AXA Health Insurance Review

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AXA Health Insurance Review

AXA Health has a long history, beginning in 1938 as the London Association for Hospital Services, a private insurance program targeted at upper earnings in the London region. Private Patients Plan or AXA PPP  became the new name for the business after the NHS made healthcare free for all. AXA PPP will become AXA Health in October 2020 after dropping the PPP from its name. Numerous awards were given to the company for its outstanding performance in its industry, particularly for its claims handling. It received a 4 out of 5-star rating from over 6,000 Trustpilot reviews

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We work with UK leading health insurance companies and continue giving impartial guidance on health insurance to our thousands of clients for over 40 years. Over this period our health insurance advisors have built a depth knowledge of the product and continue growing strong relationships with all the insurance providers. 

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Quick Overview

Being a member of the Axa Group, one of the UK’s top health insurers should give you confidence that you are working with a trustworthy and secure organisation. The Axa Group insured nearly 16 million individuals in the United Kingdom, indicating that the British people also put their trust in them. Also, AXA is rated five stars by Defaqto, the independent financial comparison service.

  • Get access to over 30,000 specialists and over 250 hospitals.
  • Extended cover options for individuals and families 
  • London Hospital list with standard guided option 
  • Fast Track Appointments are an optional feature for insurance that cover outpatient treatment
  • No annual limits on out-patient surgeries
  • Through their ‘Health at Hand’ service, you can get 24/7 remote support if you have any health-related questions.
  • Add or restrict your cover with optional add-ons
  • Free cover for newborn babies until the renewal date
  • Access to approved drugs for cancer is not yet available through the NHS.
  • Access to exclusive incentives such as discounted gym memberships and wearable technology with AXA ActivePlus

Our expert says…

Private Medical Insurance is becoming increasingly more popular due to the longer waiting times through the NHS and most people assume PMI will not be affordable given the increased cost of living over the past 12 months. However, as an independent broker with access to the leading UK insurers such as Aviva, AXA and Bupa to name a few, there are hundreds of variations available at any one given time and therefore policies can be tailor-made to meet their requirements and budget.

 Stuart Hendy, PMI expert

How does AXA private healthcare work?

AXA offers cover for individuals, families, small businesses and corporations. There are three cover options available from Axa: Personal Health, Health-on-line and InSpire cover. Their health insurance products provide basic coverage with the ability to add extras. Among the advantages are:

  • Add-ons include three levels of outpatient cover, therapies, mental health treatment and travel cover
  • A range of cost-controlling options including a choice of excess levels

Axa Policy Overview

Axa Personal Health offers some level of outpatient health insurance cover in addition to the core cover. By including optional benefits in your policy, you can customise your health insurance coverage to meet your needs. Your monthly premium could go up as a result. 

Pros and Cons AXA Personal Health Insurance

As with all health insurance in the UK AXA has its Pros and Cons. Some of the Pros and Cons are listed below:

Pros-The biggest benefit of health insurance is peace of mind
-You won’t pay for healthcare out of pocket
-You will be able to access health care 24/7
-Access to a wide range of private hospitals 
-You can choose the specialist and clinic where you want to be treated. 
-You can add Worldwide cover to your cover
-Extensive and comprehensive cancer cover
-Reduces annual premium by 5% if paid in full 
-Exclusive incentives with AXA ActivePlus
Cons-Does not cover pre-existing medical conditions
-Does not cover childbirth or infertility treatments
-A monthly premium is higher than other health insurance providers 

Contact our trained health insurance specialists to analyse the benefits and drawbacks of private medical insurance offered by all UK health insurance companies.

Guided Care

AXA’s core cover covers a wide range of situations. It includes the expense of surgery, specialist costs, and medications. It provides limited outpatient coverage and does not include outpatient drugs.

Axa offers three out-patient options cover to choose from:

Standard Out-patient

  • You are entitled to three specialist consultations per year.
  • There is no annual limit when referred by a consultant for diagnostic tests.
  • There is no annual restriction when a specialist refers you to a dietitian, orthoptist, speech therapist, or nurse.

No Outpatient

By selecting this option, you will restrict your cover to out-of-hospital surgery, CT, MRI, and PET scans.

Full Out-patient

  • Unlimited visits to specialists
  • There is no annual limit when referred by a consultant for diagnostic tests.
  • There is no annual restriction when a specialist refers you to a dietitian, orthoptist, speech therapist, or nurse.

