National Friendly My PMI Level 4 Comprehensive Review: Pros, Cons & What's Included

At a glance: From £43/month · Comprehensive tier · Best for: older applicants (up to 85), rate stability, easier switching · Excess options: £0–£500

What is National Friendly My PMI Level 4?

National Friendly is a mutual friendly society founded in 1868, owned by its members rather than shareholders. Its "My PMI" product offers four cover levels, and Level 4 Comprehensive sits at the top — unlimited cancer treatment, a full benefit set, and two features that genuinely stand out in the UK market: the highest maximum joining age of any insurer with a stated limit (85), and a five-year rate guarantee meaning your own claims won't push up your premium mid-term during that period.

Who this plan is actually for

• Older applicants, particularly those in their 70s and 80s, who've found other insurers' maximum joining age a barrier
• Anyone switching from another insurer who wants more lenient terms — National Friendly doesn't ask lifetime "have you ever" medical history questions
• Buyers who want pricing certainty for an extended period rather than facing claims-driven increases at every renewal
• People prioritising unlimited cancer treatment cover without a financial cap

Pros

• Maximum joining age of 85, the highest of any UK insurer with a stated limit — genuinely valuable if you're older and have found other insurers' age caps a barrier
• Five-year rate guarantee, meaning your premium won't rise mid-term due to your own claims during that period — a real point of difference from insurers whose renewal pricing responds to claims annually
• Unlimited cancer treatment included, without a financial cap on the core comprehensive tier
• Notably lenient switching terms — no lifetime "have you ever" medical history questions, which can make moving from a previous insurer more straightforward than with some competitors
• Mutual structure — National Friendly is owned by its members, with profits reinvested for policyholder benefit rather than paid to shareholders

Cons

• Mental health cover is capped at roughly 10 outpatient sessions/year, with no inpatient mental health cover — a meaningful gap if you need more extensive mental health support, since several competitors (Bupa, Vitality) offer materially more
• NHS cash benefits are among the lowest of any insurer assessed in independent reviews — if you intend to use the NHS for some treatment and claim a cash benefit, this may be a smaller payout than competitors offer
• At the five-year review point, the policy is effectively re-underwritten — National Friendly could apply a medical loading or new exclusions for the next five-year period based on what's happened during the previous term, which adds a layer of long-term uncertainty
• Smaller hospital network and less brand recognition than the major composite insurers
• Historical reputational concerns — National Friendly previously closed a similar product to new business some years ago following difficulties, though it has since returned with an improved offering and a new reinsurance arrangement; worth being aware of this history even though the current product reflects genuine improvements

What's included as standard

Benefit	Coverage
Cancer cover	Full — unlimited treatment
Mental health	Included — roughly 10 outpatient sessions/year, no inpatient cover
Outpatient cover	Full at this tier
Therapies (physio etc.)	Included
Dental & optical	Not included
No-claims discount	Available — 5-year rate guarantee against own claims
Excess options	£0, £100, £250, £500
Maximum joining age	85

What it costs

Indicative pricing starts from around £43/month. The five-year rate guarantee is a genuinely distinctive value proposition — it shifts the usual UK PMI pattern of annual claims-responsive pricing into a more predictable multi-year structure, though it's worth understanding what happens at the five-year re-underwriting point before committing long-term.

How it compares

For the wider landscape of insurers serving older applicants, see our best health insurance for over-50s guide, which compares National Friendly's joining-age advantage against Saga's Bupa-backed specialism and Healthier Choices Plus's senior-only focus.

Should you choose this plan?

This plan suits you if your age has been a barrier with other insurers, or if a multi-year rate guarantee against your own claims appeals to you more than the UK market's typical annual claims-responsive pricing. If extensive mental health cover is a priority, it's worth comparing directly against Bupa or Vitality, where standard mental health provision is materially broader.

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 and independent market research. 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.