Choosing private medical insurance PMI policies compared

Private Medical Insurance Policies compared

In May 2011, we compared comprehensive policies from 10 of the largest PMI providers. It is possible to obtain less wide-ranging policies from many of the same firms, but the table below characterises their most comprehensive offerings.   

Private Medical Insurance Compared
PolicyMax age for joining the policyInpatient specialist feesConsultation (outpatient)Cancer provisionMonthly premium 1 - man aged 35Monthly premium 2 - man aged 65Excess (£)
Aviva Healthier Solutionsa99YesbYesDrugs/therapies in full excluding hormone therapy. Monitoring 5 years. Discretionary palliative care£70£220£100pa
Axa Premier NCD cover level 298YesbYes12 months drug therapiesc Post-treatment monitoring 10 years£60£171£100pa
Bupa Health Care Select 1100YesdYesDiscretionary preventative cover. Drugs/therapies in full. Post treatment monitoring. Palliative care£80£161£0
CIGNA Premier Plann/aYesbYesDrugs/therapies in full. Post-treatment monitoring five years£77£266£0
CS Healthcare74YesbYeseDrugs/therapies in full. Palliative cover. Post treatment monitoringf£57£128£0
Exeter Family Friendly Health Cover for Me79YesbYesDrugs/therapies in full. Palliative cover. Post-treatment monitoring£68£179£0
PruHealth79YesYesDrugs/therapies in full. Palliative cover. Post treatment monitoring£75g£185g£0
Saga Supern/aYesbYes12 months drugs/ therapies. Post-treatment monitoring  10 yearsn/a£160£0
Simplyhealth (all modules included)64YesbRh£50,000 lifetime limit. Drugs/therapies. post-treatment monitoring 5 years£41n/a£100pa
WPA Elitei65YesbYes90-day cancer deferment period. Drug therapy in full. 12 month reviewable for advanced therapeuticsj. Post-treatment monitoring 5 years.£36£9325%/£1,000srk

Full Features Table

 

Table notes

 

Using the table

 

Our table shows a selection of cover areas in comprehensive policies from 10 of the largest providers. Unless otherwise stated, 'Yes' means cover is fully provided and not limited in time or money; an 'R' shows that one of these restrictions apply. This table provides an overview and is not exhaustive. Check policy literature to be sure this policy is appropriate for you.

  1. Details correct as of May 2011. Changes to policy's cancer provision are scheduled. See www.Aviva.co.uk for details.
  2. To schedule levels
  3. Chemo subject to 1 year limit
  4. Bupa limits apply if the consultant isn't a Bupa partnership consultant
  5. On referral from your GP, optician, dentist or consultant/specialist.
  6. 5 year initial follow up and thereafter three guaranteed consultations and tests following secondary acute care
  7. Modular policy: Cover selection for our quote - Core Cover, full Cancer Cover, £20k Psychiatric, Vitality Core, Private GP Helpline
  8. Restricted cover: in full up to point of diagnosis. Post-op, covered within 3 months of treatment; or within 2 years follow up to heart surgery; or 5 years follow up to cancer treatment - for heart and cancer respectively, subject to £50,000 limits
  9. WPA also have a policy for over 55s called Active Health Insurance. This policy has similar cover but an annual £150,000 limit
  10. Curative drugs/treatments not readily available on NHS. After 12 months, funding for treatment is reviewed at three-month intervals.
  11. Shared responsibility. Customer pays 25% of costs to an annual cap of £1,000

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