Guide to UK Health Insurers
Market Leaders
Circa 36% market share
Main offices – Staines and Manchester
Target audiences for health insurance – Individual, Small-Medium Business, Corporate
Bupa (British United Provident Association) is probably the name most synonymous with health insurance in the UK.
Founded in 1947 (just one year prior to the NHS), Bupa is a not-for-profit organisation with no shareholders and all profits reinvested into the business.
Bupa have diversified over the years into travel insurance, care homes, health assessments and occupational health.
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Cover options for businesses
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Plan name(s)
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Select
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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Yes
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Out-patient options
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£1,000, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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£250 or Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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28 days or 45 days
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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Yes
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Dental & Optical cover options
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No – separate Dental and Cash Plans available
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Travel cover option
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Yes – as separate policy
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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No
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Hospital lists
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Participating and Partnership
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Excesses
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Cover options for individuals
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Plan name(s)
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BBY (Comprehensive or Treatment Care)
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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£500, £750, £1000, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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Up to £350
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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28 days
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover, NHS Cancer Cover Plus, No cover (optional extra of cancer assist)
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Optional cash benefit options
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Included in core cover
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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Yes
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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Essential, Extended, Extended with central London
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £150, £200, £250, £500, £1000, £2000
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Circa 33% market share
Main offices – Tunbridge Wells and Leicester
Target audiences for health insurance – Individual, Small-Medium Business, Corporate
Set up in 1938 and originally known as the London Association for Hospital Services. In 1999 AXA PPP Healthcare was acquired and became part or the wider AXA Group, which is a household name internationally. In March 2012 the company acquired Bournemouth-based specialist online Private Medical Insurance provider Health-on-Line and followed this with subsequent acquisitions of SimplyHealth and the Permanent Health Company (PHC) in 2015.
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Cover options for businesses
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Plan name(s)
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Business Health Select
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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Yes (with extended cover option)
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Out-patient options
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Standard, Enhanced, Full
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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None, Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, Full cover
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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Yes
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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One hospital list covering all UK hospitals
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Excesses
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Cover options for individuals
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Plan name(s)
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Personal Health, Health for You, InSpire
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes (Six week option)
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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None, Standard, Full
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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None, Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 30 days, Full cover
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Cancer treatment
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Full, NHS Cancer support
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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Yes
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Virtual GP
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With extended cover
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Hospital lists
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Personal Health, Health for You, InSpire
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Excesses
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£100, £250, £500
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Circa 13% market share
Main offices – Eastleigh and Sheffield
Target audiences for health insurance – Individual, Small-Medium Business, Corporate
Founded as Norwich Union Healthcare in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union. A merger with CGU in 2000 saw it become known briefly as CGNU before becoming part of the Aviva Group. Aviva is well-known and recognised globally and they have been operating in the individual, SME and large corporate health insurance space for some time.
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Cover options for businesses
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Plan name(s)
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Solutions
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes (six week option)
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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£0, £1,000, £1,500, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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Included within out-patient limit
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 28 days, 45 days
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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No
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Hospital lists
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Signature, Trust, Key, Extended
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Excesses
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£0, £50, £100, £150, £200, £250, £500
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Cover options for individuals
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Plan name(s)
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Healthier Solutions
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In/day-patient treatment
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Full, Six week
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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None, £500, £1000, Full
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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Within out-patient cover limit
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 28 days
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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Key, Trust, Extended, Signature, Speedy
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £200, £500, £1000, £3000, £5000
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Circa 11% market share
Main offices – Bournemouth & Stockport
Target audiences for health insurance – Individual, Small-Medium Business, Corporate
Previously known as PruHealth, Vitality entered the market in 2004 as a 50/50 joint venture between Prudential and South African insurer Discovery Group. Their model is different to many and focuses heavily on making it cheaper and easier of people of lead a healthy lifestyle, and rewarding them for doing so. In 2010, Discovery brought Prudential out of their share and acquired Standard Life Healthcare, whilst changing the business name from PruHealth to Vitality simultaneously.
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Cover options for businesses
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Plan name(s)
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Business Healthcare
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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Full cover as standard
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Out-patient options
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£500, £750, £1,000, £1,250, £1,500, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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£350, Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, £15,000, £20,000
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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Yes
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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Yes
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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Local, Countrywide
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £250, £500, £1,000, Vitality Linked xs
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Cover options for individuals
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Plan name(s)
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Personal Healthcare
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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Yes as standard
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Out-patient options
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None, £500, £750, £1000, £1250, £1500, full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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None, Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 28 days
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Dental – Yes / Optical No
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Travel cover option
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Yes
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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Consultant select, Local, Countrywide, London Care
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £250, £500, £1000
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Main offices – Greenock
Target audiences for health insurance – Small-Medium Business, Corporate
Cigna is a US business with a global footprint of approximately 75 million customer relationships, following 200 years of trading. They are an established name in the UK health insurance market and have broadened their services to include dental insurance.
