Cost of Private Health Insurance in the UK

Cost of Private Health Insurance in the UK - 2026 Guide and Price Estimator

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 estimator tool. We’ll also break down the factors that genuinely affect the price, helping you compare policies properly.

How Much Does Private Health Insurance Cost Per Month?

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.

As you might expect, policies with limited options tend to be relatively low-cost, while others cost more because they offer wider hospital access or more comprehensive benefits. Even small changes, like adjusting the policy excess or outpatient cover, can significantly affect the price.

Estimate Your Private Health Insurance Cost

The tool below is designed as a general guide, not a quote.
It shows how common pricing factors affect cost, but insurers price risk differently and underwriting matters.

We recommend you use it as a price guide to check affordability, then compare quotes for an accurate price along with free Broker support.

Private Health Insurance Cost Estimator

A guide for a single person based on typical UK pricing factors. For an exact price, hit the button below and share your requirements.

Age Location Hospital list Excess Outpatient cover

Typical monthly cost range

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This is a general guide only. Your actual price depends on insurer pricing and underwriting.

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Why This Cost Guide Is Broad - And Why Comparing Matters

Private health insurance pricing isn’t fixed. Even for people of the same age, in the same location, with similar cover, prices can vary significantly between insurers.

That’s because each insurer:

Assesses medical risk differently
Prices hospital networks and consultant access in their own way
Includes or limits outpatient and mental health cover differently
Responds differently to claims trends across their customer base

As a result, two insurers can legitimately charge very different premiums for what looks like the same policy on paper.

This is why the estimator above is intentionally a guide, not a quote. It shows how common pricing factors affect cost, but it can’t reflect how individual insurers will assess your risk.

The best way to see your actual price is to compare insurers directly, using your age, location and medical history, which is why requesting a personalised quote usually reveals a much clearer (and sometimes cheaper) picture.

The Biggest Factors That Change The Cost

Age - Premiums usually rise as you get older
Location - London and high-cost areas tend to be more expensive
Hospital list - Wider access generally costs more
Outpatient cover - Full outpatient increases premiums
Optional Add-ons - Add-ons such as dental cover and travel cover will increase the premium
Excess - Higher excess often reduces monthly cost

How To Reduce The Cost Without Damaging Cover

Choose a hospital list you’ll actually use
Think about how much outpatient cover you will actually need
Look to increase your policy excess
Review and compare policies regularly instead of auto-renewing
Use a free Broker service to help you negotiate your premium

Request a Free Quote from a Trusted Broker

What Does Private Health Insurance Actually Cover?

Private health insurance is designed to cover private diagnosis and treatment for eligible, treatable conditions.

Most policies commonly include:

Inpatient and day-patient treatment
Specialist consultations
Private cancer cover
Diagnostic tests such as scans
Access to private hospitals

Most policies usually do not cover:

Emergency treatment (A&E)
Routine GP appointments
Long-term chronic condition management
Claims without a GP referral
Exact cover varies by insurer and policy wording.

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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 without understanding these, you risk overpaying or being under-covered.
At Compare My Health Insurance, we rely on our experience providing quotes from top UK insurers. Our network of FCA-regulated brokers offer free expertise to help you understand your policy and how it affects your premium.

When you compare through us you will receive:

Quotes from every leading UK insurer
Free FCA regulated advice on cover options and medical underwriting

Compare My Health Insurance is rated Excellent (5/5) on TrustIndex, demonstrating our commitment to providing an excellent customer experience. Let us help you find a cost-effective policy that fits your needs.

Some FAQs

Is private health insurance worth the cost in the UK?

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

Does the cost increase every year?

Is private health insurance cheaper with a higher excess?

Why do insurers quote different prices for similar cover?

Can switching insurer reduce the cost?

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 estimator 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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Cost of Private Health Insurance in the UK - Price Estimator