How much is private health insurance?
We’re here to answer your questions around the cost of health insurance, including what can affect the price of your cover and what exactly you get for your money.
What is the average cost of private health insurance?
In truth, it’s difficult to say exactly how much a typical health insurance policy costs, as not everyone will choose the same cover. It’s entirely down to your personal circumstances and what you’re looking to be covered for.
However, there are two major factors that can affect how much your health insurance costs. These are your personal circumstances, and the cover choices you make.
Watch our health insurance cost video to learn more about how your health insurance cost is calculated.
What can affect the price of my health insurance policy?
Your personal circumstances
This includes:
- Your age
- Where you live
- If you smoke
Your chosen cover
This includes:
- The level of health insurance cover
- The level of excess you want to pay
- Your policy benefit limits – for example, out-patient limit
- Who you’re covering – yourself, you and your partner or your family?
- The hospital access you choose i.e. full national access or local regional access
Questions about health insurance costs? Just ask!
Transcript
Who are you?
Hello, my name's Ed Reed. I've been at Bupa for 16 years.
Come and ask me about health insurance, what you're covered for,
and any other questions you might have.
How much does health insurance cost?
That's a really good question and one we get asked a lot.
It depends on a few factors. One of the factors is your age,
so as you get older, you're more likely to make claims.
Also, your lifestyle can affect the price.
How many people you have on your policy, the policy makeup.
So whether you have a comprehensive policy or your excesses,
there's various different options that you can pick to adjust the price.
The best thing you can do is you can go on our website or you can give us a call
and speak to our friendly team who can go through all the options with you.
What is an excess and how does it work?
An excess can make your policy more affordable.
There are a range of different excesses to choose from.
You don't have to have an excess in the policy. The higher the excess,
the lower the monthly subscriptions are.
The good thing about the excess is it's once per person, per policy year,
not for every single claim that you make.
It's not like car insurance excess where you pay it on every single claim.
It is just that once per person, per policy year.
When/ how do I pay my excess?
We will let you know who and when to pay your access to when you speak to us.
Please don't pay a provider unless we tell you to do so.
Do I pay an excess for using services like Anytime HealthLine or Digital GP?
No, you don't pay an excess for using the digital GP or using the Anytime
Healthline. If you do need to pay an excess,
then we will let you know when to pay the excess and who to pay the excess to.
Can I change my excess part way through the year?
You can't change your excess partway through the year.
You do have the ability to change your excess 21 days after receiving your
documents.
You also have the ability to change your excess at your policy renewal,
and you can find details of your excess on your policy documents.
What is a no claims discount and how does it work?
No claims discount affects the price at renewal,
so depending on the size of the claim,
a small claim wouldn't affect the no claims discount as much as a large claim
would. Everyone on the policy has their own no claims discount,
and there are some services that don't affect the no claims discount,
such as the anytime Healthline to speak to a nurse or the digital GP
to speak to a GP or pharmacist.
Those services wouldn't affect the no claims discount.
Will the cost go up every year?
Yes, it's likely the cost will go up each year.
There's a few reasons for that.
The first reason would be age. So as you get older,
you are more likely to make claims, your risk goes up.
Another factor would be medical inflation.
So that is the advancement in technology of drugs and
treatments. And then another factor would be claims.
Claims can affect the cost of your policy.
At each renewal,
you have the option to review the cover and look at cost options,
and you can give our friendly team a call who can take you through those
options.
I want to make my policy more affordable – how do I do this?
When choosing health insurance, it’s important you select a policy that suits your needs and budget.
If you’re looking to keep the cost of your policy down, you could increase your excess limit or reduce your out-patient limit that may be included on the policy.
What do I get for my money?
Again, this depends on the health insurance provider and policy you choose. It also depends on your personal preferences and what you want to be covered for.
For example, most health insurance policies should cover you for treatment and care in private hospitals, as well as private consultations, physiotherapy and out-patient care such as scans and hospital appointments where you aren’t admitted.
