Family health insurance

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Family health insurance could help your loved ones get treatment sooner

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Family health insurance

Nothing matters more than you and your family’s health. And if you’re worried about falling ill and facing a long wait for an NHS appointment, you may well be wondering about family health insurance.  

Millions of people across the UK have private health insurance, but it can be difficult to work out exactly what’s included with your policy – and whether it’s worth the money. Here’s what you need to know. 

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Why should I get private health insurance for my family?

There are a few reasons why you might choose family private health insurance if you suffer an illness or need treatment (though you’ll still need to go to an NHS A&E in an emergency): 

  • Shorter waiting times 

  • Faster diagnosis and treatment 

  • Private rooms  

  • A choice of hospital and surgeon 

  • Potential access to medication or treatments unavailable on the NHS. 

You can add your partner and children to your policy so the whole family is covered. This can be cheaper than buying individual cover for each family member.

If you already have a joint policy with your partner or spouse, it can make sense to opt for family health insurance if little ones come along.

Family health insurance can give you easier access to inpatient treatments (e.g. surgery involving an overnight stay) day patient (e.g. a small surgical procedure but you go home same day) and outpatient treatments (e.g. consultations or tests). While it’s unlikely to cover treatments for pre-existing conditions, you may be able to amend your policy for more cover.  

The cost of private health insurance will vary depending on your needs, but there are various ways to bring your premium down. Provide a few basic details to compare quotes with us.

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What does family health insurance cover?

Family health insurance policies vary, depending on the insurance provider. Policies will typically cover inpatient treatment and hospital stays for a planned procedure, day patient treatment, outpatient treatment and specialist consultations.

Bolt ons that may be included or added as paid-for extras

Physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathic treatments  

Dental care

Eye and hearing care

Dietitian consultants

Specific cancer cover

Digital GP appointments

Mental health care

Home nursing

Things that are typically not covered

Pre-existing conditions 

Chronic conditions that require routine treatment

Emergency care

Pregnancy and giving birth

Injuries caused by high-risk sports or activities  

Weight loss treatments 

Cosmetic surgery (unless medically necessary)

Bear in mind...

You can tailor your policy to suit your family’s needs, with your premium adjusted accordingly.

You might also want to check whether your family medical insurance policy covers testing and diagnosis. 

What happens if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Health insurance generally doesn’t cover pre-existing medical conditions – an ailment or health issue you had before the policy started.

Common examples of such conditions include asthma, diabetes and epilepsy. However, what is classed as a pre-existing condition can depend on how your family health insurance policy is underwritten.

Underwriting is how the insurer assesses your overall health, to be able to work out what premiums to charge you.   There are two main types you can choose from: full medical underwriting and moratorium underwriting.  

Full medical underwriting 

If you choose this type of policy, you’ll need to complete a full health questionnaire for each family member. In some cases, you may need to give the provider access to your medical records.

The insurance provider then decides what conditions they will and won’t cover, and this should be clearly spelled out on your family health insurance policy.

Even if a condition isn’t covered by your private health insurance, it doesn’t mean you can’t get treatment. Some private healthcare providers let you ‘pay as you go’ for private treatment. And there’s nothing to stop you getting treatment on the NHS. 

Moratorium underwriting

With this type of policy, you won’t be asked about you and your family’s full medical history.

Instead, you can take the policy out more easily (and often more quickly) without checks, but the insurer usually won’t cover you if you claim for any health conditions you’ve suffered in the previous five years.

However, if you go without treatment, medication or advice for a particular condition for a set number of years (often two), you may then be able to get cover for it again in the future. 

How much does family health insurance cost?

The cost of family health insurance varies from policy to policy. How much you pay for medical insurance for your family will depend on several factors, including:  

  • How many family members you want to insure 

  • Your age (and that of your family members) 

  • Your family’s medical history 

  • Where you live 

  • The level of cover you need  

  • Any extras you want to add to your policy 

  • Your family’s general health and lifestyle. 

When you compare with us, you can choose from different options to find the cover you need, at a price that fits your budget. 

How can I reduce the cost of my private family health insurance?

Insurance providers typically let you tailor your package to fit your lifestyle, budget and family healthcare needs. Inevitably, the younger, fitter and healthier you are, the cheaper your premiums will be.

However, there are other ways you could potentially lower the cost of your premium.

