How to compare UK health insurance plans?

Private health insurance gives you fast access to diagnosis and treatment. Plus, support with your recovery and therapies that aren’t available on the NHS.

Over 6.2 million people¹ are signed up to a health insurance plan in the UK, either personally or through their employer. But not every insurer offers the same level of cover. That’s why it's important to carefully compare plans before you buy.

Key factors to consider when comparing health insurance plans

Private health insurance differs between insurance companies. So, it’s a good idea to compare plans carefully before you decide which health insurance is best for you. When comparing plans make sure you understand these key factors.

Cover options

Insurance companies usually provide a standard level of cover that you can enhance for an extra cost. At Vitality, our personal core cover includes all the services listed below.

Core cover includes:

• Private GP consultations - Access to video consultations witha GP and 24/7 access to Health Advice Line managed by clinical advisers.
• Hospital treatment- Including in-patient and day-patient hospital fees, consultant fees and surgical out-patient procedures. Cover also includes diagnostic tests and scans such as MRI and CT. But most core cover won’t cover you as an out-patient. You’ll need to take out additional out-patient cover for this.
• Cancer care - including early risk assessments, discounted screenings and treatment.
• Mental health support- Access to early interventions including Talking Therapy sessions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling.
• Physiotherapy- Access to a set number of physiotherapy sessions.
• Menopause support – Support from a menopause practitioner plus access to trusted resources.

Insurers will also offer a range of optional extras you can add to your core plan. These often include:

• Optical, dental and hearing cover – can help pay for eye, hearing and dental care.
• Additional mental health cover – in addition to the limited sessions offered with core cover.
• Therapies cover – includes chiropractic and osteopathy treatments.
• Out-patient cover – covers you for treatment when you’re not admitted to hospital.
• Choose where you’re treated – access to a wider hospital list or panel of specialists.

Provider networks and hospital lists

When choosing your provider, you’ll want to make sure that they offer a wide choice of private hospitals and doctors. This means you're more likely to be able to find a hospital locally to treat you. Or if you need specialist care, a consultant who specialises in your condition. At Vitality, when you make a claim, we’ll provide you with a choice of the most suitable consultants for your condition within your plan cover.

Excess and premiums

When you set up your plan, you’ll be asked if you want to pay an excess. An excess is an amount you pay towards your medical treatment before your insurance company picks up the rest of the cost.

So, if your treatment costs £4,000 and you have an excess of £500, you’ll pay £500 when you have the treatment. Your insurer will pay the rest of the bill. The bigger your excess, the lower your premiums.

Premiums are the regular monthly amounts you pay for your cover. As a ball park figure, our core cover starts from just £1.45 a day*, but the amount you’ll pay depends on several factors. These include age, medical history, lifestyle, the type of cover you choose and the excess you opt for. The type of underwriting you choose could also affect your premiums. We explain this below.

When comparing plans, make sure you compare like for like. As this can alter your premiums. To find a premium that suits your budget, you may need to balance the level of cover you want with the excess you're prepared to pay.

Learn more: How much does private health insurance cost?

Underwriting options

Underwriting is an insurance company’s way of determining whether they can insure you and the cost of your policy. When you apply for health insurance, the insurance company needs to assess your past and current health. They do this by asking a series of questions about:

• your age and occupation
• where you live
• your health and lifestyle.

As a new customer, you’re likely to be offered the choice of Moratorium Underwriting or Full Medical Underwriting.

With Moratorium Underwriting, you don’t need to tell the insurance company about your full medical history when you take out the insurance.

Initially, all pre-existing conditions are excluded from cover. We exclude any conditions for which a member has had treatment, received advice, or experienced symptoms in the five years prior to the start of cover. However, some pre-existing conditions may become eligible for cover after a certain number of years, provided they do not reoccur during that period. The insurance company will inform you whether you’re covered when you make a claim.

With Full Medical Underwriting, you complete a questionnaire about your medical history when you set up your plan. In some cases, you'll also need to give the insurer access to your medical records. The insurer can then decide if they want to insure you or not for a pre-existing condition. And if you need to make a claim you’ll already know whether the condition you’re claiming for is covered.

Learn more: The different types of medical underwriting explained

Customer service and claims process

It’s difficult to know before you make a claim just how good an insurance company is at managing their customer service. That’s why it’s a good idea to check their customer service record when choosing your provider.

Vitality has been recognised for its excellence and awarded with 5 Star ratings from Defaqto, an independent financial research company that offers unbiased ratings and insights on various financial products to help consumers make informed decisions.

Additionally, you can check client testimonials on Trustpilot, an independent platform where customers review their experiences with our service.

Types of health insurance plans in the UK

How to choose the best health insurance plan for you

There are several ways to choose the type of plan that’s right for you.

Comparison websites

These websites help you compare the plans of several providers at once. You put your details into the comparison site and it seeks out the insurers who can provide the cover you want. You can then compare plans and decide which one suits you best. While convenient, these sites often lack a personalised approach.

Financial advisers

For a more personalised approach, you can use a health insurance adviser to find a plan. If you have a complicated medical history or an existing medical condition, these specialists can help you find cover. You may have to pay for their advice.

Insurance providers

Getting a quote directly from health insurance providers is another option. By visiting their websites, you can get detailed information about their products, including cover options, benefits and costs. Also, speaking with their qualified experts allows a fully personalised approach to tailoring your quote, ensuring your cover is best suited to your needs.

Once you have quotes from your preferred providers, you can easily compare them to find the best option. This direct method not only provides clarity but also ensures you receive the most accurate and customised cover available.

Have a checklist to hand so you can compare:

• What each provider offers in their core cover.
• What additional cover options they provide.
• What hospitals you can choose from.
• The excess you want to pay.
• What extra benefits or rewards are available as part of the plan and how proactive they are in supporting their members to be healthy. 

* Price is based on the following criteria: a 35-year-old based in Peterborough, plan start date April 2025, Full Medical Underwriting, Consultant Select hospital option, £250 excess and £500 out-patient benefit and includes Insurance Premium Tax (IPT))