Health Insurance Guides UK: Compare Cover, Costs & Providers for 2026
Independent guides to UK private medical insurance: what it costs, what different levels of cover include, how underwriting treats your medical history, when to switch, and how leading insurers such as Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality compare. Written and reviewed by the advisers at My Health Protected, and updated as products and prices change.
- 52 guidesLibrary updated September 2026
- IndependentNot tied to any insurer · est. 2016
- FCA authorisedMy Health Protected Ltd, FRN 785132
- Reviewed by brokersBy advisers who arrange PMI every day
Not Sure Which Guide You Need?
Six foundational guides that answer the questions most people arrive with. Read these first, then use the library below to go deeper.
- What Is Private Health Insurance?The basics: what private medical insurance pays for, what it does not, and how it sits alongside the NHS.
- Average Cost of Health InsuranceRealistic monthly price ranges by age and cover level, and what actually moves the premium.
- Is Private Health Insurance Worth It?Weigh faster access to diagnosis and treatment against the cost, for your situation.
- Moratorium vs Full Medical UnderwritingThe two ways insurers assess your medical history, and why the choice matters at claim time.
- Switching Private Health Insurance in the UKWhen moving insurer makes sense, when staying put is better, and how to switch without losing your underwriting terms.
- Compare Private Health InsuranceHow to compare policies on cover, hospital access, underwriting and price rather than headline cost.
Health Insurance Guides
All 52 guides, most recently reviewed first. Filter by topic or search by keyword. Each card shows the month of its last content review.
Private Health Insurance in Northern Ireland
Compare NI cover, Belfast hospitals, current HSC waiting-time context, underwriting and treatment in Great Britain.
How to Get Private Healthcare
Self-pay, insurance or employer cover: the three routes into private treatment and how referrals and authorisation work.
Health Insurance Buying Tips
A broker’s pre-purchase checklist: underwriting, hospital lists, outpatient limits, excess and switching safely.
Martin Lewis & Private Health Insurance
What MoneySavingExpert says about PMI in 2026 and what it means in practice, from an independent broker.
Freedom Health Insurance Review
Freedom Elite vs Essentials, postcode-neutral pricing and the underwriting routes, reviewed honestly.
Health Insurance Renewals
Why premiums rise at renewal, how insurers price it differently, and how to restructure or switch without losing cover.
Health Insurance and Diabetes
An honest guide to what private health insurance can and cannot do if you have diabetes, and how underwriting treats it.
Couples Health Insurance
One joint policy or two separate plans? How couples cover works, what drives the price and how to decide.
Saga Health Insurance Review
The over-50s specialist reviewed: HealthPlan options, Bupa underwriting, the four-week NHS wait and who it may suit.
Health Cash Plans vs Health Insurance
Two different products for two different problems. What each pays for and when they work well together.
Vitality vs Bupa Health Insurance
Rewards vs tradition: pricing models, outpatient cover, hospital lists, cancer and mental health cover compared by our brokers.
Health Insurance for Over 65s
Which insurers accept older applicants, how underwriting changes at 65+, and how to switch without losing cover.
Self-Employed Health Insurance
Cover for sole traders, contractors and company directors — including whether to pay personally or through the business.
What Is Private Health Insurance?
The foundations: what PMI covers, what it excludes, how underwriting and claims work, and where a broker fits in.
AXA vs Bupa Health Insurance
Head-to-head broker comparison: costs, outpatient cover, hospital access, cancer cover, mental health and which insurer may suit your needs.
Vitality Health Insurance Review
Honest 2026 review of Vitality Personal Healthcare — core cover, the rewards programme, ABC pricing and who it suits, vs Bupa, AXA & Aviva.
The Exeter Health Insurance Review
Honest 2026 review of The Exeter Health+ — the no-claims-discount advantage, core cover, costs and underwriting, vs Bupa, AXA, Aviva & Vitality.
WPA Health Insurance Guide
WPA review: Complete Health modular plan, Cancer Care optional extra, Multi-Family cover, costs and Which? Recommended Provider.
Vitality Business Health Insurance Review 2026
Honest broker review of Vitality business health insurance. Rewards programme, cover, costs, pros, cons & how Vitality compares to Bupa, AXA & Aviva.
Aviva Health Insurance Review
Honest 2026 review of Aviva Healthier Solutions. What’s covered, the outpatient trap, pricing by age and who it suits, vs Bupa, AXA & Vitality.
Health Insurance Provider Review
A comparison of the UK's leading private health insurance providers and what each one offers.
Average Cost of Health Insurance
How much does private health insurance cost in the UK? A breakdown of premiums by age, region, and cover level.
How to Reduce the Cost of Health Insurance
Practical tips to lower your monthly premiums without sacrificing the cover you need.
Am I Paying Too Much for Health Insurance?
How to tell if you're overpaying and what you can do about it at your next renewal.
Switching Private Health Insurance in the UK
When it makes sense to switch, how underwriting is treated, and how to move without losing cover.
Health Insurance — Outpatient
What is outpatient care and how does it work with your health insurance policy?
Health Insurance — Surgery
Does health insurance cover surgery in the UK? Which types are typically included?
Mental Health Insurance
Is mental health cover worth adding to your policy? What's included and how to access it.
Health Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
Can you get private cover if you have a pre-existing condition? Yes — here's how.
Comprehensive vs Basic Health Insurance
What's the difference between comprehensive and basic plans? A clear comparison to help you decide.
Moratorium vs Full Medical Underwriting
Two ways to apply for health insurance — which one is right for you?
