How to make health insurance more affordable
Find out how to lower the cost of your health insurance policy.
Edited by Graham Lewis,
health insurance expert at Bupa
Last updated 28 May 2024
2 minute read
5 ways to reduce health insurance costs
There are a few things you can do to keep the cost of health insurance down. Think about what you want from your cover and adapt your policy to suit your needs and your budget.
It’s important to remember that a lower cost policy might not provide all the cover you need, so don’t base your choice on cost alone.
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Increase your excess
The higher the excess on your policy, the lower the price will be. But you will have to pay your excess when you make a claim. It may suit you to choose a lower excess and pay more for the policy.
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Choose lower limits on your cover
Most policies have limits on the amount you can claim each year for some types of treatment. For example, there might be a limit on outpatient care.
Policies with higher allowances cost more. You can choose smaller allowances to make your policy cheaper. But you will have to pay for any treatment you need after you have reached your limit.
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Select a lower level of hospital cover
You can usually choose to have access to a large or small number of private hospitals in the UK. If you have more choice, your policy will cost more. If you’re happy to only access a smaller network of private hospitals, your policy will be cheaper.
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Look out for discounts
Many insurance providers offer discounts for policies that cover multiple people. You may find couples or family discounts.
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Keep up a healthy lifestyle
Health insurance is usually cheaper if you don’t smoke. Most insurers will ask whether you have smoked in the last two years. Some will also offer discounts if your BMI falls within a certain range.
Pay as you go private healthcare
If you’d like to access private healthcare but don’t want to take out a health insurance policy, pay as you go healthcare could work for you.
You won’t need to make monthly payments. You just pay for the care you need when you need it.
More about Bupa pay as you go healthcareCompare Bupa health insurance
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Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales with registration number 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 with registration number 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.