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Pick the ‘six weeks’ option

You can agree to receive NHS care, rather than private, if your appointment is within six weeks of a referral

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Keep extras to a minimum

Bolt-ons such as physiotherapy could increase the cost of your premium so consider whether you really need them

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Pay a higher excess

You can boost the amount you pay towards any treatment, much like you do with car insurance

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Choose lower cover limits

Some providers may let you choose lower cover limits for certain types of treatment (but make sure the cover you get meets your needs)

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Pay annually 

This is usually cheaper than paying monthly as you won’t be charged interest

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Reduce your choice of hospitals

You can agree to limit the range of hospitals you have access to

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Live healthily

Non-smokers normally pay less. Also, some insurance providers offer lower premiums if you can prove you have a healthy weight or regularly visit the gym

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Check with your employer

They may offer a discounted health insurance scheme and will often let you add family members to your policy

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Compare different policies

Explore family health insurance policies from different providers to make sure you’re getting suitable cover for your family at the right price

What else should I think about before taking out health insurance?

Before deciding which health insurance policy could best suit you and your family, make sure you consider: 

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Your age

Some policies have a maximum age limit for adults and for children covered on your policy

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The treatment type

The sort of treatment you’re likely to need. For example, children may benefit from extra dental cover

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Activities and sports

Ones that might increase your family’s need for physiotherapy

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Your family’s health history

Plus and how it may affect what’s included and excluded. Check carefully to see if any pre-existing medical conditions are covered

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Hereditary conditions

If your family has a history of, say, cancer or heart disease, make sure you’ll be covered for treatment 

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Disabilities

If you or a family member has a disability, check to see if your policy covers any related treatment

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How often you travel

Most health insurance providers won’t cover you outside the UK, so you’ll need separate travel insurance

Tim Knighton

What our expert says...

“There’s nothing more important to us than our family’s health. The NHS is a national treasure, but the wait for an appointment can be excruciating. With private health insurance for your family, you could cut down on waiting times and get access to treatment that might not be available on the NHS. And not having to wait to get your child the care they need is a huge win for parental peace of mind.  

“Family health insurance in the UK can be quite flexible, so you can build the policy you want. You often have the option to add in useful extras – such as dental cover – and take out what you don’t need – a wider choice of hospitals, for example. And you could benefit from rewards, such as discounted gym memberships, to help you and your family stay healthy together.” 

What do I need to get a quote?

To start comparing family health insurance with us, we’ll need to know:

  • How many family members you want to insure

  • How much cover you’d like

  • The maximum excess you want to pay

  • If you or any family member is a smoker.

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FAQs

Can we get health insurance as a couple?

Yes, you can buy joint health insurance policies that cover treatment costs for you and your spouse or partner. It could be cheaper than buying individual policies, but make sure the cover suits both your needs.

Do I need family health insurance if I’m covered through work?

If you get private health insurance as part of an employment benefits package, it may only cover you - not your family. However, you may be able to extend your cover to add your family. If that’s the case, you won’t need another family health insurance policy. 

If you can’t add your family to your work policy, you might want to consider separate cover for them.  

Will my family need a medical to access cover?

As long as there are no pre-existing medical conditions, your family won’t need medicals to get cover. You’ll just need to fill out a family medical history form. 

If you do suffer from a pre-existing or chronic condition, the insurance provider may need further information from your GP to decide what they will and won’t cover.  

Does family health insurance cover sports activities?

Some health insurance providers won’t cover dangerous sport such as surfing, skydiving or climbing. Or they may charge you more to cover high-risk activities like skiing. And you’re unlikely to be covered if you play sport professionally.  

If someone in your family plays amateur team sports, such as football or rugby, they might be covered by their club. 

Before you buy a policy, check the terms and conditions to see if it covers sports injuries. If not, you may want to add specific sports-related cover. Just be aware that you probably won’t be covered for any pre-existing injuries. 

Can my family and I still use the NHS?

Absolutely. Even with private health insurance, you and your family still have a right to free NHS care. The NHS will also treat you for eventualities that your family health insurance doesn’t cover – for example, emergency care or treatment for a pre-existing condition. 

What's a health cash plan?

With a health cash plan, you pay a set amount each month in return for a payout towards routine healthcare, such as dental or optician appointments. The monthly premiums are usually cheaper than for a health insurance policy but won’t give you the same access to medical treatment. 

Where can I compare family health insurance?

You can compare family health insurance quotes with Compare the Market. Fill in a few details and we’ll send you a list of providers to choose from. 

You can compare quotes quickly and easily to find a policy that matches your needs. 

Tim Knighton
Reviewed 11 Jun 2026 by Tim Knighton Life, health and income protection insurance expert

Tim Knighton is an expert in building and managing relationships with big brands for the benefit of customers, with more than 20 years of experience. He seeks out the right products that look after you and those you love most during the toughest times.

Family health insurance

1 Correct as of June 2026.