Insurer Reviews · National Friendly

National Friendly Health Insurance Review 2026

Q: Is National Friendly switcher-friendly?

Generally, yes. There are no lifetime have-you-ever medical questions, and previous cancer treatment won't automatically be excluded if it took place over 10 years ago.

★★★★ Defaqto 4-Star (Level 4) Reviewed by Darren Lewis · Updated July 2026

Here's something genuinely rare in this market: National Friendly is the only UK health insurer we've found offering a 5-year guaranteed pricing contract, where making a claim doesn't affect what you pay during that period.

A mutual society dating back to 1868, National Friendly won't be a name you recognise the way you would Bupa or Aviva, but it's built a genuinely distinctive product around price stability and easy switching, worth serious consideration if either of those matter to you.

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At A Glance

National Friendly At A Glance

1868

Founded

A mutual friendly society with over 150 years of history, based in Bristol, FCA and PRA regulated.

✓

Standout Feature

A 5-year guaranteed pricing contract, unique among UK health insurers, where your own claims don't affect what you pay.

Plan Levels

My PMI comes in four levels, from GP-focused entry cover up to comprehensive protection with unlimited cancer treatment.

Max Joining Age

One of the highest maximum joining ages of any UK health insurer we've reviewed.

The Real Differentiator

The 5-Year Price Guarantee, Explained

Most health insurance premiums can rise significantly after you claim. National Friendly's My PMI works differently.

Comparing National Friendly's 5-year price guarantee against other insurers

Your claims history doesn't move your price

Once you're on a 5-year fixed pricing contract, making a claim during that period doesn't increase your premium, a genuine point of difference from insurers where a single claim can trigger a steep renewal jump.

5 Years

Of guaranteed pricing stability, regardless of claims made during that period.

This won't suit everyone, if you rarely expect to claim, the peace of mind may matter less than simply chasing the cheapest headline premium elsewhere. But if predictability matters to you, particularly as you get older and the risk of a claim rises, this is a genuinely distinctive reason to compare National Friendly against the more familiar names.

Products

My PMI: The Four Cover Levels

National Friendly's single product, My PMI, is built around four tiers so you can size the cover to your budget.

Level 1

The entry tier, built around GP access, including unlimited face-to-face consultations that lead to a specialist referral.

Level 2

Adds inpatient and day-patient cover, with an annual treatment limit of £1,000,000.

Level 3

A broader mid-tier plan, also carrying the £1,000,000 annual inpatient and day-patient limit.

Level 4

The most comprehensive tier, including unlimited cancer treatment and National Friendly's highest Defaqto rating.

Worth Knowing

Genuinely Switcher And Family-Friendly

Moving to National Friendly is more straightforward than with most insurers. There are no lifetime "have you ever" medical questions, and if you're switching after previous cancer treatment, cover won't automatically be excluded if that treatment was over 10 years ago, even if you're still having routine follow-up checks.

For families, up to 10 children can be added to a policy, and babies can be added with no medical questions asked, provided this happens within 3 months of their birth.

Family considering National Friendly health insurance, which accepts members up to age 85

Included Extras

Digital And Remote Support

Friendly GP

24/7 access to a virtual GP service, including video or phone consultations and private prescriptions where appropriate.

Helpline Access

Additional counselling, legal and financial helplines are included alongside the core medical cover.

Worth Knowing

Independent Ratings, And A Note On Trustpilot

4-Star Defaqto, 4.2-4.3/5 On Trustpilot

National Friendly's Level 4 My PMI plan carries a 4-star Defaqto rating, with all its policies rated at least 2-star. An independent 2026 review scored the provider 72.7%, a 4-star result, citing simplicity and five-year premium stability as particular strengths.

On Trustpilot, the current rating sits at around 4.2 to 4.3 out of 5 ("Great" to "Excellent"), based on several hundred reviews. Worth flagging: some older sources online still cite a much lower 3.6/5 figure, that's outdated and no longer reflects the current picture. As with any insurer, it's worth reading a handful of recent reviews yourself, the balance is positive, but it isn't without the occasional complaint.

How It Compares

National Friendly vs The Rest Of The Market

How National Friendly stacks up against the other major UK insurers on what matters most.

Insurer	Renewal Pricing Model	Max Joining Age	Standout Strength
National Friendly	5-year fixed, claims don't affect price	85	Unmatched renewal price stability
Bupa	Standard annual review	No upper limit	Largest hospital network
WPA	Standard annual review	No upper limit	Not-for-profit, customer service reputation
The Exeter	£300 small-claims NCD protection	No upper limit	Mutual, flexible underwriting
Saga	Standard annual review	No upper limit (50+ to join)	Cheapest of six insurers tested by Which? for over-50s

See our full insurer-by-insurer reviews for a deeper breakdown of each provider.

Cost

What Does National Friendly Cost?

Independent 2026 market research reviewing My PMI Levels 3 and 4, found an average monthly premium of £133.61, based on a 50-year-old policyholder used consistently across their insurer comparisons. National Friendly also reports that it pays out on around 96% of claims on average, though this figure comes from the insurer's own reporting rather than an independently audited source.

Reviewing the cost of National Friendly health insurance

Your own price will depend on your age, chosen cover level, excess (options run as low as £0) and hospital list. Get a personalised quote for an accurate figure.

For a fuller picture of what drives health insurance cost generally, see our health insurance cost guide and free price calculator.

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FAQs

National Friendly Health Insurance FAQs

What makes National Friendly different from other health insurers?

Its 5-year guaranteed pricing contract is the standout feature, appearing to be unique among UK health insurers. Your premium stays fixed for that period regardless of claims made, unlike most insurers where a claim can significantly increase your renewal price.

What is My PMI?

My PMI is National Friendly's private medical insurance product, available in four cover levels from a GP-focused entry plan up to comprehensive cover with unlimited cancer treatment.

Is National Friendly switcher-friendly?

Generally, yes. There are no lifetime "have you ever" medical questions, and previous cancer treatment won't automatically be excluded if it took place over 10 years ago, even with ongoing follow-up checks.

What's the maximum age to join National Friendly?

85, one of the highest maximum joining ages among UK health insurers.

Is National Friendly a well-known insurer?

It's a specialist mutual society rather than a household name like Bupa or Aviva, founded in 1868 with over 150 years of history. It's FCA and PRA regulated, and rated 4-star by Defaqto on its top-tier plan.

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★★★★★

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Sources & Disclaimer

Reviewed by: Darren Lewis, health insurance specialist and founder of Compare My Health Insurance. Last reviewed: July 2026. Next scheduled review: January 2027.

Ratings, product details and pricing examples are based on published third-party information reviewed at the time of writing and are indicative only. Insurer products, benefits, pricing structures and renewal terms change periodically, so always confirm current details directly with National Friendly or one of our brokers before buying.

This guide is for general information only and is not regulated financial advice.

Sources: National Friendly policy documentation, Defaqto, Trustpilot, myTribe independent insurer reviews, FCA register.

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