apps and resources for improving sleep hygiene.
- Look After Your Mind: Don't neglect your mental wellbeing. Take advantage of the mental health support lines, therapy session access, and mindfulness apps included in many PMI plans. Early support can make a huge difference.
By engaging with these wellness benefits, you not only improve your health but can also actively lower your future insurance premiums with some providers.
Ready to Find the Best Private Medical Insurance Deal?
Navigating the PMI market alone is a challenging task, fraught with the risk of overpaying or choosing the wrong cover. Going direct to an insurer gives you a narrow, biased perspective.
A specialist broker like WeCovr flips the model on its head. We put you in control by bringing the entire market to you, armed with expert, impartial advice and access to deals you can't get anywhere else. We do the hard work so you can make a confident, informed decision.
Don't settle for the first price you see. Let WeCovr compare the market for you and find the right private health cover at the best possible price. Get your free, no-obligation quote today.
Is it really cheaper to use a PMI broker?
Will my pre-existing conditions be covered by private medical insurance in the UK?
How much does private health cover cost?
What happens if I need to make a claim on my PMI policy?
Why private medical insurance and how does it work?
What is Private Medical Insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI) is a type of health insurance that provides access to private healthcare services in the UK. It covers the cost of private medical treatment, allowing you to bypass NHS waiting lists and receive faster, more convenient care.How does it work?
Private medical insurance works by paying for your private healthcare costs. When you need treatment, you can choose to go private and your insurance will cover the costs, subject to your policy terms and conditions. This can include:• Private consultations with specialists
• Private hospital treatment and surgery
• Diagnostic tests and scans
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health treatment
Your premium depends on factors like your age, health, occupation, and the level of cover you choose. Most policies offer different levels of cover, from basic to comprehensive, allowing you to tailor the policy to your needs and budget.
Questions to ask yourself regarding private medical insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Are you concerned about NHS waiting times for treatment?
👉 Would you prefer to choose your own consultant and hospital?
👉 Do you want faster access to diagnostic tests and scans?
👉 Would you like private hospital accommodation and better food?
👉 Do you want to avoid the stress of NHS waiting lists?
Many people don't realise that private medical insurance is more affordable than they think, especially when you consider the value of faster treatment and better facilities. A great insurance policy can provide peace of mind and ensure you receive the care you need when you need it.
Benefits offered by private medical insurance
Private medical insurance provides numerous benefits that can significantly improve your healthcare experience and outcomes:Faster Access to Treatment
One of the biggest advantages is avoiding NHS waiting lists. While the NHS provides excellent care, waiting times can be lengthy. With private medical insurance, you can often receive treatment within days or weeks rather than months.
Choice of Consultant and Hospital
You can choose your preferred consultant and hospital, giving you more control over your healthcare journey. This is particularly important for complex treatments where you want a specific specialist.
Better Facilities and Accommodation
Private hospitals typically offer superior facilities, including private rooms, better food, and more comfortable surroundings. This can make your recovery more pleasant and potentially faster.
Advanced Treatments
Private medical insurance often covers treatments and medications not available on the NHS, giving you access to the latest medical advances and technologies.
Mental Health Support
Many policies include comprehensive mental health coverage, providing faster access to therapy and psychiatric care when needed.
Tax Benefits for Business Owners
If you're self-employed or a business owner, private medical insurance premiums can be tax-deductible, making it a cost-effective way to protect your health and your business.
Peace of Mind
Knowing you have access to private healthcare when you need it provides invaluable peace of mind, especially for those with ongoing health conditions or concerns about NHS capacity.
Private medical insurance is particularly valuable for those who want to take control of their healthcare journey and ensure they receive the best possible treatment when they need it most.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get private medical insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their private medical insurance cover in place before running into some serious health issues. Private medical insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, and even our phones! Yet our health is the most precious thing we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy private medical insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of private medical insurance policies available in the market, including different levels of cover and policy types most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced insurance experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to private medical insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable private medical insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:
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Who Are WeCovr?
WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.
Just a quick and simple form and an easy conversation with one of our experts and your valuable insurance policy is in place for that needed peace of mind!