Individual Health InsuranceBuilt Around You
Private health cover isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll help you find a policy that suits your needs and budget, explained in plain English.
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What is individual health insurance?
Individual health insurance, also called private medical insurance (PMI), is a policy that covers one person. It helps pay for eligible private medical treatment of conditions that start after your cover begins and are likely to respond quickly to treatment, within the terms and limits of your plan.
Working alongside the NHS
Private cover doesn’t replace the NHS. It adds a route to private treatment for eligible conditions, while A&E and emergency care stay with the NHS.
What can a policy include?
Most policies combine core cover with benefits you can add or adjust.
Often included as standard
Hospital treatment
Eligible treatment that needs an overnight hospital stay, such as surgery and related nursing care.
Day-patient care
Eligible treatment that needs a hospital bed during the day, with no overnight stay.
Cancer cover
Many policies include eligible cancer treatment. How far it extends differs between insurers and plans.
Benefits that vary by policy
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Outpatient consultations
Specialist appointments without a hospital stay.
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Tests and scans
Diagnostic tests to find out what’s wrong.
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Therapies
Such as physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic care.
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Mental health support
From limited outpatient help to wider cover.
Benefits, exclusions and limits depend on the insurer and policy you choose. We’ll explain what a policy offers before you decide — and there’s more detail in the FAQs below.
Cover that suits you
Three key choices shape what your policy offers and what you pay.
Your excess
The amount you pay towards a claim before your insurer pays the rest.
Effect on price: a higher excess usually means a lower premium.
Hospital choice
Insurers group hospitals into lists, from a selected set to a wider choice.
Effect on price: a more limited list usually costs less.
Benefit levels
How much outpatient cover you include, and which extras you add.
Effect on price: more benefits and higher limits increase the premium.
Understanding the limits
Every policy has exclusions. These are the most common.
Existing conditions
Conditions you’ve had symptoms, treatment or advice for before cover starts are usually excluded, at least for a period.
Ongoing chronic conditions
Long-term management of conditions such as diabetes or asthma isn’t normally covered.
Routine maternity
Normal pregnancy and childbirth are generally excluded.
Emergency care
A&E isn’t covered. In an emergency, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Exclusions and limits vary between insurers. Your policy terms and how your policy is underwritten decide what’s covered, and any claim is assessed against those terms.
How Bright Cover helps
Straightforward support from your first question to your final decision.
Personal guidance
A real adviser gets to know your situation before suggesting anything.
Clear explanations
What’s covered, what isn’t and why — without the jargon.
Help comparing options
Suitable options from UK health insurers, with no obligation to buy.
Frequently asked questions
More detail on how individual health insurance works.
Can I still use the NHS?
Yes. Private health insurance works alongside the NHS rather than replacing it. You’ll still use your NHS GP in most cases, and A&E and emergency care remain with the NHS. Your policy gives you an additional route to private treatment for eligible conditions, with more choice about how your care is arranged.
Do I need a GP referral, and how do I arrange treatment?
You’ll usually need a GP referral before you claim. Contact your insurer before any tests or treatment start, so they can confirm whether your claim is eligible and what they’ll pay for.
When a claim is accepted, you may have more say over where and when you’re treated, and which specialist you see, within the terms and limits of your plan.
What affects the cost of individual health insurance?
The main choices are your excess, your hospital list and your benefit levels. Depending on the plan, your excess may apply per claim or per policy year.
Your age, where you live and your medical history also affect the price, and premiums are usually reviewed each year at renewal.
What outpatient benefits and optional extras can I choose?
Outpatient cover helps with specialist consultations, tests and scans that don’t need a hospital bed. Some plans cover these in full; others set a yearly limit or leave them out.
Therapies such as physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic care usually come with a set number of sessions or a financial limit. Mental health support ranges from limited outpatient help to wider cover, and is often an optional add-on. What’s available depends on the insurer and plan.
Can existing medical conditions be covered?
Conditions you’ve had symptoms of, or treatment or advice for, before your cover starts are usually excluded. Depending on how your policy is underwritten, some may become eligible later.
The long-term management of chronic conditions isn’t normally covered, although some policies may help with an initial diagnosis or a short-term flare-up. Routine maternity is generally excluded too, though some policies may cover certain complications.
What is medical underwriting?
Underwriting is how an insurer takes your medical history into account when you apply. You may share your full medical history up front, or take a policy that excludes recent conditions automatically, with some becoming eligible later if you remain symptom- and treatment-free. We’ll explain which approach may suit you.
Can I switch from my current insurer?
It may be possible, but switching isn’t always the right move. Before any change, we’ll check your eligibility and whether your existing cover can carry over, so you understand whether conditions you’ve claimed for or had symptoms of could be affected.
Ready to explore your options?
Get your free, no-obligation quote today.