Health Insurance for Retirees
Home > Health Insurance > Health Insurance for Retirees
Get 1 month FREE on every Health Insurance policy
Health insurance for retirees
As you approach retirement or turn 65, it is the perfect time to focus on what matters most—your hobbies, your family and enjoying life. With private health insurance, you will not have to worry about long NHS waiting lists. Let a private health insurance policy take care of your health, so you can relax and make the most of your golden years.
Get Tailored Health Insurance Quotes from Top UK Insurers
How it works
Step 1. Answer a few simple questions
Step 2. Get tailored quote
Step 3. Get covered and start saving
Why Choose Us
We offer completely free and no obligation advice on private health insurance for over 70s in the UK. Our experienced advisors will take the stress away from you and do all the hard work in finding you the best Provider by comparing quotes with the top leading providers in the market. We have worked directly with AXA, Aviva, Bupa, and Vitality for over 40 years, we have been tailor-making the best private health insurance for over 60s UK.
Professional Health Insurance Brokers
Get expert advice from our dedicated health insurance advisors for free.
24/7 Customer Care
You can contact us anytime, and one of our health insurance consultants will always be available to answer your questions.
Claims Support
We will be there for you throughout the claims process to ensure that it is easy and stress-free.
What is health insurance?
Health insurance helps cover the cost of private medical treatment in exchange for a monthly payment. It allows you to get health treatment for medical conditions at private hospitals with private consultants.
With private health insurance, you can quickly access top-quality medical care without waiting on long NHS long waiting lists. For example, treatments like hip replacements or complex heart conditions can often be done much faster if you have a health plan. Instead of waiting for up to 36 months, as some NHS patients do, you can get treated right away.
Health insurance can also provide access to advanced cancer care, including expensive drugs that the NHS might not be readily available or not offer yet due to a high cost. When it comes to cancer, quick tests, diagnoses and treatments are critical, your health insurance policy ensures there are no delays.
How does health insurance work for retirees?
Retirees’ health insurance in the UK works the same way as regular private health insurance. While the NHS is vital for emergencies and essential care, private medical insurance can complement it by providing quicker access to treatments.
In an emergency, you must call 999 for immediate care. Once you’re stable, you can contact your health insurance provider. They may arrange for a private ambulance to transfer you to a private hospital if further treatment is needed.
Your policy covers new, short-term (acute) conditions that you haven’t been treated for, taken medication for or consulted about before your policy started. Some insurers have a waiting period before you can make a claim, while others let you start immediately.
Here’s an example: You start your policy on December 1st. On December 15th, after a gym session, you strain a muscle and feel pain. First, you would visit your GP to get a referral to a private specialist. Then, you can book an appointment to receive private treatment or therapy.
What is not covered with private health insurance?
Private medical insurance typically does not cover:
- Pre-existing conditions – Any health issues you had before your policy started.
- Chronic conditions – Ongoing, long-term conditions, asthma, hypertension or arthritis.
- Drug or alcohol abuse – treatment or rehabilitation related to substance misuse.
- Cosmetic treatments – procedures like plastic surgery, unless medically necessary.
- Weight loss treatments – such as gastric band procedures.
Underwriting options for retirees
There are three main underwriting options for health insurance, and the best choice depends on your medical history, current health, and personal preferences. If you’re unsure which option to choose, PremierPMI’s health insurance advisors can assess your medical history and guide you toward the right one.
Moratorium Underwriting (Mori)
The first and most common option is Moratorium Underwriting, which is especially popular for first-time private health insurance users. With this option, any pre-existing conditions from the past five years are not covered immediately. However, these conditions can become eligible for coverage after two years, provided you remain symptom-free and do not require any medication, advice, or treatment for those conditions during that time.
For example, if you experienced right hip pain three years ago, this condition would be excluded from coverage for two years. However, if you develop a new issue, such as pain in your left hip, after the policy starts, it would be covered immediately.
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
The second option is Full Medical Underwriting, where you are required to disclose your entire medical history when applying. The insurer will then review your history and let you know upfront which conditions will be excluded and for how long. This option is ideal if you prefer to have a clear understanding of what is covered from the beginning of your policy.
Continued Personal Medical Exclusion (CPME)
The third option is Continued Personal Medical Exclusion, designed for those who already have an existing health insurance policy and are considering switching to another provider. In this case, your broker will ask a few health-related questions to determine whether switching is safe for you. If it is deemed safe, you can transfer to the new provider without losing coverage for conditions that were previously covered.
Each underwriting option has its benefits, so understanding your health needs and medical history is essential to making the right decision.
