TL;DR
Navigating the UK’s health insurance landscape can be complex. At WeCovr, where we’ve helped arrange over 900,000 policies, we know clarity is key. This guide focuses on Westfield Health, explaining what its products are, how they differ from traditional private medical insurance (PMI), and what you need to compare.
Key takeaways
- You pay a fixed monthly premium, which is often much lower than a PMI premium.
- You pay for your routine healthcare appointments upfront (e.g., a dental check-up, an eye test, or a physiotherapy session).
- You claim a portion of that cost back from the provider, up to a set annual limit for each category of treatment.
- You visit the dentist for a check-up and scale and polish, costing £65. You pay the dentist directly.
- You submit your receipt to Westfield Health.
Navigating the UK’s health insurance landscape can be complex. At WeCovr, where we’ve helped arrange over 900,000 policies, we know clarity is key. This guide focuses on Westfield Health, explaining what its products are, how they differ from traditional private medical insurance (PMI), and what you need to compare.
A guide to Westfield private health insurance Westfield private healthcare style products and comparison points
When people search for "Westfield private health insurance," they often encounter a product that works differently from what they might expect. Westfield Health is a respected UK provider, but its core offering is not traditional Private Medical Insurance (PMI). Instead, it specialises in Health Cash Plans.
Understanding the distinction between a Health Cash Plan and a comprehensive PMI policy from providers like Aviva, Bupa, or AXA is the single most important step in choosing the right cover for your needs. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
What is a Health Cash Plan?
A Health Cash Plan is a simple, affordable insurance policy designed to help you budget for everyday healthcare costs.
Here’s how it works:
- You pay a fixed monthly premium, which is often much lower than a PMI premium.
- You pay for your routine healthcare appointments upfront (e.g., a dental check-up, an eye test, or a physiotherapy session).
- You claim a portion of that cost back from the provider, up to a set annual limit for each category of treatment.
A Simple Example: Imagine your Health Cash Plan costs £15 per month. The plan allows you to claim back up to £70 per year for dental treatment and £60 for optical costs.
- You visit the dentist for a check-up and scale and polish, costing £65. You pay the dentist directly.
- You submit your receipt to Westfield Health.
- Westfield Health transfers £65 into your bank account.
- You now have £5 of your annual dental limit remaining.
Health Cash Plans are about reimbursement for predictable costs, not for covering unforeseen major medical events.
What is Westfield Health? A UK Provider Overview
Founded in 1919, Westfield Health has a long history as a not-for-profit health and wellbeing organisation. Rather than answering to shareholders, it reinvests its profits to improve its services and donates to charities like the NHS.
Their primary focus is on making everyday healthcare more accessible and affordable for individuals and employees. They are well-regarded for their straightforward products, easy claims process, and commitment to customer wellbeing.
Key Features of Westfield Health:
- Not-for-Profit: Surpluses are reinvested or donated.
- Focus: Health Cash Plans and wellbeing services.
- Audience: Individuals, families, and businesses (employee benefits).
- Core Principle: Helping people budget and pay for routine health expenses.
Westfield's Health Cash Plan vs. Private Medical Insurance (PMI): The Key Differences
This is the most critical comparison to understand. A Westfield Health Cash Plan and a Private Medical Insurance policy serve entirely different purposes. Confusing the two is a common mistake that can leave you without the cover you thought you had.
PMI is designed to cover the high costs of diagnosing and treating acute conditions—illnesses or injuries that are likely to respond quickly to treatment. A cash plan is for managing routine, predictable expenses.
Here is a clear breakdown of the differences:
| Feature | Health Cash Plan (e.g., Westfield) | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) (e.g., Aviva, Bupa) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Budgeting for and reclaiming costs of routine healthcare (dental, optical, therapies). | Paying for diagnosis and treatment of acute medical conditions (surgery, specialist care). |
| How it Works | You pay for treatment and claim a cash refund up to an annual limit. | The insurer typically pays the hospital or specialist directly for eligible treatment. |
| Typical Monthly Cost | £10 – £50 | £40 – £200+ (varies widely by age, location, and cover level). |
| What's Covered? | Dental check-ups, eye tests, glasses, physiotherapy, chiropractic, consultations. | Private surgery, specialist consultations, advanced diagnostics (MRI/CT), cancer treatment. |
| What's NOT Covered? | Major surgery, cancer care, inpatient hospital stays. | Chronic conditions, pre-existing conditions, routine dental/optical (unless added on). |
| Claim Value | Small, fixed amounts (e.g., £50-£500 per year per category). | Potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds for major procedures. |
| Main Benefit | Makes everyday healthcare more affordable and predictable. | Provides fast access to private medical facilities, bypassing NHS waiting lists for eligible conditions. |
Crucial Point: Standard private medical insurance in the UK does not cover pre-existing or chronic conditions. PMI is for new, acute conditions that arise after your policy begins.
Who is a Westfield Health Cash Plan Good For?
A health cash plan is an excellent, cost-effective product for many people. It's particularly suitable if you:
- Want to Budget for Predictable Costs: If you wear glasses, visit the dentist regularly, and see a physiotherapist, a cash plan can save you hundreds of pounds a year.
