What is health insurance?
Health insurance is an insurance policy that covers the costs of private healthcare. It can also be called private medical insurance. And it can cover you from diagnosis to treatment.
You'll pay a monthly or annual fee for your policy. This will then cover all or some of the cost of any treatment that you need, as long as your treatment is covered by your policy.
Most health insurance covers conditions that develop after your policy has begun. You won’t usually have cover for conditions you already had.
Health insurance with dental care
now included
Our private health cover now comes with one dental appointment every year for everyone on your cover, including children.
Plus, a £300 allowance each towards keeping your teeth healthy.
This new benefit comes with all new policies and renewals from 1 August 2024.
Who do you need health insurance for?
I need health insurance for myself
I need cover for myself and my partner
I need cover for my whole family
I need health insurance for my employees
What are the benefits of health insurance?
Come to us direct, before speaking to a GP
Call us about certain conditions such as cancer, mental health or muscles, bones and joints.
Access to breakthrough cancer treatments
Our cancer cover can offer some cancer drugs and treatments before they re available on the NHS.
Mental health conditions cover
We all have mental health. That's why we cover multiple conditions such as anxiety, addiction and depression.
Clear and simple advice, 24/7
Speak to qualified nurses, day or night, with Bupa Anytime HealthLine.
Choose the right cover for you
We have two health insurance policies to choose from. You can choose either Comprehensive health insurance, or Treatment and Care health insurance.
Check our comparison table to see what is and isn’t covered on each policy.
Already a member?
Here you’ll find all the information you need about making a claim. From getting a referral, to making the most of your cover.
Why get health insurance?
Still not sure if health insurance is right for you? You can see all the benefits, what's covered and the services you can access here.
Leaving your company scheme
If you're leaving or have left your job and want to keep your cover, we can talk you through what to do next.
News and insights
Find the latest product information, expert insights and customer stories from Bupa.
Need more advice?
Check out our guides for tips, advice and information. You can also read about health topics, such as looking after yourself as a parent and taking care of your children’s health.
How to choose health insurance
Lowering cost to choosing what's covered – here are the key things to know.
What does health insurance cover?
See what is and isn't usually covered by health insurance.
How much does health insurance cost?
Find out how much health insurance costs and what you get for your money.
Free, trusted health information from Bupa
See our library of conditions, treatments and healthy living advice.
We’re the only UK insurer rated ‘Good’ by the CQC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care in England. They make sure that we are:
- safe
- effective
- compassionate
- high-quality
- well-led
Our rating of 'Good' means that our telephone services are performing well and meeting their expectations. It's an important way of showing you that you can be confident and trust the service you're using.
The cost of your health insurance depends on several factors including:
- Your age,
- Where you live,
- Whether you smoke,
- The type of policy you choose.
Your health insurance policy is unique to you and the cost will also depend on the level of cover you want. For example, you can choose the level of excess you want to pay. You can also choose how much allowance you will have for some types of treatments or appointments.
Before you take out health insurance, it’s important to understand how it works. Health insurance covers you for conditions that start after your policy has begun.
You will usually pay a monthly fee. Then you can make claims for any private healthcare you receive if it is covered by your policy.
One of the main benefits of private healthcare is that you’ll often get access to treatment faster than on the NHS. Health insurance may also be able to get you access to new drugs or specialist treatments.
Most health insurance covers you if you need to stay in a private hospital for the day or overnight. Some policies will also cover out-patient treatment. This is where you don’t stay in hospital for the day or overnight. You might have scans, tests, or hospital appointments as an out-patient.
Bupa covers more mental health conditions than any other UK insurer†. Many of our policies offer a digital GP service. And many of our customers can get Direct Access to specialists. This means they can call us about some symptoms as soon as they are worried, before they speak to a GP.
The best policies are clear about their exclusions. Most don’t cover emergency treatment, maternity care or cosmetic surgery. Policies usually don’t cover treatment for ongoing conditions like arthritis or asthma. They also don’t cover conditions that you had before your cover began.
