National Friendly My PMI Level 1 Diagnosis Plus Review: Pros, Cons & What's Included

At a glance: From £22/month · Basic tier · Best for: lowest-cost diagnosis-focused cover, no max joining age until 85 · Excess options: £0–£250

What is National Friendly My PMI Level 1?

This is the entry tier of National Friendly's four-level My PMI range — focused specifically on diagnosis and outpatient treatment rather than full inpatient hospital cover. It's structurally different from most "basic" tiers at other insurers: rather than a stripped-down comprehensive plan, it's purpose-built around getting a fast, private diagnosis, with the expectation that inpatient treatment itself would need a separate plan or top-up.

Who this plan is actually for

• Buyers mainly concerned with avoiding NHS waits for diagnosis — consultations, scans, tests — rather than needing private inpatient treatment covered
• Younger or budget-conscious applicants who want a foot in the door of private healthcare without paying for full inpatient cover they may be unlikely to need soon
• People specifically attracted by National Friendly's joining age of up to 85 who want the lowest-cost way to access that flexibility

Pros

• One of the lowest entry prices in the entire UK PMI market, genuinely useful if diagnosis speed is your main concern rather than inpatient treatment
• Still benefits from National Friendly's joining age of up to 85 and lenient switching terms, even at this lowest tier
• Physio and complementary therapies are included, which is unusual generosity at this price point — many insurers strip therapies out entirely at their lowest tier
• A genuinely useful product for its specific purpose — getting a fast private diagnosis to bypass NHS waiting lists for tests and specialist opinions

Cons

• No inpatient treatment cover at all — if a diagnosis leads to needing surgery or a hospital stay, this plan does not cover that; you'd need a separate plan or to upgrade
• No cancer treatment cover beyond diagnosis — this is a significant and important limitation to understand clearly before choosing this plan; if you're diagnosed with cancer, the treatment itself would not be covered under Level 1
• No mental health cover included
• No-claims discount isn't really applicable in the same way as fuller policies, given the limited scope of what's covered
• Easy to misunderstand what you're actually buying — this is fundamentally a diagnosis product, not a "cheap comprehensive" plan, and treating it as the latter could leave you seriously underinsured for actual treatment costs

What's included as standard

Benefit	Coverage
Cancer cover	Diagnosis only — treatment NOT included
Mental health	Not included
Outpatient cover	Included — this is the core of what the plan covers
Therapies (physio etc.)	Included
Dental & optical	Not included
No-claims discount	Not really applicable given the plan's limited scope
Excess options	£0, £100, £250
Maximum joining age	85

What it costs

Indicative pricing starts from around £22/month, among the lowest entry points in the UK PMI market. This reflects what's genuinely excluded — there's no inpatient or treatment cover, so the low price comes with a correspondingly narrow scope. It is not a substitute for a comprehensive policy if you might need actual hospital treatment.

How it compares

This sits below National Friendly's Level 4 Comprehensive plan — see that full review for the genuinely comprehensive alternative from the same insurer, including full inpatient and unlimited cancer treatment cover.

Should you choose this plan?

This plan suits you specifically if your priority is fast private diagnosis — consultations, scans, tests — and you're comfortable that any subsequent treatment would either go through the NHS or require a separate arrangement. It is not a low-cost substitute for comprehensive cover, and choosing it under that assumption could leave you without the cover you actually need if a serious diagnosis follows.

A whole-of-market broker can see this plan alongside every other option on the table, including ones that might suit you better once your full circumstances are taken into account — which is why speaking to one before you buy is usually worth the five minutes it takes.

Speak to an adviser

Prefer to go direct? Get a quote from National Friendly's own site →

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Prices and features in this review are indicative and based on publicly available product information. Your actual premium will depend on your age, postcode, medical history and chosen cover options. This article is for general information only and is not financial or insurance advice — always confirm current terms with National Friendly or a regulated broker before purchasing, and read the policy documents carefully to understand exactly what is and isn't covered.