Benefits of AXA Personal Health policy

AXA Personal health policy offers a range of benefits, which may vary depending on the specific plan or coverage. Some potential benefits of AXA health insurance may include:

In-patient and day-patient treatmentYou can use hospitals from the Axa Directory of hospitals*. The full cost of a hospital stay, including physiotherapy, nursing care, medication and dressings, specialist fees, consultations, diagnostic testing, CT, MRI, and PET scans are included with core cover. 
Outpatient CoverAll scans, including CT, MRI, and PET scans, are covered with outpatient coverage at the top hospitals in the UK that are included in the AXA’s  Directory of Hospitals. There are no yearly limits for surgeries.
Comprehensive Cancer CoverDiagnostic surgery, CT, MRI and PET scans. 
Chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
Dedicated cancer support from a trained nurse 
Hospice donation of £100 a night
Up to £5000 for an external prosthesis a year 
Up to £400 for wigs and head covering a year

Comprehensive cancer coverage may be excluded if you have a cancer-related medical history, and your policy may be downgraded to NHS cancer support. For more information on cancer cover please read over the latest guide to Health Insurance Cancer Cover
NHS Hospital Cash BenefitWhen you use NHS hospitals for inpatient treatments instead of private treatments you are entitled to a cash payment of £50 a night up to £2,000 a year
Correctional Ear SurgeryA child aged 14 and under will have surgery to correct prominent ears.
Oral SurgeryPaid in FULL for specialist referred oral treatments
Laser treatmentsLaser therapy to enhance the appearance of a “port wine stain” on a child’s face aged 14 and under.
A child under the age of 14 who is experiencing a delay in development can have six sessions of speech therapy.
Home NursingAn at-home intravenous drip antibiotic administration by a dedicated nurse is included with your health insurance cover.
End of Life careEven if your cancer cannot be cured AXA will continue to support you and will offer you care to relieve pain. This may include radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, and also might fit stents or drain fluid. Donation of £100 a night to a hospice where you will receive end-of-life care.
Parent AccommodationWhile your child (under 16) is undergoing treatment, you as a parent are qualified to will get hospital accommodation for one parent and up to £100 per night toward a hotel (up to £500 per year).
*Directory of Hospitals

Other optional benefits

Additional optional extras are available to customise your policy to meet your specific needs

Extended  Cover OptionAccess to private GP with limited to a maximum of £500 per year
Choose your own recognised specialist
All UK hospitals including London HCA hospitals
Use of Doctor on Hand app
Full out-patient cover optionUnlimited outpatient cover
Unlimited diagnostics and tests
Dental and OpticalUp to 80% off your dentist’s fees (limit to £400 a year)
Cover for prescribed glasses and contact lenses (limit to £200 a year)
Eye test cover (limit to £25 a year)
Worldwide and European Travel Cover OptionYou can add this option to your core cover to cover you for emergency medical expenses abroad in case of a medical emergency. Which includes cover for lost luggage, delays and loss of travel documents.
Mental Health
Therapies CoverIncludes coverage for unlimited outpatient cover from chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, homoeopathy and osteopaths. When your GP refers you, or when you receive therapist treatment through the Working Body team, you will have 10 sessions per year.

Axa Health Insurance underwriting options.

AXA offers underwriting options for their health insurance plans, which determine how the insurer assesses and prices the risk of providing coverage to an individual. Underwriting options may include:

Full Medical Underwriting

With this option, AXA will assess the applicant’s medical history and current health status in detail to determine the coverage and premium. This may involve providing detailed information about pre-existing conditions, past medical treatments, and current health status. The coverage and premium will be based on the individual’s health risks as assessed by AXA

Moratorium Underwriting

Under this option, AXA may impose a moratorium period during which coverage for pre-existing conditions is excluded. After a certain period of time, typically 2-5 years, coverage for pre-existing conditions may be considered if the individual has not sought treatment or advice for those conditions during the moratorium period. Premiums may be lower compared to full medical underwriting, but coverage for pre-existing conditions may be restricted during the moratorium period.

Underwriting Switch Moratorium Underwriting

With this option, AXA does not consider the individual’s medical history or pre-existing conditions when determining coverage or premium. This means that the individual’s medical history is not taken into account, and coverage is provided for all conditions, including pre-existing conditions, without exclusions. Premiums may be higher compared to other underwriting options as the insurer assumes a higher level of risk.

Medical History Disregarded (MHD) Underwriting

This option allows individuals who are already covered under an existing health insurance plan with another insurer to switch to an AXA plan without providing detailed medical information. A moratorium period may be imposed during which coverage for pre-existing conditions may be excluded, and after a certain period of time, coverage for pre-existing conditions may be considered if the individual has not sought treatment or advice for those conditions during the moratorium period.

It’s important to note that underwriting options and their availability may vary depending on the specific AXA health insurance plan, location, and individual circumstances. It’s recommended to review the policy terms and conditions, including the underwriting options, to understand how the coverage and premiums are determined and what limitations or exclusions may apply. Consulting with a qualified insurance professional or AXA representative can also help in understanding the underwriting options available for a particular health insurance plan.

How much does health insurance cost with AXA?

The cost of health insurance with AXA Personal Health, Health-on-Line and In Spire covers are broken down below. These are based on non-smoker 25 years old individuals who are in good health and have no pre-existing conditions. As the table shows, you may adjust the pricing to your needs by adding or removing the additional cover from your core cover.