Your health insurance policy will begin from the moment you’ve chosen your policy and set up your Direct Debit. Once you’re set up. we’ll send you your cover documents. Here you’ll find details of what is and isn’t covered. All our policies are different, so it’s important to check yours thoroughly.
An excess is the amount you’ll have to pay towards treatment when you make a claim.
The excess you choose can have a big impact on the cost of your health cover. So, it’s important to understand how it works.
If you choose to have a higher excess, your policy could be cheaper. But, if you do choose a higher excess, you’ll have to contribute more when you make a claim.
With our health cover, your excess is payable just once per policy year.
For example, imagine your excess is £250. If you made a claim for £500 in the first month of your policy year, you would pay £250 towards this. We would pay the remaining £250. After this, you wouldn’t need to pay excess again until you started a new policy year.
Not every private health insurance policy will have the same kind of excess, so it’s important to consider all the excess options available. Both of our health insurance policies, Treatment and Care and Comprehensive offer flexible excess options. You can choose £0, £100, £150, £200, £250 or £500.
There are a few ways to lower the cost of your health insurance cover. It’s important to remember that a cheaper plan might not provide all the cover you need.
You could choose a higher excess to reduce the monthly cost of your health insurance. However, this would mean that you would have to pay more if you needed treatment. Some health insurance comes with savings if you’re a couple or if you insure your family.
Several factors influence the cost of your health insurance. Lifestyle choices, like smoking for example, may increase your monthly premium. So, if you choose to stop smoking, it’s important to tell us, as this may reduce the cost of your cover.
Health insurance is designed to cover conditions that develop after your cover has started. This means you wouldn’t be covered for conditions you had before your cover started. Insurers often call these pre-existing conditions.
You also wouldn’t be covered for issues that relate to your pre-existing conditions. Although in some circumstances your insurer may cover some symptoms. Always ask your insurer if you need help understanding what your policy covers.
When you take out health insurance with us, we’ll ask you about your medical history. We’ll then be able to confirm what your policy will and won’t cover. It's important to understand what won’t be covered on your policy.
Your policy also may not cover any ongoing or incurable conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis. Insurers often call these chronic conditions.
A chronic condition is a condition that:
- Needs ongoing or long-term monitoring through consultations, examinations, check-ups and/or tests
- Needs ongoing or long-term control or relief of symptoms
- Has no known cure
- Comes back or is likely to come back
- Continues indefinitely
- Requires your rehabilitation or for you to be specially trained to cope with it
Depending on your policy, you may be able to claim for chronic condition flare-ups. Always check with your insurer if you’re unsure whether you’re covered.
No – there isn’t an age limit for taking out health insurance cover. To be fair to everyone, age is one of the factors we use to calculate the cost of your policy.
The benefits of taking out health insurance when you get older are the same as with any age.
Whatever your age, if you are looking to take out health insurance, simply get a quote online.
It’s important to compare health insurance policies before you decide on the right one for you. You can choose between individual, couples or family health insurance.
The best health insurance providers will make it clear what’s available and what isn’t, to help you decide on the best policy. It’s important to look at exactly what’s covered, and what isn’t, before you take out health insurance.
You can compare health insurance planson our website, or you can call us on 0808 115 4494 to find out what we can offer you. Lines are open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Yes – you can add your partner (providing you both live at the same address) or dependents onto your policy at any time.
The cost of your couple’s health insurance or family health insurance will depend on several factors. These include where you live, your ages, your health and how much excess you choose to pay.
If you’d like to add someone onto your Bupa health insurance policy, call us on 0808 115 3157. Lines are open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
The Private Healthcare Information Network looks at the quality and cost of private care. You can find independent information about doctors and hospitals at www.phin.org.uk.
Call us for a quote on
0808 134 4268
We may record or monitor our calls. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.
†As of March 2024, this comparison to other products in the market is based on Bupa’s and Defaqto’s interpretation of the differences between Bupa’s Bupa By You, SME Select and Corporate Select health insurance products 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)
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.
Page last reviewed: 02/08/2024
