As an FCA-authorised broker that has arranged over 750,000 policies, WeCovr understands that your family's health is your top priority. This guide explores adding loved ones to your private medical insurance in the UK, ensuring you have the clarity to make the best choice for those who matter most.
WeCovr explains adding partners, children, and dependants to PMI policies
Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is designed to give you fast access to high-quality private healthcare for new, treatable medical conditions. But what about your family? The good news is that most UK health insurers make it simple to extend this valuable protection to your loved ones.
A family health insurance policy bundles cover for you, your partner, and your children under a single plan. This approach is not only more convenient, with one set of paperwork and a single renewal date, but it can often be more cost-effective than buying separate policies for each person.
In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about creating a policy that protects your entire family, from who you can add, to how the cost is calculated, and the crucial rules about what is and isn't covered.
Why Consider a Family Health Insurance Policy?
Deciding to invest in private health cover is a significant step. Choosing a family policy brings several powerful advantages that provide both financial sense and invaluable peace of mind.
- Faster Access to Treatment: This is the primary reason most people consider PMI. With NHS waiting lists in the UK remaining a significant concern—the British Medical Association noted the waiting list in England was around 7.5 million in early 2024—PMI allows your family to bypass these queues for eligible conditions. This means a quicker diagnosis and faster treatment when it's needed most.
- Simplicity and Convenience: Managing one policy is far easier than juggling several. You have one premium, one renewal date, and one point of contact for any claims or queries. This streamlines administration and reduces hassle.
- Potential Cost Savings: Insurers often provide discounts for adding family members compared to the total cost of individual policies. The administrative savings for the insurer are passed on to you, making it a more economical choice for covering two or more people.
- Continuity of Care: A family policy ensures everyone is covered under the same terms and benefits (though you can sometimes tailor it). This consistency means you know exactly what to expect, regardless of which family member needs to use the policy.
- Access to Specialist Care and Drugs: The NHS is world-class, but it has budget limitations. PMI can provide access to specialist consultants, advanced diagnostic scans, and breakthrough treatments or drugs that may not be available on the NHS due to cost.
For many families, the combination of speed, choice, and comfort makes private medical insurance a cornerstone of their health and wellbeing strategy.
Who Can I Add to My Private Health Insurance Policy?
Insurers have clear definitions for who qualifies as a dependant. Let's explore the common categories.
Adding Your Partner or Spouse
You can almost always add your partner to your policy, whether you are:
- Legally married
- In a civil partnership
- Cohabiting (living together as a couple)
When adding a partner, they will be subject to the same underwriting process as you. You'll need to provide their personal details (name, date of birth) and declare their medical history, just as you did for yourself. This ensures the insurer has a clear picture of the risk and can set the terms of the cover accordingly.
Adding Your Children
Adding children is one of the most popular features of family PMI. Here's what you need to know:
- Age Limits: Insurers typically allow you to add children up to the age of 21. This is often extended to 24 or 25 if they are still in full-time education. This is a key detail to check, as it varies between providers.
- Newborns: Most insurers allow you to add a newborn baby to your policy, often with special terms. Some may offer a "free cover" period for the first few months, or they may require you to add them at your next renewal. It's vital to inform your insurer as soon as possible after the birth to ensure the baby is covered.
- Adopted Children and Stepchildren: Yes, adopted children and stepchildren can be added to a family policy in the same way as biological children. They are considered eligible dependants.
When adding a child, especially an older one, they will also be underwritten based on their medical history.
A Quick Comparison of Child Age Limits (Illustrative)
Insurer | Standard Child Age Limit | Extended Limit (Full-Time Education) |
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AXA Health | Up to 20 | Up to 25 |
Aviva | Up to 21 | Up to 25 |
Bupa | Up to 21 | Up to 24 |
Vitality | Up to 25 | N/A |
Note: These details are for illustrative purposes and can change. A WeCovr adviser can provide the most current information for each insurer.
Adding Other Dependants
This is less common. Standard family policies are typically designed for partners and children. Adding an elderly parent, for instance, is usually not possible under the same family plan. They would almost always require their own separate policy, which would be priced based on their age and health status.
The Core Rule of UK PMI: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
This is the single most important concept to understand about private medical insurance in the UK. Failure to grasp this can lead to disappointment at the point of claim.
PMI is designed to cover acute
conditions that arise after
your policy begins.
-
An Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include cataracts, joint problems needing replacement, hernias, and most infections. PMI excels here, providing fast access to surgery and treatment to resolve the issue.
-
A Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs long-term monitoring, has no known cure, is likely to recur, or requires ongoing management. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Standard UK PMI does not cover the routine management of chronic conditions.
-
Pre-existing Conditions: This refers to any ailment for which you have experienced symptoms, sought advice, or received treatment before the start of your policy (typically within the last five years). These are also excluded from cover, at least initially.
PMI works alongside the NHS. The NHS will continue to provide emergency care and manage any long-term chronic conditions. PMI provides a parallel route for new, curable conditions, allowing you to get back on your feet faster.
How Does Underwriting Work for Family Members?
Underwriting is the process an insurer uses to assess risk and decide on the terms of your policy. Each person on a family plan is underwritten individually, even though they are all on the same policy. There are two main types.
Moratorium Underwriting (Mori)
This is the most common and simplest method. You don't need to complete a detailed medical questionnaire. Instead, the insurer applies a general rule:
- Any medical condition you (or a family member) have had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before the policy starts is automatically excluded.