Cost for Additional Benefits

AXA The cost of AXA Health add-ons can vary depending on several factors, including the specific add-on, the level of coverage, the location, and the age and health status of the insured individual. Add-ons are typically offered as optional extras to the base health insurance policy, and they are priced separately.

Standard Outpatient£5.69
Full Outpatient£12.08
Extended Cover£7.95
Mental Health£3.87
Therapies£2.90
Dental and Optical£11.03
European Travel£12.00
Worldwide Travel£17.00
Guided Option-£4.12
NHS Cancer Support-£1.03

Comparing prices with AXA

No Claims Discount

The no-claims discount program at AXA is organised into seventeen tiers. On the highest tier, you are only eligible for a maximum premium discount of 80%.

If you claim → falls by three tiers

If you do not claim → goes up by one tier

You won’t be penalised for using: 

No matter what claims you made or how much they were worth, this will impact your renewal price in the following year. You won’t be penalised for using:

  • Claims for the NHS treatment and NHS cancer treatment benefits
  • Consultations using the Doctor at Hand App
  • Therapies claim if you have this option included in your core cover
  • Dental and optical cash back if you have this option included in your core cover
  • Speech therapies cover

NHS Cancer Support

AXA may downgrade your cancer cover to NHS Cancer treatments if you had Cancer previously or were just diagnosed with cancer. This means that any cancer treatments will be treated with the NHS. However, if you need the latest improved cancer drugs which are not available with the NHS, Axa might help to cover them.  

Choose a higher excess

You can lower your monthly premium by selecting a high optional excess. The maximum excess available through AXA is between £2,500 and £5,000. This will give you more options if you ever need to claim procedures that would cost significantly more than the excess you’ve selected. 

Dedicated Heart and Cancer Nurses

You will get a dedicated team of cardiac or cancer nurses to support your treatments at any time if you are diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition or cancer.

Fast Track Physio Access

You may skip a GP referral for musculoskeletal physiotherapy with AXA’s Working Body program. This allows you to get quick care when you need it the most.

Proton Beam Therapy

This is only available if you go for comprehensive cover with AXA insurance. In the following cases, Axa will pay for treatments:

  • If the policyholder is under the age of 21 with brain or spinal cord cancer or a malignant solid cancer
  • For the therapies of chordomas or chondrosarcomas that have not progressed to the base of the skull or neck bones
  • To treat malignancy of the iris, ciliary body, or choroid of the eye that has not spread 

How to reduce your monthly premium with the Axa Health policy?

AXA personal health insurance policy cover, like all insurance companies in the UK, has a way to lower monthly premiums:

  • Choose a higher excess option –Lower your monthly premium by choosing a higher excess you’re willing to pay in the event of a claim. Given that you only pay the excess once a year and not for each claim, it ought to be affordable.
  • No claims discount- If you don’t make any claims for a year, AXA will offer you a no-claim bonus of up to 80%. 
  • Select a Guided option- Allow AXA to select the expert for your treatment since AXA has set pricing with a certain specialist. This will result in a lower monthly premium.
  • Choose to pay annually- Only with the AXA policy, can you save 5% on your annual premium by paying it all at once

What is not included with health insurance from AXA?

When applying for health insurance, it is critical to read the terms and conditions carefully for any health exclusions. This refers to things that are not covered by your policy or are ‘excluded’ from it. While private medical care covers many things, like physiotherapy, diagnostic tests, and hospitalisation, some exclusions are unlikely to be covered and AXA is not different from any other health insurance provider in the UK.

The general exclusions are:

  • Chronic conditions
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Cosmetic surgeries
  • Prescriptions
  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Professional sports injuries

How to get health insurance quotes from AXA?

Choosing the best health insurance plan for your needs can be challenging, especially if there are many options available. If you have a policy with AXA already or are looking to get a quote, contact our advisors who are specialists in health insurance services. They will help you navigate through this difficult process and tailor the best health insurance quote for you. Call us on 02045250884 or send us an email to conatct@premierpmi.co.uk and one of our dedicated advisors will get in touch with you. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

You can purchase health insurance, but under the moratorium underwriting option, current medical issues will not be covered for two years. Your coverage will exclude chronic medical conditions permanently.

You will only have to pay the excess you selected when you purchased your health insurance. This means you can pay your excess once and claim as many times as you want for your treatments throughout a policy year

With your comprehensive outpatient option, you can select any specialist or hospital from AXA’s directory list. However, if you select the guided option, Axa will select which specialist you will be treated by. 

A licensed general practitioner is constantly accessible via phone or video appointment with AXA’s Doctor@Hand. You won’t have to wait for your GP appointment to get prescriptions, advice, and referrals with the assistance of this program. You will have up to five online consultations.

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