Your policy excess is the amount you pay towards eligible treatment when you claim. A higher excess can reduce the premium, but the amount depends on the insurer, policy and quote. There is no single savings percentage that applies across UK health insurance. Bupa and AXA Health explain how an excess can affect price and what you pay when you claim.
How an Excess Changes Your Costs
The way an excess is charged depends on the policy. It may apply per claim or reset each policy year, or on another basis. Bupa notes that its policies can use different excess rules; AXA describes different rules across its plans, including a treatment-based reset for its AXA Health Plan. Check the current policy guide and your certificate for the exact amount, when it applies and when it resets.
To see the price effect for your own circumstances, compare quotes with the same cover and excess terms. A lower premium can mean paying more yourself if you claim.
Choosing the Right Excess
1. What can you afford to pay if you claim? Choose an excess you could manage, as well as any treatment costs not covered by your policy.
2. What is the premium difference on your quote? Compare the actual prices for the same policy with different excesses; don't rely on a generic percentage.
3. When and how often does it apply? Check whether your policy charges per claim, per member or on another basis, and whether the excess can reset during ongoing treatment.
Other Ways to Reduce Your Premium
Six-week option — Some policies offer a six-week NHS-wait option. Under Aviva Healthier Solutions, eligible inpatient and day-patient treatment is covered only if NHS treatment is not available within six weeks. This affects when private treatment is covered, so check the exact terms for the policy you are considering. Aviva: ways to change your cover.
Hospital list and outpatient cover — Aviva lists a less extensive hospital option and reduced outpatient cover as ways to lower the Healthier Solutions premium. Compare the benefits as well as the price. Aviva: ways to change your cover.
Sources
- Bupa: Health insurance excess (last updated 28 May 2024; checked 4 October 2026).
- AXA Health: What is an excess? (checked 4 October 2026).
- Aviva: Ways to enhance or reduce your health insurance cover (last updated 4 July 2025; checked 4 October 2026).
Compare policies and excess options →
Last updated: October 2026.