Health insurance cover options
Health insurance in the UK is very flexible and can be adjusted to your needs. You can choose from three levels of cover – Basic (Core) Cover, Mid-Range Cover, and Comprehensive Cover. Every health insurance provider offers these options, so it’s just about finding the one that works best for you. Let’s explore what each level includes and how it could fit your lifestyle.
Core Cover
Is the most affordable option. It doesn’t include outpatient cover, but it does provide full inpatient, full day patient, and full cancer care. With this option, you can get diagnosed through the NHS and then use your health insurance for private treatment. If you have a good GP who can refer you quickly for treatments, this could be a great cost-effective choice.
Mid-Range Cover
Adds some outpatient benefits, which means it helps pay for private consultations and diagnostic tests. It also includes full inpatient, full day patient, and full cancer care. Our brokers often recommend this option because it’s not too expensive and gives you a good balance—especially if you want faster diagnostics without waiting in long NHS queues.
Comprehensive Cover
Is the top-tier option, like an all-inclusive holiday. It includes full outpatient, full inpatient, full day patient, and full cancer cover. This option is pricier, but it’s worth it if you think you’ll use your insurance often or want peace of mind knowing you’re covered for just about everything.
Think about how much you’ll likely use your insurance and what level of convenience you want. Whether you’re looking for something affordable or full cover, there’s an option that will suit you perfectly.
Additional Benefits
Health insurance can be enhanced with extra benefits, often called add-ons, to better fit your needs. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, most UK insurance providers include a Virtual GP service as standard in their core plans, making it easier to get quick medical advice.
Here are some popular add-ons that you can choose for an additional premium:
Dental and Optical Cover
This add-on covers routine check-ups like dental exams and vision tests, as well as treatments such as emergency tooth extractions or eye care. You can also get cashback for glasses or contact lenses. Some insurers, like Vitality, include Audiology cover for hearing tests and some cashback for hearing aids, although there are limits on how much you can claim.
Physiotherapy Cover
This option is ideal if you experience injuries like muscle or joint issues. Depending on your insurer, you can choose between limited or unlimited sessions of physiotherapy, acupuncture or chiropractic treatment.
Mental Health Cover
Supports mental well-being with unlimited counselling sessions and up to 28 days of inpatient treatment at a mental health hospital (inpatient or day patient). It also covers up to £1,500 for appointments with psychiatrists.
Worldwide Travel Cover
Not all insurers offer this, but it’s a valuable add-on for frequent travellers. It covers medical emergencies while you’re on holiday, as long as the condition is unexpected and you have a fit-to-fly certificate. Most policies offer up to 120 days of travel cover per year, and any medical history is disregarded when making claims under this cover.
Private Face-to-Face GP
By adding this benefit you can see a private GP in person. This allows you to bypass long NHS waiting times and get quicker access to consultations with a private doctor.
It’s important to remember that each insurer sets an excess amount for claims made under these additional benefits.
How much does health insurance for retirees cost?
The price of health insurance can be influenced by a few factors, the main ones are:
- Age
- Postcode
- Health conditions
- Smoking status
Our advisors conducted market research across 6 main health insurance providers to compare monthly premiums for retirees. Here is a table comparing the health insurance prices for retirees aged 65 and 75, these prices are based on:
- Healthy Individual
- £250 Excess
- £750 Outpatient cover
- Consult Select hospital list
- New moratorium underwriting
- HA1 postcode
Here is a table comparing the health insurance prices for retirees aged 65 and 75 across different providers:
| Provider | Age 65 | Age 75 |
|---|---|---|
| AXA | £189.30 | £257.11 |
| Bupa | £202.09 | £270.13 |
| Aviva | £224.33 | £251.00 |
| Vitality | £176.76 | £231.16 |
| Freedom Health | £251.39 | No cover offered |
| The Exeter | £213.76 | £265.11 |
This table provides a clear comparison of health insurance costs for retirees, considering age as a key factor.
How to reduce your health insurance premium?
If you find that your monthly premium is too high, you can reduce it by downgrading your policy. Here are a few options to consider:
Increase your policy excess
This is the amount you agree to pay towards your treatment. It works like car insurance—by increasing your excess, you lower your monthly premium. You can choose an excess from £0, £100, £150, £250 up to £5,000. While this option can reduce your premium, be careful of the amount you choose. It should be affordable and readily available at the event of claim.
Choose a standard hospital list
When it comes to choosing your private hospital list under health insurance, you have a few options:
- Consult Select: Your insurer decides which hospitals you can go to for treatment. This is often the most affordable option as it typically includes a network of approved hospitals.
- Countrywide Hospital List: This option covers all hospitals, including NHS hospitals with private wings, but excludes HCA hospitals in Central London. It provides more choice than the insurer-selected list but is slightly more expensive.
