Who actually sells family health cover in the UK

A directory of the insurers offering it, each linked to their own published terms, so you know who to ask before you ask them.

UK health insurers

Before you ask an insurer about children's pricing or cover levels, it helps to know which ones operate in this market. Each entry links through to that insurer's own published terms, so you can check the detail yourself.

National Friendly National Deposit Friendly Society

National Friendly (trading name of National Deposit Friendly Society) is a mutual society founded in 1868, offering private medical insurance to individuals in the UK.

Cover types Level 1: quick diagnosis, with access to private GPs and consultants, scans, tests and therapies, plus a few minor operations. Level 2: an allowance towards scans and tests, focused more on in- and day-patient treatment, typically for common cancer treatments and operations, with limited follow-up consultations and therapies source
Established year 1868 source
FCA firm reference 110008 source
Regulator status National Deposit Friendly Society Limited: authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority source

WPA

WPA (Western Provident Association) is a not-for-profit private medical insurer founded in 1901, offering individual, SME and corporate health insurance in the UK.

Cover types Core cover is usually for in-patient treatment; WPA says most people add some out-patient cover (consultations and tests), cancer cover and mental health treatment source
Established year 1901 (origins) source
FCA firm reference 202608 source
Regulator status Western Provident Association Limited (WPA): authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority source

The Exeter

The Exeter is a mutual friendly society established in 1927, offering private medical insurance primarily to individuals in the UK.

Cover types Health+ core cover: in-patient and day-patient treatment, which The Exeter says its core cover never limits; cover for all stages of cancer; and out-patient surgery source
FCA firm reference 205309 source
Regulator status Exeter Friendly Society Limited: authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Register number 205309) source

AXA Health AXA Group

AXA Health (formerly AXA PPP Healthcare) is a major UK private medical insurer, part of the global AXA Group, offering individual, SME and corporate health insurance.

Cover types Options include outpatient diagnosis and care, inpatient and day patient care, and cancer care; mental health care, which must be chosen with one of the other options source
Established year 1940 source
FCA firm reference 202947 source
Regulator status AXA PPP healthcare Limited: authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority source
Underwriter AXA PPP healthcare Limited source

Aviva Health Aviva

Aviva Health is the health insurance division of Aviva, one of the UK's largest insurance companies, offering tiered private medical insurance plans for individuals, families and businesses.

Cover types Core cover includes things like diagnostic tests (blood tests, X-rays and scans) and inpatient, day-patient and outpatient care, including hospital accommodation costs, specialist fees and home nursing when it is possible source
Established year 1990 (incorporated) source
FCA firm reference 308139 source
Regulator status Aviva Health UK Limited: authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 308139) source

Cover level is really a question about each person in your family.

Before you start reading insurers' terms, it helps to see what each person in your household would realistically use — a parent who rarely sees a GP, a child who might need more.