What does Bupa cover?
Bupa health insurance covers all the things we’ve discussed above but there are also some things we do a bit differently.
Mental health
Our health insurance covers more mental health conditions than any other leading UK insurer††.
We provide ongoing support and treatment subject to your benefit limits‡, staying with you even if your condition comes back, time and time again‡‡.
Talk to a GP from wherever you are, 24/7
The help and advice you need is just a click away. Your cover includes Bupa Blua Health, our digital GP service that provides appointments within 24 hours – day or night.††† Choose to talk by video or phone call from home, work or wherever you are. Collect your medication within the hour or have it delivered to your door.‡‡‡‡
Our cancer promise
Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the most difficult times of your life. That’s why we promise that if you are diagnosed with cancer, for as long as you have Bupa health insurance with cancer cover† included, we’ll look after you, from diagnosis to treatment.
Rely on us for cancer support and the latest information, and if the worst happens, we’ll be with you.
Direct Access to care
With our Direct Access‡‡‡ service, you can call us directly if you're worried about cancer, mental health or muscle, bone and joint symptoms.
Depending on your health insurance policy and nature of your symptoms, our trained advisers, experienced physiotherapists and mental health practitioners can provide support, advice and a referral if you need one.
See our other guides on health insurance
How to make health insurance meet your budget
Here we share useful tips on making health insurance suit your budget.
How to choose health insurance
Knowing what to look for in a policy will help you choose the right cover for you.
Health insurance: what is covered?
See what is and isn't usually covered by health insurance policies.
Call us
01134950976^
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†With Bupa full cancer cover, there are no limits on how long your treatment lasts or how much it costs, for as long as you have Bupa health cover. If you or your employer set a maximum benefit limit, either for each renewal year or the full length of time that you’re with us, we’ll cover eligible costs until you reach your limit. You must use a hospital or health centre from the Bupa network and a consultant that we recognise and charges within Bupa rates (a fee-assured consultant). If your cover is provided by your employer, please check your certificate or guide to see which specific list of advanced therapies your employer has selected as it may not cover all advanced therapies.
‡‡ To support addictions we fund one addiction treatment programme per membership lifetime. To support chronic mental health conditions (conditions which recur) we removed restrictions on cover from June 2019. Please call us if you would like to discuss the benefit limits on your policy.
††As of February 2023, this comparison to other products in the market is based on Bupa’s and Defaqto’s interpretation of the differences between the Bupa’s Bupa By You health insurance and other health insurance products offering mental health cover. The comparison excludes any special offers or promotions which may temporarily alter the cover offered. Cover comparison information is for personal use and guidance only and does not constitute any contractual representation, warranty or obligation by either Bupa or Defaqto about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of the comparison. Neither party accepts any liability for errors, omissions, direct or consequential loss in relation to this comparison.
See PDF How we compare: Individuals (PDF 1MB)
‡‡‡ Any onward referrals for consultations, tests or treatment are subject to the benefits and exclusions of your cover. Please check your guide and certificate for further details or contact us to check your eligibility.
††† Customers who live in the Isle of Man, or have a Bupa Standard, Bupa Premium or Bupa Your Choice policy, do not have access to Digital GP provided by Babylon, but can access GP24, provided by HealthHero. Some corporate schemes don't include access to Digital GP or GP24, please check your scheme documents or give us a call.
‡‡‡‡ Bupa Blua Health private prescriptions with click and collect or home delivery options available. The cost of the private prescription is paid for by the individual. Charges for delivery will apply. Collection is usually available within 60 minutes, depending on your pharmacy opening hours, and selected pharmacies are open at weekends. Depending on your location, delivery to your door can be within 24 or 48 hours (other than on bank holidays).
Bupa Blua Health is provided by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, registered in England and Wales with number 3829851. Digital GP services are powered by eMed Healthcare UK Limited, registered in England and Wales with number 15086104, Registered Office: 184-192 Drummond Street, London, England, NW1 3HP
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.