- Have a Young Family: Covering the cost of children's eye tests, glasses, and dental check-ups is a major benefit.
- Are Self-Employed: It provides a simple way to manage personal health admin and costs without the expense of full PMI.
- Cannot Get or Afford Full PMI: If you have pre-existing conditions that make PMI unsuitable or too expensive, a cash plan still offers valuable benefits for your day-to-day health.
- Have PMI Through Work: Some people take out a personal cash plan to supplement an employer's PMI policy that may not cover dental or optical care.
Does Westfield Offer Private Medical Insurance?
This is a key question. Westfield Health does not offer comprehensive Private Medical Insurance in the same way as major insurers like Bupa or AXA.
They do offer a product called Hospital Treatment Insurance. However, this is a limited benefit product and should not be mistaken for full PMI.
How Hospital Treatment Insurance Works:
- It provides a fixed cash payout if you are admitted to an NHS or private hospital for a specific, listed procedure or condition.
- You receive a lump sum of money for the event (e.g., £1,000 for a hip replacement), not cover for the full cost of the treatment.
- It does not give you access to a choice of private hospitals or consultants. The payment is designed to help with associated costs while you receive treatment, which could still be on the NHS.
Therefore, if your goal is to get fast access to private surgeons, specialists, and hospitals for a wide range of conditions, you need a comprehensive Private Medical Insurance policy, not a cash plan or a hospital treatment insurance plan.
How to Compare Westfield with True Private Medical Insurance UK Providers
If you've decided that what you really need is the comprehensive cover of PMI, your comparison points change completely. You are no longer comparing cashback amounts; you are comparing the core components of a major insurance policy.
A specialist PMI broker like WeCovr can navigate this complex market for you at no cost. We provide whole-of-market comparisons to find the policy that perfectly matches your needs and budget.
Here’s what you need to compare when looking at private medical insurance UK providers:
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Level of Cover:
- Comprehensive: Covers inpatient, day-patient, and extensive outpatient treatments.
- Intermediate: Covers inpatient and day-patient care, with a limit on outpatient consultations and diagnostics.
- Basic: Covers only inpatient and day-patient treatment, designed to protect against the cost of major surgery.
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Underwriting Method: This determines how the insurer treats your previous medical history.
- Moratorium (Most Common): The insurer automatically excludes any condition you've had symptoms, medication, or advice for in the last 5 years. If you then go 2 continuous years on the policy without issue, the exclusion may be lifted.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You complete a detailed health questionnaire. The insurer reviews your medical history and may apply permanent exclusions to specific conditions.
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The Excess: This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim each year. A higher excess (£500 or £1,000) will significantly lower your monthly premium. A lower excess (£0 or £100) will make it higher.
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Hospital List: Insurers offer different tiers of hospitals. A "national" list is standard, while adding central London hospitals will increase the premium.
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Outpatient Limits: This is a crucial variable. You can choose from unlimited outpatient cover (most expensive) down to a limit of £500, £1,000, or even £0. A lower limit reduces your premium but means you may need to pay for some initial consultations yourself.
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Cancer Cover: This is a core pillar of PMI. Check if the policy includes advanced cancer drugs, therapies, and end-of-life care that may not be available on the NHS.
Why Use a Broker Like WeCovr to Compare Your Options?
Trying to compare these variables across multiple providers is overwhelming. This is where an independent broker adds immense value.
- Expert Guidance: We live and breathe this market. We know the difference between a cash plan and PMI and can instantly tell you which is right for you.
- Whole-of-Market Access: We are not tied to any single insurer. We compare policies from all the leading UK private health cover providers to find the best deal.
- Personalised Advice: We listen to your needs—your budget, your health concerns, your family—and recommend a policy that fits.
- No Cost to You: Our service is completely free. We receive a commission from the insurer you choose, which is already built into the price of the policy.
- Exclusive Benefits: When you arrange a policy with WeCovr, you also get complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero, and can receive discounts on other insurance products like life or income protection cover.
In Summary: Westfield or Full PMI?
The right choice depends entirely on your needs and what you want to protect against.
| Your Goal | The Right Product | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| "I want to save money on my regular dental and optical bills." | Health Cash Plan (e.g., Westfield) | It's specifically designed for this. It's affordable and makes budgeting for routine care easy. |
| "I'm worried about NHS waiting lists and want fast access to a private specialist if I get ill." | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) | This is the core purpose of PMI. It pays for private diagnosis and treatment for acute conditions. |
| "I want cover for potential cancer surgery." | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) | A cash plan will not cover costs running into tens of thousands of pounds. Only PMI provides comprehensive cancer care. |
| "I want a simple, low-cost health benefit for my employees." | Health Cash Plan (e.g., Westfield) | It's a highly valued, affordable employee benefit that is easy to implement and use. |
Ready to Find the Right Cover?
Whether a Westfield-style Health Cash Plan is the perfect fit or you need the robust protection of a full Private Medical Insurance policy, clarity is essential. Don't risk being underinsured by choosing the wrong product.
The expert advisers at WeCovr are here to help. We provide free, impartial, and regulated advice to help you understand your options and find the best possible cover for your budget.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote and a clear comparison of your options.
