Bupa
One of the UK's longest-established health insurers. Plans are typically built from modules: core hospital treatment plus add-ons for outpatient cover and therapies, which makes cover easy to scale up or down.
Specialist private medical insurance advice
Private medical insurance, handled properly.
GOAT PMI, in partnership with Private Health Partners, compares leading UK health insurers, explains the differences in plain English and puts you in front of a specialist adviser, so you choose cover with confidence, not guesswork.
Leading UK insurers Quick comparison UK-based support
Clear comparisons
No jargon, just useful differences
Specialist advisers
Personal help when you need it
Your choice, explained
Compare cover, excess and access
Indicative comparison
See how cover can compare
A simple view of representative plan structures. Your actual options and premium depend on personal details, location, underwriting and the cover selected.
Plan comparison
Bupa
Comprehensive
AXA Health
Health Select
Aviva
Healthier Solutions
Vitality
Core Cover
Illustrative monthly cost
£68/mo*
£61/mo*
£57/mo*
£52/mo*
Policy excess
£250
£250
£500
£500
Outpatient cover
Full
Up to £1,000
Up to £500
Diagnostics
Therapies
Included
Included
Optional
Optional
Choose a plan to discuss it with an adviser.
*Illustrative examples only, not live quotations or recommendations. Insurer names are shown for comparison context; product details may change. A personalised quotation will confirm available cover, exclusions and price.
How the four big names differ
There is no single “best” insurer: the right choice depends on the hospitals you want, the outpatient budget you need and the extras you value. Here is a plain-English starting point.
AXA Health
A major global insurer with a strong UK health arm. Its plans commonly let you trade outpatient cover against premium, with options around excess levels and hospital access.
Aviva
One of the UK's largest insurance groups. Its health plans are usually built around a core policy with optional upgrades, a common choice for families watching their budget.
Vitality
Known for linking cover to healthy living. Rewards, activity tracking and wellness benefits sit alongside the medical cover, which many members enjoy keeping on their side of the bargain.
Summaries are general and for orientation only. Always confirm current product details, terms and pricing with the insurer or your adviser.
Cover, made clearer
Focus on what matters to you
Private medical insurance has plenty of moving parts. We help you understand how each choice affects access and cost.
Start your comparisonFaster access
Private consultations, diagnostics and treatment when eligible under your policy.
Cover that fits
Shape hospital access, outpatient limits, excess and extras around your priorities.
Human guidance
A UK-based adviser can explain the trade-offs and help arrange suitable cover.
PMI, explained
What it does and doesn’t cover
Private medical insurance is designed to pay for private treatment of eligible acute conditions. It works alongside the NHS, not instead of it: you keep full access to NHS care, and use your policy when you want a faster or more comfortable route.
Typically included
- Private consultations, diagnostics and scans
- In-patient and day-patient hospital treatment
- Cancer cover on most comprehensive plans
- Mental health support, depending on the options chosen
- A route to hospitals and specialists outside the standard NHS queue
Usually not covered
- Long-term (chronic) condition management
- Emergency care, which remains the job of the NHS
- Pre-existing conditions, at least under standard underwriting
- Routine pregnancy and fertility treatment unless added
- Cosmetic procedures
Every policy differs. Benefits, limits and exclusions are set by the insurer’s terms, so always check the policy document before you buy.
How it works
Expert help, without the hard sell
1
Tell us what you need
Answer a few quick questions about who needs cover and your priorities.
2
Compare suitable options
Review indicative differences, then speak with an adviser about the detail.
3
Arrange cover with confidence
Your adviser confirms the insurer terms, exclusions and final premium before you decide.
Prefer to talk it through?
0116 464 6868Questions, answered
Private health cover, in plain English
Specialist private medical insurance advice