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Private health insurance
Find private health insurance that works around you with Switch Health. From quicker treatment times to accessing specialist consultants, a private health insurance plan gives you more control over your wellbeing.
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What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance, also known as private medical insurance, is a type of insurance that helps cover the cost of private healthcare and medical treatment. You pay a monthly or annual premium to an insurance provider in return for access to private hospitals, specialists, diagnostic tests and treatment, depending on the policy you choose.
The level of private health insurance varies between policies. A basic policy may focus primarily on inpatient and day-patient treatment, while more comprehensive health insurance plans can include outpatient consultations and diagnostic tests, mental health support and cancer care.
Your choice of hospitals, consultants and treatments available will depend on your insurer, policy and level of cover.
Private health insurance is designed to complement the NHS rather than replace it. You can continue to use NHS services, including your GP and emergency care, while using private healthcare for eligible treatment included by your policy.
When it comes to choosing which plan is for you, there are a lot of decisions to make. We help individuals, families and businesses compare private health insurance policies from a range of providers, understand the protection, exclusions and costs so you can choose a policy that is right for you.
Types of health insurance plans
Individual health insurance
Individual health insurance is designed for one person and can be tailored around your personal healthcare requirements, budget and preferred level of cover.
It can provide personalised private medical cover and, depending on the insurer and underwriting method, a relatively straightforward application process.
Joint and family health insurance plans
Joint and family health insurance plans allow you to include multiple people under the same policy, such as yourself and your partner or your immediate family.
Family health insurance can encompass dependent children alongside the main policyholder, while a joint policy can be suitable for couples who want to manage their private medical insurance together.
Whether a joint or family policy is more cost effective than buying individual policies depends on the provider, the ages of the people concerned and the level of cover selected, so it’s worth comparing both options.
Child and young person plans
Some parents choose separate private health insurance for their children to provide access to private medical treatment without necessarily arranging comprehensive private insurance for every family member.
Child health insurance can provide access to private healthcare, diagnostic tests and treatment, with the precise benefits and age limits varying between providers.
Health insurance for over 50s
Health insurance for over 50s can provide access to private medical treatment, specialist consultations and diagnostic tests as healthcare needs change with age. It can be particularly valuable for people who want greater choice and faster access to treatment without relying solely on NHS waiting lists.
For people already with private medical insurance, reaching your 50s can also be a good opportunity to review your policy, particularly if premiums have increased at renewal.
Our team can help people over 50 compare private health insurance options and understand how different levels of cover, underwriting and premiums could work for their circumstances.
What private health insurance typically includes
Private health insurance can provide cover for a range of medical treatment, from hospital stays and diagnostic tests to specialist consultations and mental health support. The exact benefits vary between policies, with some included as standard and others available as optional extras.
Inpatient treatment
Inpatient treatment covers specified medical care where you need to stay in hospital, such as following surgery or another planned procedure.
Most private health insurance policies include inpatient treatment within their core cover, although exclusions, limits and approved hospital lists will apply.
Day-patient treatment
Day-patient treatment applies when you receive medical treatment in hospital but do not need to stay overnight.
This can include certain procedures, investigations and treatments carried out in a private hospital or day-patient facility.
Outpatient treatment
Some policies can help pay for outpatient consultations, diagnostic tests and investigations included in your policy where you do not need to be admitted to hospital.
The level of outpatient cover varies considerably. Some policies include it as standard, while others provide a set annual limit or make more comprehensive outpatient benefits an optional extra.
Specialist consultations
Private health insurance can give you access to specialist consultations when you need further investigation or treatment for a specific medical condition.
A GP referral is often required before you can see a specialist through your policy. Your insurer may also need to authorise the consultation before you arrange an appointment.
Diagnostic tests and scans
Private health insurance can cover certain diagnostic tests used to investigate a new medical condition.
Depending on your policy, this may include:
- X-rays
- MRI scans
- CT scans
- Ultrasounds
- Blood tests
- Other diagnostic investigations
Some policies include diagnostic tests within outpatient cover, while others apply annual limits or offer enhanced diagnostic cover as an optional benefit.
Pre-authorisation for treatment
Before arranging private treatment, you will often need to contact your insurance provider to confirm that the proposed treatment is included.
This is known as pre-authorisation. It allows your insurer to check that the treatment, consultant and hospital are covered by your policy and can help prevent unexpected costs when you make a health insurance claim.
Private hospitals and hospital choice
Private health insurance typically gives you access to private hospitals for treatment, although the level of choice depends on your policy.
Some health insurance plans provide access to a broad network of private hospitals and specialists, while more basic policies may use a restricted hospital list.
When comparing policies, check whether your preferred local private hospitals are included. A cheaper policy may provide less choice over where you receive treatment.
Private rooms
Where inpatient treatment is covered, your policy may provide access to a private room during your hospital stay.
The type of room available and the hospitals where you can use this benefit depend on your policy and insurer’s hospital network.
Cancer cover
Cancer cover is included within many private health insurance policies, although the level of benefits varies.
Depending on the policy, cover may include cancer diagnosis, consultations, treatment and ongoing cancer care. Some policies offer more comprehensive cancer benefits than others, so check the terms carefully if this is an important consideration.
Mental health cover
Mental health cover can form part of private health insurance, although the level of support available varies between policies.
