Average cost of family health insurance in the UK

Family health insurance is a guarantee that gives you and your loved ones coverage to get treatments at the right hospital at the right time. This type of insurance prevents waiting queues in NHS care, allowing you to consult a specialist and receive instant private care. But, we are often asked the question of what the average cost of family health insurance in the UK is. The answer is – that it’s dependent on various factors. You can always get a rough estimate of the average cost from an insurance adviser like Premier PMI. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at factors affecting the family insurance cost and understand the average cost based on several given variables.

Why should I get family health insurance?

A private family insurance plan provides you with the peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of should unexpected medical treatments occur. The plan ensures you won’t have to worry about financial costs and can instead focus on recuperating or tending to your family members.

Health Insurance Benefits

What Affects the Cost of Your Family Health Insurance?

Every insurance company has specific guidelines based on which the premium cost is decided. But, there are various common factors among all insurance plans that affect the cost. Some of these are:

• Number of people in the policy(you, your spouse, and your children)
• Age of Family Members
• Your location 
• Outpatient level
• Policy Excess (you pay once a year, not per claim)
• The medical history of your family
• Smoking Status 
• Underwriting option (Moratorium or full medical underwriting)
• List of the hospitals selected in your area
• Additional Benefits like Mental health, Therapies, Dental and Optical Cover and Travel Insurance

With insurers like Bupa, Aviva and Freedom, you only pay for the oldest child and the other kids are covered for free. Bupa also provides access to top-tier hospitals, including London HCA hospitals, for all children on the policy, regardless of the hospitals chosen for the parents. Additionally, Bupa includes physiotherapy and mental health coverage as standard, so you don’t need to pay extra for these benefits.

Please keep in mind that other factors can also increase the cost of family health insurance. Therefore, it is always recommended that you consult with a health insurance broker who can find you the best quote at the price.

What family health insurance policies are available?

Family health insurance policy in the UK covers a range of healthcare expenses for your loved ones. It usually covers you, your family and your children under 18, or potentially up to 24 if they are in full-time education. These policies typically offer coverage for

In/Day patient treatments only

This will cover your child’s treatment in the hospital. Outpatient treatments, diagnostics and tests will be excluded.

Comprehensive Cover

Covers outpatient and in/day-patient treatments, consultations with specialists, diagnostics and tests.

Cashback

Some policies may offer health cash plans that provide cashback for routine healthcare expenses.

It’s important to note that child health insurance coverage is a complex product, with limited options available in the market. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider the policy details and compare available options to ensure the best coverage for your child’s healthcare needs.

What are Inpatient, Day-patient and Outpatient Cover?

With most insurance providers, you’ll receive unlimited inpatient and day-patient treatments as part of your core plan. However, for outpatient cover, you can choose from none to unlimited, which might come with an additional cost.

Inpatient Cover

Inpatient cover means your insurance pays for your stay in a hospital when you need tests, diagnosis or treatment. This includes the costs of being admitted to the hospital, the tests the doctors need to figure out what’s wrong, the diagnosis they give you, and the treatment they provide—all without you having to pay extra. So, if you have inpatient cover, your insurance takes care of everything while you’re in the hospital.

Day-patient cover

A day patient is someone who goes to a hospital or clinic for medical treatment during the day but doesn’t stay overnight. They receive care, such as tests, treatments, or procedures, and then go home the same day. This could include things like minor surgeries, chemotherapy, or dialysis. Day patients get the same level of medical attention as inpatients but don’t need to stay in the hospital overnight.

Outpatient Care

An outpatient is someone who receives medical treatment or care at a hospital, clinic, or medical facility without being admitted as an inpatient. You typically visit for appointments, consultations, tests, treatments, or procedures, and then return home the same day. Outpatient services cover a wide range of medical needs, from routine check-ups to more specialized treatments, and they allow you to receive care without staying overnight in the hospital.

Underwriting Option

Underwriting Option	Moratorium	Full Medical Underwriting
Medical History	When applying for moratorium underwriting, you don’t have to tell about your pre-existing conditions.	A thorough questionnaire stating any pre-existing conditions you may have must be completed.
Limitations	You will not get any coverage for up to two years for any pre-existing medical conditions that you might have been suffering from 5 years before taking the policy.	Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered for certain waiting periods. However, it also varies from company to company and the extent of coverage.
Claiming	To understand if your symptoms are new or existing, the insurance provider will assess your medical history before deciding. It’s quite a lengthy process.	In the beginning, the insurance company already knows what you’re covered for. So the overall process can be quicker.

What is the Cost of Family Health Insurance in the UK?

While calculating the rough estimate of the family health insurance, there are numerous factors you have to keep in mind. Here we will try to give you an estimate for the family sizes of 3, 4 and 6.

With so many factors affecting the cost of health insurance policies, some decisions can be made on behalf of the hypothetical families to make the right decisions. The given quote will be based on three UK locations, moratorium underwriting, standard outpatient cover (£ 750 per year), effectively excluding any pre-existing conditions, £100 excess and consult select hospital list.

Family of 3

Insurer	London	Manchester	Edinburgh
Aviva Health	£130	£98	£75
AXA Health	£145	£116	£101
Bupa Health	£148	£118	£107
The Exeter	£142	£114	£99
Freedom Health	£137	£137	£137
Vitality Health	£128	£110	£103

Family of 4

Insurer	London	Manchester	Edinburgh
Aviva Health	£130	£98	£75
AXA Health	£178	£142	£137
Bupa Health	£148	£118	£107
The Exeter	£168	£136	£121
Freedom Health	£137	£137	£137
Vitality Health	£171	£139	£125

Family of 6

Insurer	London	Manchester	Edinburgh
Aviva Health	£130	£98	£75
AXA Health	£266	£212	£186
Bupa Health	£148	£118	£107
The Exeter	£257	£206	£182
Freedom Health	£137	£137	£137
Vitality Health	£208	£166	£148

Notes: While we’ve tried our best to give you accurate estimates, the prices listed for private health insurance are just estimates. Your actual policy cost may vary. To know the exact price for your family, request a comparison quote.

How Can We Help?

If you are struggling to choose the right family health insurance plan, let Premier PMI help you. We are a team of experts who guide our clients in choosing the right insurance by understanding their preferences, needs, and lifestyle. We will also guide you through various plans and ensure you make an informed decision. Trust us; we are here to extend our support to every step of your journey. You and your loved one’s health and well-being are our top priorities.

FAQ