What is private health insurance?

Although private health insurance is available in the UK, many people are unaware of what it is or how it actually works. While the NHS has provided an invaluable service since 1948, the growing demand for healthcare has put a huge strain on its services. In July 2026, the waiting list for non-urgent treatment reached over 7 million patients, reflecting the enormous pressure on the NHS.

Today, the waiting lists for treatment and delays in GP appointments mean that more and more people are considering alternatives, which is where private health insurance can step in.

The popularity of private health insurance has been growing in recent years, with research showing that approximately 11.8% of the UK population has access to private health insurance.

So, if you are considering private health insurance, it is important to understand the types of coverage you could get, the benefits and the costs.

While this method can get you seen faster, it does come with an additional cost. Treated privately, the average cost of a hip replacement is between £11-17,000. Read on to learn more about private health insurance and how to get started with your business or individual quote.

What is private health insurance?

Put simply, private health insurance is a healthcare policy you pay for monthly that grants you access to private treatment and facilities.

Your monthly fee will be calculated based on your age. As long as you continue, you will be covered for private treatment according to the coverage outlined in your policy. This gives you access to private appointments, tests and surgery if you are ill or injured during the policy’s term, without the high price tag.

How does private health insurance work?

As already explained, you pay a monthly fee which then covers you for a range of different private treatments. To actually use your insurance, the process starts the same as any medical journey, by visiting your GP. Once your appointment is complete, your GP may decide to refer you to a specialist. If they do, you can ask to go through private treatment and contact us to start the claims process.

You can choose any UK hospital where a fixed price package is available for your treatment, allowing you to find a location most convenient to you. Our dedicated team will guide and support you through the process to make it as simple as possible.

Our team will then assess your symptoms and ensure that you are covered for this condition. Once this is done, you will then be able to get a private appointment with the specialist. The invoice will come straight to us, and we’ll pay it directly so you’re never out of pocket.

How is it different from private medical insurance?

Traditional private medical insurance has a reputation for being expensive, with the high costs feeling out of reach for a lot of people and adding more financial strain than people feel it is worth.

Alternatively, private health insurance is a much more affordable option, giving more people the opportunity to gain access to private healthcare.

At Westfield Health, we’ve created a private health insurance plan that is cost-effective and accessible for all. Unlike traditional private medical insurance, we don’t ask for any medical history or whether you are a smoker when applying; instead, we base your premium on your age.

Prices are calculated based on age and, for a 45-year-old, they start from just £10.04 a month for Level 1 cover and £26.90 for Level 2, without outpatient benefit.

We also offer private health insurance for businesses from just £6.12 per employee per month. Providing your employees with private health insurance helps to look after your staff and have them treated and back to full health quicker.

Your premium won’t increase if you do make a claim, so there’s no need to feel apprehensive about using the private health insurance that you pay for. Any new conditions are immediately once your policy starts, and the price you pay won’t be affected by your location or the number of claims you make.

What does private health insurance cover?

For both levels of cover available, you can have 3 surgical procedures per policy year.

At level 1, you have up to a maximum of £100k during a lifetime of cover with access to 61 common procedures, including both hip and knee replacement surgeries.

Westfield Health Level 2 gives you a maximum of £250k during a lifetime of cover, covering you for all procedures excluding heart and cancer-related surgeries.

Common surgeries that are covered include:

• Slipped discs
• Varicose veins
• Hip replacement
• Knee replacement
• Abdominal hernias
• Sinus problems
• Cataracts
• Tonsillitis
• Prostate problems
• Gynaecological problems
• Gallstones

Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered, unless you have been free of symptoms, treatment or advice for 2 continuous years from your commencement date.

One way we keep our private health insurance at a lower cost is by not covering heart disease or cancer-related conditions. Both of these are treated as a priority on the NHS, so it is less likely that you would need to go private in order to get fast treatment for these.

According to the NHS website, in cases where cancer has been confirmed, you should not have to wait more than 31 days from the decision to treat to the start of treatment. This is much quicker than the 18-week target set for non-emergency treatment, making you a higher priority and less reliant on private health insurance.

We do cover you for referral appointments if a heart condition or cancer is suspected, and then if confirmed, your treatment will be provided by the NHS. Not covering surgery and treatment for these conditions helps us to keep your premiums down as these are some of the most expensive treatments. As research shows, these conditions will have you seen as a priority, so private treatment may not be as important.

What does private health insurance exclude?

The coverage and exclusions in private health insurance depend on your policy level and provider. However, some exclusions are common in many cases, including cosmetic procedures, pre-existing conditions and cancers.

What are the benefits of private insurance?

Having private health insurance allows you to skip lengthy NHS waiting times. As reported in the NHS referral to treatment dashboard July 2026, 7.33 million patients were waiting to begin treatment, with 65.4% waiting over 18 weeks.

Although some of the treatments we cover are classed as non-urgent by the NHS, we understand the impact of poor health on quality of life. There is also always the option of getting private treatment, without insurance. However, for either urgent or non-urgent care, this often comes with an extremely high price tag.

If you prefer NHS treatment, we’ll pay a cash benefit directly to you. The amount paid is determined by the band for your surgical procedure.

Other benefits of private health insurance include:

• £1,000 optional outpatient benefit to pay for specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and scans. This is an additional benefit that you can choose to include in your cover for either level of insurance at an added cost.
• Immediate cover for new conditions once your cover has begun. This is any condition that you have not had symptoms of or received treatment/advice for in the 3 years before your cover started.
• Our dedicated team will arrange the treatment package for you.

Should I invest in private health insurance?

Investing in your healthcare is more important than ever right now. With NHS waiting times getting, private health insurance can give you fast access to the treatment.

You can find out more about the different levels of cover available, coverage and the optional outpatient benefit by reading our plan guides.

How to get a private health insurance quote

Getting a private health insurance quote from Westfield Health is simple. Get a quote now for either individual or business coverage.