- Central London hospitals (HCA): The most expensive option, focusing on hospitals in Central London, including HCA hospitals. If you don’t mind where you’re treated or live far from these hospitals, choosing the standard option can help reduce your premium.
Limit your outpatient cover
To reduce your monthly premium, go for a limited outpatient instead of full outpatient cover. If you’re fit and unlikely to need frequent claims, opt for a limited outpatient plan. You can choose outpatient cover from £500, £750, £1,000 or £1,500 for private consultations and diagnostics. Insurers like The Exeter, AXA Health, Vitality Health and Freedom Health offer full diagnostics options to a limited outpatient cover.
NHS Six-Weeks option
Most of our retired clients opt for Aviva’s six weeks option, which allows private treatment if the NHS cannot offer a treatment within six weeks from the referral date. This can reduce your premium by 20%. This option is only available with AVIVA health insurance.
Downgared to NHS Cancer Treatment
You can choose NHS Cancer care to reduce your premium. This option is ideal for individuals who already have cancer or had it in the past and have it excluded from their plan. It’s also suitable if you believe your local GP or NHS hospital has good facilities and shorter waiting times.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can reduce the likelihood of having to claim on your policy, which can help prevent any premium increases at renewal. Conditions like obesity can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, while smoking can increase the risk of mouth and lung cancers.
Speak to a broker
You can also reduce your premium by speaking to a broker. A dedicated health insurance advisor will not only suggest ways to save on your premium but also guide you through the process of getting health insurance. Our advisors can help you reduce your premium by up to 38% at renewal by negotiating with your current insurer or finding a better option for you.
Case study
Our advisor, Andrew, achieved a remarkable reduction in Mr. Brown’s policy—from £12,930 to just £4,300 per annum! Since Mr. Brown’s cardiovascular system is fully excluded, he couldn’t get coverage for any heart-related conditions or hypertension with his current health insurance policy. Frustrated but determined, Andrew tried negotiating with his current insurer, Bupa, but was unable to secure a better deal. After some thorough searching, Mark found a like-for-like policy with AXA for £4,300, and they agreed to cover any conditions related to hypertension moving forward. By making the switch to AXA, Andrew not only saved Mr. Brown a staggering £8,630 annually, but he also found a better, more cost-effective solution.
Who is the best health insurance provider for retirees?
Health insurance plans are quite similar across the market, offering similar types of coverage. However, the details can make a difference. When choosing a policy, look at reviews and the hospital lists they provide. Pay attention to factors like the claims process, the amount of excess you’ll pay, outpatient cover limits, and any extra benefits they offer.
If you’re retired and planning to travel, you might want to add Worldwide Travel Cover to your policy. Keep in mind that only AXA and Vitality offer this option.
For pre-existing mental health conditions, The Exeter stands out. Their Healthwise app provides virtual counselling and mental health support, which can be a valuable benefit.
For a detailed review of each health insurance provider, check out the independent reviews from our specialists:
What are the age limits for new health insurance policies?
Here is a table summarising the current age limits from nine UK leading health insurance providers:
| Provider | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Bupa | No age limit |
| AXA Health | 75 years for New Mori, no limit for FMU |
| Aviva | No age limit |
| Vitality | 80 years |
| Freedom Health | 70 years |
| The Exeter | 80 years |
| WPA | Only FMU after 65 years |
| National Friendly | 85 years |
| Saga | No age limit |
Can I keep my workplace private health insurance when I retire?
When you retire, your health insurance will typically end unless you request to continue with the plan. Bupa, AXA, and Vitality Health offer options to continue your coverage, but your premium could increase by up to 40%. This is because standalone policies are usually more expensive than company plans.
If you’re healthy, have no ongoing claims, and haven’t experienced any symptoms recently, you might want to explore a new underwriting option. This could help reduce costs while providing a fresh insurance plan.
Another option is self-pay, where you cover the cost of private treatments yourself. While this can save on monthly premiums, the downside is needing a lump sum readily available when treatment is required.
How can we help you?
Our team of advisers is truly passionate about what we do, and it shows in our decades of experience. Each of our advisers has over 15 years of expertise in arranging health insurance, and together, we bring 40 years of knowledge to the table. We know how overwhelming health insurance can feel—especially for retirees—and we’re here to make it simple for you.
We don’t just help you save money (though we’re really good at that!). We’ll find the perfect policy that fits your needs and lifestyle. And the best part? We’re by your side through it all—from the moment you start exploring your options to the day you need to make a claim. We’re here to make sure your health insurance works for you, every step of the way. Let us take the stress out of the process so you can focus on living your best life!
What customers say about us
Frequently Asked Questions
Have any questions?
Send us a message and one of our dedicated advisors will contact you shortly.