Depending on your policy, benefits may include consultations, therapy, psychiatric treatment and other mental health support. Some policies include these benefits within their core cover, while others may offer them as an optional extra or apply specific limits.
Chronic conditions
Private medical insurance is generally designed to include acute medical conditions that can respond to treatment rather than chronic conditions requiring ongoing management.
Chronic conditions are commonly excluded, although the exact approach varies between insurers and policies. Some policies may cover an acute episode arising from an existing condition where specific criteria are met.
Pre-existing conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions may be excluded from private health insurance or subject to specific terms, depending on the insurer and underwriting method.
Your medical history can therefore affect both the cover available and your health insurance premiums. If you are switching from an existing policy, it’s particularly important to check how a new insurer will treat conditions that are currently covered.
Optional health insurance benefits
As well as core medical cover, some insurers offer additional benefits that can be added to a policy for an extra premium.
These can include enhanced outpatient services, mental health support, dental and other wellbeing benefits.
The availability of optional extras varies between providers, so consider whether each benefit is relevant to how you expect to use your private healthcare before paying for additional cover.
Health insurance premiums: what affects cost?
The cost of private health insurance varies depending on your circumstances and the level of cover you choose. When comparing health insurance premiums, consider:
- Age: Premiums typically increase as you get older
- Location: Private healthcare costs can vary by region, with areas such as London often costing more
- Lifestyle: Factors such as smoking can affect the premium
- Level of cover: More comprehensive policies with wider hospital access and outpatient cover generally cost more
- Optional extras: Additional benefits can increase your monthly premium.
- Excess: A higher excess can reduce your premium but means paying more towards treatment when you claim
- Medical history: Your medical history and underwriting method can affect the cover and price available
- Previous claims: Your claims history may also influence the premium with some policies.
You can usually choose to pay your premium monthly or annually. Paying annually may sometimes be more cost effective, depending on the provider.
Rather than choosing the cheapest health insurance, compare the premium, cover, exclusions and benefits to understand the overall value of the policy.
Comparing health insurance providers
Comparing health insurance providers is about more than finding the lowest premium. At Switch Health, we help you look at the overall value of each policy, including the level of cover, exclusions, hospital access and benefits.
Our advisers can help you compare:
Policy benefits: Understand what each health insurance policy actually covers, including inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic and mental health benefits.
Hospital and consultant networks: Check whether the private hospitals and specialists you may want to use are included.
Excess and premiums: Compare the monthly cost alongside the excess and overall level of cover.
Underwriting: Understand how each provider treats your medical history and any pre existing conditions.
Claims and pre-authorisation: Consider how the insurer manages claims and approval for private treatment.
Additional benefits: Some policies offer benefits such as digital GP services, health assessments and mental health support.
Because we compare options based on your individual circumstances, you don’t have to spend time contacting multiple insurance providers yourself.
The cheapest health insurance is not always the best option. Switch Health can help you compare the cover as well as the cost, so you can make an informed decision about your private healthcare.
Pre-existing conditions and underwriting rules
Underwriting determines how an insurer assesses your medical history and whether previous medical conditions are covered.
Full medical underwriting
Full medical underwriting means providing your medical history upfront when you apply for private health insurance.
The insurer reviews your declared medical conditions and medical records before deciding what cover they can provide. Any exclusions or restrictions should therefore be established when your policy begins.
This can give you greater clarity about your private medical cover from the outset, although pre existing conditions may be excluded from your policy.
Moratorium underwriting
Moratorium underwriting generally does not require you to provide your full medical history upfront.
Instead, the insurer applies specific rules to determine whether a previous medical condition can be covered if you later need treatment. The exact look-back periods and eligibility criteria vary between providers. Cover may be reinstated following a continuous two-year trouble-free period, subject to policy terms and conditions.
Switching with pre-existing conditions
Switching health insurance provider requires particular care if you have a medical history or existing health conditions.
A new insurer may apply exclusions to conditions that were previously covered by your existing policy. In some circumstances, a provider may offer continued personal medical exclusions or other switching arrangements, but this depends on the insurer and your circumstances.
Always compare the underwriting terms alongside the premium before cancelling your existing policy.
Private medical vs. NHS care
Private health insurance is designed to complement the NHS rather than replace it.
The NHS provides healthcare that is generally free at the point of use and is funded primarily through taxation. It covers emergency and essential treatment, as well as a broad range of lifelong healthcare needs.
Private health insurance can provide an alternative route to eligible private treatment, particularly for non-urgent conditions. Depending on your policy, you may benefit from faster access to specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and private medical treatment, as well as greater choice over hospitals and consultants.
NHS care remains an important part of healthcare in the UK. If you need emergency care or emergency treatment, including treatment through A&E, you should use NHS emergency services rather than relying on private health insurance.
Private medical insurance can therefore sit alongside NHS care, giving you another option for eligible non-emergency treatment when you want faster access or greater choice.
Compare private health insurance from Switch Health
Choosing private health insurance is about finding the right balance between cover, cost and flexibility, not simply choosing the cheapest premium.
At Switch Health, our experienced advisers compare private health insurance options from a range of providers based on your individual circumstances. We can help you understand the differences between policies, including hospital lists, outpatient cover, excesses, underwriting, exclusions and additional benefits.
Whether you are buying private health insurance for the first time, reviewing your existing policy or considering switching provider, we can help you explore your options and find cover that works around your needs and lifestyle.
Get a private health insurance quote from our team today.
