What private medical insurance does (and doesn't do)
PMI covers acute, curable conditions that arise after you join: private specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and scans, surgery, hospital charges and (on most policies) cancer treatment. It does not cover pre-existing conditions, chronic condition management, emergencies, or normal pregnancy — those stay with the NHS. That boundary is the single most misunderstood thing about the product, and most disappointment traces back to it.
The UK PMI market in July 2026 · 2026-07-17
- 8.43m people covered (12.2% of the UK) — strongest since 2008 (LaingBuisson, end-2024 data, published Oct 2025).
- Record £4bn of claims paid in 2024; 1.8m people claimed (ABI, published Jan 2026).
- 953,000 private hospital admissions in 2025 — a fourth consecutive record year; 70% insured, 30% self-pay (PHIN, June 2026).
- NHS RTT list: 7.3m pathways, 34.4% waiting over 18 weeks (NHS England, May 2026).
- Average premium £82.53/month single adult; £158.44 couple; £180.64 family of four (myTribe, March 2026 data).
What it costs by age (March 2026 data)
| Age | Basic cover | Comprehensive cover |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | £28.54/mo | £42.69/mo |
| 30 | £35.84/mo | £55.89/mo |
| 40 | £44.70/mo | £71.81/mo |
| 50 | £60.84/mo | £96.34/mo |
| 60 | £90.39/mo | £132.53/mo |
| 70 | £151.04/mo | £207.27/mo |
Source: myTribe Insurance survey of 11,770 real quotes across 7 insurers, March 2026 data (published June 2026). Premiums include 12% Insurance Premium Tax.
Compare the providers
- All nine providers compared — the full dated table.
- Reviews: Bupa · AXA Health · Aviva · Vitality · WPA · The Exeter · Freedom · National Friendly · Benenden Health
- Head-to-heads: Bupa vs AXA · Bupa vs Aviva · Vitality vs Bupa · Vitality vs AXA · Vitality vs Aviva · AXA vs Aviva · Benenden vs Bupa · WPA vs Bupa
Best-for guides
Ranked picks with verified figures for UK buyers overall, over-50s, over-60s, over-70s, families, the self-employed, pre-existing conditions, mental health, budget buyers, London, small businesses, couples, children, your 20s and 30s, your 40s, cancer cover, outpatient cover, physiotherapy, dental & optical, company directors and digital GP access.
Guides by condition and situation
Honest, dated guides for diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, anxiety & depression history, back pain, after cancer, heart condition history, contractors, first-time buyers at 65+, pregnancy & maternity, smokers, people already on an NHS waiting list, menopause and sports injuries.
Quick answers
Fact-dense, sourced answers on average cost, whether it's worth it, moratorium vs full underwriting, pre-existing conditions and a dozen more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acute, curable conditions arising after you join: private consultations, diagnostics, surgery, hospital treatment and (on most policies) cancer care. Pre-existing and chronic conditions, emergencies and normal pregnancy are excluded across the market (verified July 2026).
£82.53/month average for a single adult; from £28.54 at age 20 to £207.27 for comprehensive cover at 70 (myTribe survey, March 2026 data). Provider examples for healthy 30-year-olds: £42–£48/month (2025–26).
Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality are the big four; WPA, The Exeter, Freedom Health Insurance and National Friendly are strong specialists; Benenden Health offers a different, discretionary model at a flat £15.85/month (all compared on this site with July 2026 verification).