Cost of Private Health Insurance in the UK - Price Calculator

posted 31st January 2026

Posted 4 months ago

By Darren Lewis

Knowledge Hub
Cost of Private Health Insurance in the UK - Price Calculator

How much is private health insurance in the UK? 2026 Price Calculator.

With ongoing pressure on the NHS and longer waiting times in many parts of the UK, more people are looking at private health insurance as a way to access diagnosis and treatment more quickly.

Private health insurance is often considered a luxury product and expensive in the eyes of many. However, it can be far more affordable than people expect, and the cost varies significantly depending on how your policy is set up.

In this guide, we’ll shed some light on how much private health insurance costs in the UK using our health insurance price calculator tool. We’ll also break down the factors that genuinely affect the price, helping you compare policies properly.

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Free Private Health Insurance Cost Calculator

Estimate Your Private Health Insurance Premium

As you might expect, there’s no fixed monthly price for private health insurance in the UK. What you pay depends on factors such as your age, location, hospital choice, level of cover, and how individual insurers assess your risk.
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Level of cover Policies with limited options are usually lower in cost, while wider hospital access and more comprehensive benefits tend to increase the premium.
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Policy options Small changes such as adjusting your excess, out-patient cover or hospital list can significantly affect the monthly price.
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Insurer pricing Each insurer assesses risk differently, which is why two providers can quote very different prices for similar cover.
The Calculator Is Designed To Provide A Guide And Not An Accurate Quote

The tool below shows how common pricing factors can affect cost, but underwriting and insurer pricing still matter. We recommend using it as a guide to check affordability before comparing tailored quotes.

Private Health Insurance Premium Calculator

A price guide for a single person based on typical UK pricing factors.

Typical monthly premium range
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This is a general guide only. Your actual premium depends on insurer pricing and underwriting.
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What Your Estimate Includes

What Does This Private Health Insurance Price Actually Cover?

The monthly figure shown in the calculator is designed to give you a realistic idea of what a core private health insurance policy could cost. In most cases, this means private treatment for eligible, treatable conditions once you have been referred by a GP or specialist.

Usually Included As Standard Most core health insurance policies include in-patient and day-patient hospital treatment, private hospital accommodation, specialist fees, diagnostic tests linked to eligible treatment, and cancer cover. Exact benefits vary by insurer and policy wording.
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In-patient treatment

Treatment where you need to stay in hospital overnight, such as surgery or a planned hospital procedure.

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Day-patient treatment

Treatment where you go into hospital for a procedure but return home the same day.

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Cancer cover

Many policies include private cancer diagnosis and treatment, although the level of cover can differ between insurers.

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Specialist fees

Cover towards eligible consultant and specialist treatment when it forms part of an approved claim.

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Scans and tests

Diagnostic tests such as MRI, CT scans, X-rays and blood tests, usually when linked to eligible treatment.

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Private hospitals

Access to private hospitals from your chosen hospital list, which can affect the monthly price.

Optional Extras

Ways To Enhance Your Cover

The calculator gives you a guide price for core private health insurance. You can often add extra benefits to make the policy more comprehensive, although this will usually increase the monthly premium.

Out-patient cover Covers consultations, diagnostics and specialist appointments where you do not stay in hospital. Full out-patient cover usually increases the premium.
Wider hospital list Expanding your hospital list can give access to more private hospitals, including premium Central London facilities.
Dental & optical Helps towards routine dental check-ups, treatment, eye tests, glasses or contact lenses depending on the insurer.
Mental health cover Can provide access to private mental health treatment, counselling or psychiatric support subject to policy limits.
Therapies cover May include physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic treatment or other recognised therapies after an eligible referral.
Travel cover Some insurers offer travel insurance as an add-on, which can include medical emergency cover while abroad.

What Private Health Insurance Does Not Cover

  • Emergency treatment or A&E visits
  • Routine GP appointments, unless added separately
  • Long-term chronic condition management
  • Pre-existing conditions, depending on underwriting
  • Claims that have not been authorised by the insurer

This is a general guide only. Private health insurance benefits, limits and exclusions vary by insurer, underwriting method and policy wording.

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Why Prices Vary

Why This Cost Guide Is Broad And Why Comparing Matters

Private health insurance prices can vary a lot from person to person. The same age, postcode and cover level can still produce different prices depending on the insurer, hospital list, underwriting method and optional extras selected.

Use the guide price as a starting point The calculator is designed to help you understand whether private health insurance could be affordable before requesting a quote. A personalised comparison is still important because each insurer prices risk and cover slightly differently.
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Insurers price differently

One insurer may be more competitive for a younger applicant, while another may be better value for families, older customers or certain postcode areas.

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Benefits are not identical

Two policies may look similar on price, but the hospital list, out-patient limits, cancer cover and claims process can differ.

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Cheapest is not always best

A lower premium may mean reduced out-patient cover, a smaller hospital list, a higher excess or fewer optional benefits.

