The Health Guide: clear answers on UK health, life and critical illness cover
The Health Guide explains how private health insurance, life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection work in the UK, what private treatment costs, and how NHS waiting times affect the choice. Every guide names its author and its reviewer, shows when it was last reviewed and links each fact to its source. The site is published by PremierPMI, a health insurance broker authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 1029667). If you want a quote, PremierPMI's advisers can compare insurers for you.
Guides written by named UK insurance specialists at PremierPMI.
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- How much does private health insurance cost in the UK?
There is no single honest figure: premiums depend on age, postcode, cover level, excess, hospital list and underwriting basis. Market context is verified — 6.5 million people covered and £4 billion of claims in 2024 — but any “average premium” without a named source and date is unusable. Compare written, like-for-like quotes.
- What does private health insurance cover?
Private health insurance pays for eligible private treatment of new conditions that begin after your policy starts. Most policies cover diagnostic tests, specialist consultations and inpatient treatment; many exclude chronic conditions, pre-existing conditions, accident and emergency care, and routine pregnancy. Cover, limits and excesses vary by insurer, so the policy wording decides what is paid.
- Is private health insurance worth it? An honest framework
Worth it depends on what you are buying: prompt access to planned treatment and diagnostics, not better emergency care or chronic-condition management — those stay with the NHS. Weigh the premium trajectory against the waits you would otherwise face, your ability to self-fund treatment, and how much you value choice of specialist and timing.
- Moratorium vs full medical underwriting: what’s the difference?
Moratorium underwriting asks no medical questions but automatically excludes conditions from a recent look-back period until you complete a set trouble-free period. Full medical underwriting asks health questions upfront and states exclusions in writing before you buy. Moratorium is faster; full medical underwriting gives certainty from day one.
- How long are NHS waiting times right now?
As at July 2026, England had 7.3 million pathways waiting, 65.4% within 18 weeks and a 12.0-week median wait. Scotland saw 63.6% of new outpatients within 12 weeks in June 2026; Wales reported 65.0% of pathways under 26 weeks in May 2026. National figures cannot tell you your own wait — ask your provider.
- How much does a private MRI scan cost?
A private MRI scan has no single UK price. Published Nuffield Health examples include £470 for one part at Glasgow and £589 for one area at Leeds, while contrast is listed separately at Leeds. Compare the body area, reporting, contrast, referral requirements and site before treating two figures as equivalent.