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Cover options for businesses
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|---|---|
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Plan name(s)
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Health Flex – Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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£1,000, £2,000, full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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Full cover
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Cancer treatment
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None, Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Optical as standard, Dental under separate plan
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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No
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Hospital lists
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Cigna Network, Full Network
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £250, £500, £1,000
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Main offices – Bournemouth
Target audiences for health insurance – Individual, Small-Medium Business
Founded in 2003, Freedom Health has established itself in the Private Medical Insurance market and has always strived to offer innovative products and excellent levels of customer service. Their Essentials product provides a fixed cash amount for procedures, making it one of the more affordable products available.
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Cover options for businesses
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|---|---|
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Plan name(s)
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Elite
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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£0, £1,500, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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£0, £750, £1,500
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 45 days
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Cancer treatment
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Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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No
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Employee Assistance Programme
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No
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Hospital lists
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National list, London Extension
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Excesses
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£100, £250, £500, £1,000
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Cover options for individuals
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|---|---|
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Plan name(s)
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Essentials, Elite
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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None, £500, £1500, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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None, £750, £1500
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 45 days
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Cancer treatment
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Yes
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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No
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Hospital lists
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Standard, Plus
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £250, £500, £1000
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Main offices – Rickmansworth
Target audiences for health insurance – Small-Medium Business, Corporate
PHC have been a provider of specialist Private Medical Insurance plans for over 25 years. Operating as an independent insurer for many years, in 2015 PHC were acquired by AXA, meaning they boast a greater degree of financial strength via their parent. Despite being underwritten by AXA PPP Healthcare, PHC still design and distributes its own products.
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Cover options for businesses
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Plan name(s)
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HealthCover4Life – Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 3, Plan 4
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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Yes
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Out-patient options
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2 Consultations per year, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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£500, £1,000, £1,500, full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, Full cover
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Cancer treatment
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None, Full cover
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Optional cash benefit options
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Yes
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Dental & Optical cover options
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No
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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No
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Hospital lists
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National List, London Upgrade
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £200, £1,000
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Main offices – Exeter
Target audience for health insurance – Individuals
Established in 1927, Exeter Friendly Society is one of Britain’s largest friendly societies with over 90,000 members. Focused mainly in the individual/retail space and Private Medical Insurance, their range of services has expanded over the past few years to include Health Cash Plan, Income Protection and Life cover.
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Cover options for businesses
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|---|---|
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Plan name(s)
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Health +
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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None, £500, £1000, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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None, £500, £1000, Full cover
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 28 days
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Cancer treatment
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Yes
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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No
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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Essential, Standard, Extended
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £250, £500, £1000, £3000, £5000
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Main offices – Taunton
Target audience for health insurance – Individual, Small-Medium Business, Corporate
Founded in 1901, WPA (Western Provident Association) is a not-for-profit organisation and all gains are invested back into the business. As well as Private Medical Insurance, WPA offers an NHS top-up product (similar to a health cash plan). Whilst not a well-known name, WPA are well established in the UK market.
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Cover options for businesses
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Plan name(s)
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Enterprise Flexible Benefits, Enterprise Health
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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£250, £500, £1,000, £1,200, £1,500, Full cover
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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£200, £400, £600, £1,200, £1,800, within out-patient limit
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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None, 6 sessions, £750
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Cancer treatment
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None, Full cover (drugs only if not readily available on NHS)
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Optional cash benefit options
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Yes
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Employee Assistance Programme
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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National List, Premium
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £150, £200, £250 (Shared responsibility also at £500, £750, £1000, £1,500, £3,000, £5,000, £6,000)
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Cover options for individuals
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|---|---|
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Plan name(s)
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Essentials, Premier, Elite
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In/day-patient treatment
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Yes
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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None, £1000, £1500
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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Within out-patient limit
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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No
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Cancer treatment
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None, Full cover (subject to guidelines)
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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Yes
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Travel cover option
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Yes
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Virtual GP
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Yes
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Hospital lists
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Standard, Premium
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Excesses
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£250, £500, £750, £1000, £1500, £3000, £5000
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Main offices – Bristol
Target audience for health insurance – Individuals
National Friendly is the trading name of National Deposit Friendly Society, a British society providing numerous financial services. Formed in 1868 as the Surrey Deposit Friendly Society, they have broadened their horizons into Private Medical Insurance, Later Life Care, Savings, Investments and Life Assurance.
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Cover options for businesses
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|---|---|
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Plan name(s)
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Optimum
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In/day-patient treatment
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None, Yes (up to 1 million cover limit)
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Option to cover specialist fees in full
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No
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Out-patient options
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None, £2000, £5000
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Therapies/complementary treatment
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None, or within out-patient limit
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Psychiatric/mental health as an in-patient
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No
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Cancer treatment
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Yes (subject to guidelines)
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Optional cash benefit options
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No
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Dental & Optical cover options
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No
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Travel cover option
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No
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Virtual GP
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No
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Hospital lists
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Standard, Extended
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Excesses
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£0, £100, £250, £500, £1000
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Engage Health Group has made every effort to ensure accuracy of this information, but inaccuracies could be present due to the velocity at which market dynamics and products change.