Vitality Weight-Loss Jabs
Discounted Wegovy & Mounjaro through Vitality — eligibility, costs and how to apply.
Business Health Insurance
What is company health insurance? A guide to providing healthcare cover for your employees.
Aviva Business Health Insurance
An in-depth look at what Aviva offers for business health insurance — plans, benefits, and pricing.
Best Business Health Insurance Providers
Compare the top UK business health insurance providers for SMEs — features, costs, and how to choose.
Bupa Health Insurance Guide
Expert guide to Bupa health insurance. Clinical access, cancer cover, mental health, hospital network, plan levels and costs.
Health Insurance for Professional Sports
What health insurance options are available for professional athletes in the UK?
Health Insurance & Women's Health
From menopause to maternity — how health insurance supports women's health in the UK.
Family Health Insurance
How family private healthcare works — cover everyone under one plan and skip NHS waiting lists.
Private Health Insurance for Over 50s
A guide to health insurance as you get older — what changes, what it costs, and how to choose wisely.
Health Insurance in Retirement
Why maintaining your health insurance in retirement is more important than ever.
Continuing Cover After Leaving a Company
What happens to your health insurance when you leave a job? Your options explained.
Life Insurance & Income Protection
A clear guide to understanding life insurance and income protection — what they cover and why they matter.
Is Private Health Insurance Worth It?
Weighing up the pros and cons of PMI — who it's for and when it makes sense.
Broker vs Insurer — Which Is Better?
The benefits of using an independent broker compared to going direct to an insurer.
How to Make a Claim on Your Health Insurance
A step-by-step guide to making a claim — from checking your policy to getting treatment.
Compare Private Health Insurance
What is private health insurance and how do you compare policies to find the best fit?
Choosing the Best Private Health Insurance
How to choose the right private health insurance — what to look for, key questions, and provider comparison.
Best Private Health Insurance UK
Our pick of the best private health insurance plans in the UK for 2026 — ranked by cover, value, and service.
AXA Business Health Insurance Review 2026
Honest broker review of AXA business health insurance. Modular cover, costs, pros, cons & how AXA compares to Bupa, Aviva & Vitality.
Bupa Business Health Insurance Review 2026
Honest broker review of Bupa’s SME and corporate plans. Cover, costs, pros, cons and how Bupa compares to AXA, Aviva & Vitality.
AXA Health Insurance Review
Expert AXA Health Plan review 2026. Modular cover, cancer care, moratorium underwriting, pricing tips and comparison vs Bupa, Aviva & Vitality.
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Guides to Leading UK Health Insurers
Explore our independent guides to the insurers we compare most often, and the head-to-head comparisons between them.
Comparisons: all provider reviews · AXA vs Bupa · Vitality vs Bupa · best business health insurance providers
We are independent and not tied to any insurer. Which provider suits you depends on your medical history, budget and priorities, so the guides explain the trade-offs rather than name a single winner.
How We Write and Review Them
- Written and reviewed by advisers who arrange PMI every day. The library is reviewed by Patrick Baxter, founder of My Health Protected and an FCA-authorised health insurance broker with around 16 years in UK private medical insurance.
- Provider facts checked against current insurer material. Product names, benefit limits and underwriting terms are checked against the insurers’ own published documents, and re-checked when products, prices or rules change materially.
- Dated, and ordered by review date. Every card shows the month of its last content review, and the library lists the most recently reviewed guides first.
- General information, not personalised advice. Whether a policy, insurer or underwriting method is right for you depends on your medical history, budget and the insurer’s terms. Our advisers give personal recommendations when you ask for a comparison.
Patrick Baxter
Founder of My Health Protected, an independent, FCA-authorised health insurance brokerage established in 2016 and based in Putney, London (FRN 785132). Patrick spent six years at AXA Health before founding the firm and has around 16 years’ experience in UK private medical insurance. My Health Protected is a member of BIBA and AMII.
Meet the whole team →Questions About the Library
Where should I start if I am new to health insurance?
Begin with What Is Private Health Insurance? for the basics, then Average Cost of Health Insurance for realistic price ranges, and Is Private Health Insurance Worth It? to weigh it against relying on the NHS. If you already have a policy, our guide to switching private health insurance is the better starting point.
How often are the guides updated?
Each guide shows the month it was last reviewed, and the library lists the most recently reviewed guides first. We check provider facts against the insurers’ current published material and update a guide when its products, prices or rules change materially.
Can these guides tell me which insurer is best for me?
No single insurer is best for everyone. The guides explain how leading insurers differ on cover, underwriting, hospital access and price, but the right choice depends on your medical history, budget and priorities. Start with our provider reviews, and ask an adviser for a comparison of suitable options if you would like a personal recommendation.
Do I need advice before switching insurer?
Switching is not automatically the right move. How a new insurer treats your medical history depends on the underwriting method it offers, and the terms differ between insurers, so read Switching Private Health Insurance in the UK and Moratorium vs Full Medical Underwriting, and speak to an adviser before cancelling an existing policy.
Are the guides personalised advice?
No. They are general information written to help you understand private medical insurance in the UK. Personal recommendations depend on your circumstances and the insurer’s terms, and are given by our FCA-authorised advisers (FRN 785132) when you ask for a comparison.
Get Free Expert Advice
If you would rather not research everything yourself, an adviser can compare suitable cover across leading UK health insurers for your circumstances. Free, independent and with no obligation.
Recommendations depend on your medical profile and insurer terms.