Understanding UK healthcare
Who regulates health insurance in the UK?
The short answer
Health insurance in the UK is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Insurers and the brokers who arrange cover must be authorised, and you can check any firm on the Financial Services Register. If a complaint is not resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service can consider it free of charge, and compensation may be available.
Written by Ilana Eldad. Reviewed by Andrew Buscu.
Published 2026-09-14. Last reviewed 2026-09-14. Next review due 2027-03-14.
The Financial Conduct Authority
The FCA authorises and supervises insurers and insurance intermediaries, and sets the conduct rules they follow — including how products are designed, how they are sold and how customers must be treated. [1]
Checking a firm before you buy
Every authorised firm appears on the Financial Services Register, with its reference number and the activities it is permitted to carry out. Searching the register takes a minute and is the single most useful check you can make. [1]
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Financial Conduct Authority | Authorises firms and sets conduct rules for how cover is sold and serviced. |
| Prudential Regulation Authority | Supervises the financial strength of insurers. |
| Financial Ombudsman Service | Decides unresolved complaints between consumers and firms, free of charge. |
| Financial Services Compensation Scheme | Pays compensation if an authorised firm fails. |
If something goes wrong
Complain to the firm first. If you are unhappy with its final response, or it does not respond within the time allowed, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Its decisions bind the firm if you accept them. [2]
Common questions
- How do I check an insurer or broker is authorised?
- Search the Financial Services Register by firm name or reference number. It shows whether a firm is authorised, what it is permitted to do, and which trading names it uses. If a firm is not listed, do not deal with it. [1]
- Is the Financial Ombudsman Service free to use?
- Yes, it is free for consumers. Complain to the firm first; if you are unhappy with the final response, or it does not reply within the time allowed, you can refer the complaint, and a decision binds the firm if you accept it. [2]
- Who regulates private hospitals and doctors?
- Not the financial regulators. Care quality in England is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and clinicians by their own professional bodies such as the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Sources
- Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Services Register. Continuously updated; accessed 14 September 2026 (primary source)
- Financial Ombudsman Service. Complaints about medical insurance. Accessed 14 September 2026 (primary source)