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🏥 PMI Comparison Guide⚖️ Moratorium vs FMU🩺 NHS + Private Care

UK Private Health Insurance Guide 2026

Compare UK private medical insurance, understand underwriting and pre-existing conditions, and see how private cover works alongside the NHS and Immigration Health Surcharge.

Which Private Health Insurance Features Matter Most?

When evaluating UK Private Medical Insurance (PMI), compare policy features and coverage limits rather than relying solely on monthly premiums.

Faster Private Specialist Access

Useful when your priority is prompt access to private consultations, diagnostics or elective treatment covered by the policy.

Private Hospital Choice

Compare the hospitals and consultants available under the insurer network and the exact policy you are considering.

Outpatient Cover Options

Check whether consultations, diagnostics and therapies are included, because outpatient limits vary significantly between policies.

Mental Health Benefits

Mental health cover may be included or offered with limits and qualifying conditions. Check the exact policy wording.

Cancer Treatment Benefits

Some PMI products provide private cancer treatment benefits and may cover certain drugs subject to policy and clinical criteria.

Physiotherapy & Therapies

Physiotherapy, chiropody and complementary therapies may be included under selected plans or benefit limits.

PMI Policy Comparison Assistant

Answer these key questions to see custom policy recommendations

Major UK Private Medical Insurers

Established UK health insurance providers. Always obtain direct quotations and review the full policy terms before purchase.

InsurerTypeKey Features to Compare
AXA HealthUK private medical insurerOffers individual and business health insurance with different underwriting and cover options.
BupaUK private medical insurerProvides private health insurance with different levels of treatment and optional benefits.
VitalityHealthUK private medical insurerPrivate medical insurance with product-specific benefits and wellness features.
AvivaUK private medical insurerOffers private health insurance with different underwriting and cover choices.
WPAUK private medical insurerOffers individual and group health insurance, including moratorium and full medical underwriting options.

Moratorium vs Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)

Moratorium Underwriting

No medical history declared at application. Claims look back at the past 5 years. Pre-existing conditions may become eligible after 2 continuous years without symptoms, treatment or advice.

Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)

Full medical history declared upon application. Insurer specifies upfront exactly which conditions are covered or excluded, providing clarity from day one.

Interaction with NHS & Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

PMI is complementary to the NHS and does not replace statutory obligations like the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Visa applicants requiring IHS must pay it regardless of holding private insurance. Holding PMI allows you to access private care while retaining full access to NHS emergency and routine services.

Frequently Asked Questions (6 Detailed FAQs)

Private Medical Insurance is designed mainly to cover eligible private treatment for acute conditions, subject to policy terms. Depending on the product, cover can include hospital treatment, diagnostic tests, surgery and consultant fees, while outpatient, mental health, physiotherapy and other benefits may be optional or subject to limits. PMI complements the NHS rather than replacing it.

There is no reliable single UK-wide premium because insurers price policies using factors such as age, location, cover level, excess, underwriting method and the people insured. The safest way to obtain a current premium is to request a quote using the same cover requirements from more than one insurer or broker. A generic age-based formula should not be treated as a real insurance quotation.

With Full Medical Underwriting (FMU), you provide medical-history information when applying and the insurer decides which conditions or symptoms are excluded. With Moratorium underwriting, you generally do not give a full medical history at application; the insurer assesses relevant medical history when a claim is made. Moratorium rules commonly consider conditions or symptoms from the previous five years and may allow cover after a defined symptom-, treatment- or advice-free period, often two years, but exact rules vary by insurer.

Pre-existing conditions are commonly excluded from standard individual PMI, but there is no universal rule that every pre-existing condition can never be covered. Depending on the insurer, policy and underwriting basis, some conditions may become eligible after a qualifying moratorium period, may be accepted with a specific exclusion, or may be covered under a different underwriting arrangement. Always read the individual policy wording.

No. PMI is complementary to NHS healthcare and mainly provides access to private treatment covered by the policy. If your immigration route requires the Immigration Health Surcharge, you still normally have to pay it even if you have private medical insurance. Paying IHS gives access to relevant NHS services from the date the visa starts, while PMI is used for private care under the insurance contract.

Usually yes. If an employer pays for private medical insurance for an employee, the benefit is generally taxable and must be reported to HMRC under P11D benefits rules. The employer normally reports the benefit and may have Class 1A National Insurance obligations. Some specific medical benefits have separate tax exemptions.

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PMI Quick Reference

Underwriting basesMoratorium vs FMU
Moratorium look-back5 years
Moratorium clear period2 years
Employer PMI TaxP11D Benefit in Kind

Related Healthcare Guides

🏥 UK NHS Healthcare Overview →🚨 NHS Emergency Care: 999 vs 111 →🏥 NHS Hospitals & Referrals →🧮 NHS IHS Cost Calculator →