Compare PMI (Private Medical Insurance) UK: 2026 Guide

Q: How do I compare PMI properly?

Compare cover level, hospital list, underwriting type, and each insurer's claims record, not just the headline monthly premium.

Q: Can I compare PMI for my business, not just myself?

Yes, business PMI schemes exist for teams of any size. Premiums are a deductible business expense but count as a taxable Benefit in Kind for employees.

Compare PMI (Private Medical Insurance) UK: 2026 Guide

posted 1st August 2026

Posted 4 weeks ago

By CMHI

Knowledge Hub

PMI Comparison

Compare PMI From The UK's Leading Insurers

Updated August 2026

PMI, private medical insurance, gets you faster access to diagnosis and treatment than waiting on the NHS. Whether you're comparing PMI for yourself, your family, or your whole team, the right policy depends on cover level, hospital access and how your medical history is underwritten, not just the headline price.

Unlike some PMI comparison services that ask you to have a conversation before showing you anything, we'll show you real structured data upfront, then connect you with an FCA-regulated broker if you want to take it further.

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Comparing PMI, private medical insurance, quotes online

The Basics

What Is PMI?

PMI stands for Private Medical Insurance. It's a policy that covers the cost of private diagnosis, treatment and surgery, giving you faster access to care than the NHS typically provides, usually in exchange for a monthly or annual premium.

PMI is available for individuals, couples, families and businesses. Cover levels vary significantly between insurers and policies, from basic inpatient-only cover to comprehensive plans including outpatient consultations, mental health support, and additional wellbeing benefits.

PMI is not the same as a health cash plan (which pays a fixed cash benefit rather than covering treatment costs directly) or NHS-funded care. It's also distinct from the S&P Global/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index, an unrelated economic indicator that shares the same acronym.

Reviewing what PMI, private medical insurance, actually covers

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Compare PMI From The UK's Leading Insurers

Our free PMI comparison service makes it easy to compare cover, benefits and prices from the UK's leading insurers, whether you're comparing for yourself, your family, or your business.

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★★★★★

4.6 · Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Two Ways To Compare

Comparing PMI For You, Or Your Team?

The right comparison approach depends on who the cover is actually for.

Personal & Family PMI

Cover for yourself, a partner, or the whole family under one policy
Compare hospital lists, excess levels and underwriting type
Switch without losing cover for existing conditions in many cases

Compare Personal PMI

Business PMI

Cover for your team, from a handful of employees to a large workforce
Premiums are a deductible business expense, but count as a taxable Benefit in Kind for employees, with the business paying Class 1A NIC on the value, see our full payslip and tax guide
Dedicated schemes exist for small businesses and large corporates alike

Compare Business PMI

Provider Comparison

Compare PMI Providers Side By Side

There isn't a single "best" PMI provider, the right choice depends on what you prioritise. Here's how the leading insurers compare.

Insurer	Best For	Default Underwriting	Hospital Network	Defaqto	Trustpilot
Aviva	Overall Value	Moratorium	Wide, national	★★★★★	4.5/5
AXA Health	Flexible Cover	Moratorium (3yr)	Wide, national	★★★★★	4.1/5
Bupa	Brand Recognition	Moratorium	Largest in the UK	★★★★★	4.4/5
Vitality	Rewards And Perks	Moratorium	Wide, national	★★★★★	4.0/5
WPA	Customer Service	Moratorium	Wide, national	★★★★★	4.6/5

AXA offers both a 3-year and the standard 5-year moratorium look-back product. Saga is the other insurer offering a 3-year look-back option. See our full insurer-by-insurer PMI reviews for a deeper breakdown of each provider.

Compare These Providers

Step By Step

How To Compare PMI Properly

Price matters, but two policies priced similarly can behave very differently when you actually need care. Here's what genuinely matters, in order.

Price

Compare the premium, but never in isolation, it's only meaningful alongside what's actually covered for that price.

Cover Level

Check whether outpatient consultations, diagnostics and mental health support are included, not just inpatient treatment.

Hospital List

A wider national list costs more, a restricted regional list can bring the price down significantly.

Underwriting Type

Moratorium vs full medical underwriting changes how pre-existing conditions are handled.

Claims Experience

How an insurer handles a claim in practice matters as much as what's written in the policy.

Start Comparing PMI

Comparing PMI hospital lists and cover levels

Worked Example

What Would This Actually Cost?

Rather than a vague range, here's a transparent example with the assumptions stated clearly, so you can judge whether it applies to your situation.

Example: 45-year-old non-smoker, first-time PMI buyer

Excess£250

UnderwritingMoratorium

Hospital ListRegional

OutpatientsIncluded

Mental HealthIncluded

LocationOutside London

£85-£110 per month, indicative range for these assumptions

Why this matters

Change any one of these assumptions and the price moves, a London hospital list, full medical underwriting, or a lower excess can all push this meaningfully higher. This is exactly why comparing on price alone, without knowing what assumptions sit behind it, is misleading.

Get Your Own Accurate Estimate

Cost

How Much Does PMI Cost?

For a 45-year-old non-smoker with no pre-existing conditions taking out PMI for the first time, typical monthly costs range from around £85-£110 for standard cover with a £250 excess. Costs vary by age, cover level, hospital list and location.