The Biggest Factors That Affect The Cost

Your final premium is based on a combination of personal details, cover choices and insurer pricing. These are the areas that usually make the biggest difference.

Age Premiums usually increase as you get older because the chance of claiming tends to rise.
Postcode Where you live can affect pricing because private hospital costs vary across the UK.
Out-patient cover Adding full out-patient cover usually increases the price because it can include consultations, scans and diagnostic tests.
Hospital list A wider hospital list, especially one including Central London hospitals, will usually cost more.
Policy excess Choosing a higher excess can reduce the monthly premium, but you would pay more towards a claim.
Underwriting type Moratorium and full medical underwriting can affect how pre-existing conditions are treated and how cover is assessed.
Optional extras Adding benefits such as mental health, therapies, dental, optical or travel cover can increase the monthly cost.
Who is covered Adding a partner or children will change the total premium, although family policies can sometimes offer better value than separate plans.

This is why comparing quotes matters

A broad price guide is helpful for understanding affordability, but comparing quotes helps you see which insurer offers the best balance of price, hospitals, benefits and exclusions for your circumstances.

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Broker Insight

Helpful Ways To Reduce The Cost Without Damaging Cover

The cheapest health insurance policy is not always the best policy. The aim is to reduce unnecessary cost without stripping out the parts of the cover you are most likely to value.

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Choose a hospital list you will actually use

Wider hospital lists can increase the premium. If you only need access to good local private hospitals, a more focused list may be better value.

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Think carefully about out-patient cover

Full out-patient cover can be useful, but it often increases the price. Limited out-patient cover may suit people mainly concerned about hospital treatment.

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Consider increasing your policy excess

A higher excess can reduce your monthly premium, but make sure the amount is still affordable if you need to claim.

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Review before auto-renewing

Renewal prices can change. Comparing the market before renewing can help you check whether your current insurer is still competitive.

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Use a free broker service

A broker can compare insurers, explain trade-offs and help you avoid cutting benefits that may matter later.

Tip: Cutting Cover Too Aggressively Can Make The Policy Look Cheaper Initially, But It Can Make Things Difficult When You Need To Claim.
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Health Insurance Jargon Explained

Private Health Insurance Glossary

Private medical insurance can feel full of technical language. Here are some of the most common terms you will see when comparing policies and prices.

Out-patient cover Covers consultations, scans, diagnostics and specialist appointments where you do not stay in hospital.
Hospital list The group of private hospitals your policy allows you to use. Wider hospital access usually increases the premium.
Policy excess The amount you agree to contribute towards a claim. A higher excess can reduce the monthly premium.
6 week option If the NHS can provide your eligible treatment within six weeks, you use the NHS instead of private treatment. Choosing this option can reduce the premium.
Moratorium underwriting A simpler underwriting method where recent medical conditions are temporarily excluded unless you remain symptom and treatment free for a set period.
Full medical underwriting You provide your full medical history upfront and the insurer confirms what will or will not be covered from the start.
Switch underwriting Allows you to move from one insurer to another without completely restarting underwriting, depending on eligibility and insurer rules.
GP referral Most PMI claims begin with a GP referral before the insurer authorises private consultations or treatment.
Pre-existing condition A medical condition you had symptoms, advice, medication or treatment for before starting the policy.
How we help

How we help with your health insurance premiums

Comparing the cost of private health insurance can be complex. Each policy has unique price factors such as age, location, cover levels and underwriting and without understanding these, you risk overpaying or being under-covered.

At Compare My Health Insurance, we work with FCA-regulated brokers who can help you understand your options and compare policies from leading UK insurers.

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Quotes from leading UK health insurance providers
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Free FCA-regulated advice on cover options and underwriting
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Help comparing value, not just the cheapest monthly premium
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FAQs

Some FAQs

Common questions about the cost of private health insurance in the UK.

Is private health insurance worth the cost in the UK?

It depends on your priorities. Some people value faster access to treatment, while others prefer to rely on the NHS.

How much does private health insurance cost for over-50s?

Costs are usually higher, often moving into the £70–£120+ per month range depending on cover.

Does the cost increase every year?

Often, yes, due to age, medical inflation and insurer claims experience.

Is private health insurance cheaper with a higher excess?

In many cases, yes, but only choose an excess you could realistically afford.

Why do insurers quote different prices for similar cover?

Each insurer prices risk differently and structures cover in their own way. For this reason it is important to compare each insurer with a comparison website.

Can switching insurer reduce the cost?

Sometimes. Many people save money by switching, but pre-existing conditions need careful consideration. It is advisable to seek advice from a broker where possible.

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Sources:
Information in this guide is based on publicly available content and example pricing published by major UK health insurers including Bupa, Aviva and AXA Health, alongside independent consumer guidance from MoneySavingExpert and wider context from NHS England on healthcare demand and waiting times. These sources are used to provide general pricing context and explain the factors that influence the cost of private medical insurance in the UK.

The price calculator uses broad ranges based on published insurer guidance and is intended as a general guide, not a personalised quote. Any information we provide is for general information purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice.

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