How Much Does Private Health Insurance Cost in the UK? (2026)

UK private medical insurance typically costs anywhere from around £20/month for a healthy 20-something on a basic plan, to £200+/month for comprehensive cover in your 70s. Use the calculator below to see indicative 2026 price ranges by age band across the UK's leading insurers, then read on for the four factors that actually move your premium.

The four factors that set your premium

Every UK insurer prices private medical insurance using broadly the same core levers. Understanding them is the fastest way to make sense of why two quotes for “the same” cover can look so different.

Age — the single biggest factor. Premiums rise steadily through your 30s and 40s and increase more sharply from your 50s onward, because claims become statistically more likely with age.
Postcode — treatment costs more in some regions than others. London and the South East typically add 25–30% to a premium compared with the UK average, reflecting higher private hospital costs in those areas.
Excess — the amount you agree to pay yourself before the insurer covers the rest of a claim. Choosing a higher excess (say £500 instead of £0) typically reduces your premium meaningfully, since you're absorbing more of the smaller claims yourself.
Outpatient cover limit — outpatient treatment (consultations, scans and tests before admission) can be capped at a fixed annual amount, or left unlimited. Lower limits cost less but mean you pay out of pocket once you exceed the cap.

Smaller factors also nudge the price: your chosen hospital list tier (wider access, especially in central London, costs more), whether you smoke, and — with some insurers — wellness or lifestyle engagement.

Want the full picture?

Our complete beginner's guide to private health insurance covers underwriting, moratorium periods, and the key terms you'll see on every quote — everything you need before comparing policies in detail.