Worth knowing

Adding family members is often cheaper than expected, some insurers charge for your eldest child only, others use a flat family premium regardless of headcount. As a rough guide, a family of four (two adults, two children) on mid-tier cover typically runs from around £166-£180 a month, rising to roughly £218 for comprehensive cover, most of that cost comes from the adults' ages rather than the number of children. See our full cost guide and free calculator for a detailed breakdown.

Get Your Accurate Quote

Avoid These

Common Mistakes When Comparing PMI

Genuine, specific pitfalls we see people run into, not generic warnings.

Comparing price without checking the excess

A cheaper premium with a £1,000 excess can cost you more overall than a slightly higher premium with a £250 excess, depending on how often you'd claim.

Assuming a "national" hospital list includes your actual hospital

Some national lists still exclude specific London teaching hospitals or specialist centres. Check the list by name, not just the label.

Not checking the moratorium look-back period

Most insurers use a 5-year look-back for pre-existing conditions, but this varies. A shorter look-back can mean a condition becomes coverable sooner.

Overlooking outpatient benefit limits

Some policies cap annual outpatient spend rather than covering it in full, worth checking the actual limit, not just whether outpatients are "included."

Ignoring switching options entirely

Assuming you have to start underwriting from scratch when switching insurer. Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) can sometimes protect cover you've already got, see our full step-by-step switching guide for exactly how it works.

Compare PMI Without The Guesswork

PMI Glossary

PMI Terms Explained

The terms you'll actually see on a policy document, explained in plain English.

Excess: The amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays the rest. A higher excess usually means a lower premium.
Moratorium Underwriting: Automatically excludes conditions you've had symptoms or treatment for in the past 5 years, until you go 2 years symptom-free.
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You declare your full medical history upfront, and the insurer applies specific exclusions based on it, rather than a blanket look-back rule.
CPME: Continued Personal Medical Exclusions, lets you switch insurer while keeping cover for a condition already accepted under your current policy.
Hospital List: The specific hospitals your policy covers treatment at. Wider lists (including central London) typically cost more.
No-Claims Discount: A reduction in premium for not claiming, though some insurers (like Vitality) use different pricing models instead.
Benefit In Kind: How PMI paid for by an employer is treated for tax purposes, a taxable benefit for the employee, but deductible for the business.
Outpatient Cover: Cover for consultations, scans and tests that don't require an overnight hospital stay, often capped or optional.

Worth Knowing

Is PMI Your Only Option?

No. Health cash plans, membership schemes and self-pay are all real alternatives, each with genuinely different trade-offs to full PMI.

PMI is the only option with a contractual guarantee to pay eligible claims. Cash plans and membership schemes can be considerably cheaper, but typically work on a discretionary or capped basis rather than a guarantee. See our full comparison of every option for the honest breakdown.

Compare All Your Options

FAQs

Compare PMI FAQs

What does PMI mean?

PMI stands for Private Medical Insurance, a policy that covers the cost of private diagnosis, treatment and surgery, giving faster access to care than typically available on the NHS.

How do I compare PMI properly?

Compare cover level (not just price), hospital list, underwriting type, and each insurer's claims record, not just the headline monthly premium. Two policies priced similarly can cover very different things.

Is there a single best PMI provider?

No, the right provider depends on what you prioritise, cost, hospital access, flexibility, or additional benefits. That's why a proper comparison matters more than picking a single "best" name.

How much does PMI cost in the UK?

For a 45-year-old non-smoker with no pre-existing conditions, typical costs range from £85-£110 a month for standard cover with a £250 excess. A family of four typically runs from £166-£220 a month depending on cover level. Costs vary by age, location and cover level.

Can I compare PMI for my business, not just myself?

Yes, business PMI schemes exist for teams of any size, from a handful of employees to large corporates. Premiums are a deductible business expense, but count as a taxable Benefit in Kind for employees, with the business paying Class 1A NIC on the value.

Do I need to speak to an adviser to compare PMI?

Not necessarily. You can compare real structured data yourself first using our free SmartQuote tool, then speak to an FCA-regulated broker if you want personalised advice before deciding.

What's the biggest mistake people make comparing PMI?

Comparing the monthly price without checking the excess, hospital list, or underwriting type behind it. Two policies at the same price can cover very different things, the price alone tells you almost nothing on its own.

Can I switch PMI provider and keep cover for an existing condition?

Often yes, through Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME). If your new insurer agrees to match your current terms, a condition already accepted under your existing policy can continue to be covered without restarting underwriting. See our full switching guide for the full process.

Compare PMI Now

Related Guides

Explore More Health Insurance Guides

Whether you're comparing PMI for yourself, your family, or your business.

Cost Of PMI

See our full cost guide and free calculator.

Best PMI Reviews

Compare leading UK insurers side by side.

Business PMI

See our business health insurance guide.

Family PMI

See our family health insurance guide.

Affordable Options

Not just PMI, see every affordable option compared.

Pre-Existing Conditions

See how underwriting affects a condition you already have.

Sources & Disclaimer

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

Sources: Independent UK market pricing research, published insurer policy documentation, Defaqto, Trustpilot and Which?, alongside broker experience from Compare My Health Insurance's specialist partners.

Compare My Health Insurance works with FCA-regulated broker partners and may earn a fee when you take out a policy through our service. This does not affect our editorial content above. Any information on this page is for general information only and should not be considered financial advice, regulated advice or a personal recommendation. Suitability depends on your individual circumstances, needs and budget.

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