- However, if you then complete 2 full, continuous years on the policy without any symptoms, treatment, or advice for that specific condition, it may become eligible for cover.
It’s a "wait and see" approach. It's quick to set up but can create uncertainty about what's covered until you need to make a claim.
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
With FMU, you and each family member joining the policy must complete a detailed health questionnaire. You must declare your full medical history.
Based on this information, the insurer will give you a definitive list of what is and isn't covered from day one. Any specific conditions they choose to exclude will be listed in writing on your policy documents. These exclusions are often permanent.
Which is Better for a Family?
- Moratorium is great for families who are generally healthy and want a quick and simple application process.
- Full Medical Underwriting is better for those who want absolute clarity from the start, or for individuals who have had minor health issues in the past that they believe an insurer might agree to cover.
An expert PMI broker like WeCovr can discuss your family's specific health history and help you decide which underwriting method is the most suitable.
The Cost of Adding Family Members to Your PMI
The price of a family health insurance policy is not one-size-fits-all. It is calculated based on a combination of factors for each individual on the policy.
Key Factors Influencing Your Premium:
- Age and Number of Members: The older a person is, the higher their portion of the premium will be. Adding more people increases the overall cost, but the 'per-person' price is often lower than it would be on an individual plan.
- Level of Cover: Policies range from basic (covering inpatient treatment only) to comprehensive (including outpatient consultations, diagnostics, and therapies). The more extensive the cover, the higher the price.
- Policy Excess: This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. A higher excess (e.g., £500) will significantly lower your monthly premium compared to a lower excess (e.g., £100).
- Hospital List: Insurers offer different tiers of hospitals. A list that includes only local private hospitals will be cheaper than one that provides access to premium central London hospitals.
- Your Postcode: The cost of private treatment varies across the country, so your home address can influence the premium.
Example Family PMI Costs (Illustrative)
To give you a rough idea, here are some sample monthly premiums. These are for illustrative purposes only and will vary widely based on the factors above.
Family Composition | Example Monthly Premium (Mid-Range Cover, £250 Excess) | Example Monthly Premium (Comprehensive Cover, £100 Excess) |
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Couple (Both aged 35) | £85 - £120 | £130 - £180 |
Family of 3 (Parents 40, Child 8) | £110 - £160 | £170 - £240 |
Family of 4 (Parents 42, Children 12 & 10) | £130 - £190 | £200 - £280 |
The only way to get an accurate price is to get a tailored quote.
The Process: How to Add a Family Member to a Policy
Whether you're starting from scratch or have an existing policy, the process is straightforward.
Adding Family to a New Policy
- Gather Details: Collate the full name, date of birth, and address for every family member you wish to include.
- Discuss Health History: Have an open conversation with your partner about any pre-existing conditions.
- Get Comparative Quotes: This is where WeCovr adds huge value. We will take your family's details and compare policies and prices from across the UK's leading insurers, saving you time and money.
- Choose Underwriting: We'll help you decide between Moratorium and Full Medical Underwriting.
- Complete the Application: We'll guide you through the application to ensure everything is completed accurately.
Adding a Family Member to an Existing Policy
It's usually easiest to add a family member at your annual policy renewal.
- Contact Your Broker: Let your adviser at WeCovr know you want to add someone before your renewal date.
- Provide Details: You'll need to supply the new member's personal information.
- Underwriting: The new person will be underwritten (either Mori or FMU). Their medical history will not affect the cover for existing members.
- Receive New Premium: Your premium will be recalculated to include the additional person, and you'll receive your new policy documents.
In special circumstances, such as a marriage or birth, most insurers will allow you to add a family member mid-term. It's important to contact your provider or broker as soon as possible after the event.
Are There Any Special Benefits for Families?
Modern private health insurance is about more than just paying for claims; it's about promoting a healthy lifestyle. This is especially true for family policies.
- Wellness and Reward Programmes: Insurers like Vitality are famous for rewarding families for staying active. By tracking your activity through apps and wearable tech, you can earn discounts on your premium, as well as weekly cinema tickets or coffee.
- Exclusive WeCovr Benefits: When you arrange your PMI with us, your family gets complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, to help you build healthy habits together. Furthermore, PMI clients often qualify for discounts on other products like life insurance or income protection.
- Virtual GP Services: This is a game-changer for parents. Most policies now include 24/7 access to a virtual GP via phone or video call. You can get medical advice, prescriptions, or a referral for your child without leaving your home.
- Mental Health Support: Recognising the pressures on modern families, insurers have vastly improved their mental health cover. This often includes access to counselling or therapy without needing a GP referral first, providing quick support for issues like anxiety or stress for both adults and teenagers.
Real-Life Example: The Taylor Family's Journey
Let's look at a typical scenario.
Mark (42) and Laura (40) have two children, Emily (11) and Ben (7). They are a healthy, active family but are increasingly worried about long NHS waits for common childhood procedures and diagnostics. Laura's friend recently waited 14 months for her son to have his tonsils removed.
They decide to explore their options and contact WeCovr. Their adviser explains the difference between a basic and a comprehensive policy. They decide on a mid-range plan from Aviva that includes good outpatient cover. Because they have no major health concerns, they opt for Moratorium underwriting for its simplicity.
Their policy costs them £145 per month with a £250 excess. Nine months later, Ben starts suffering from recurrent ear infections. Their GP suspects 'glue ear' and says the NHS audiology referral could take months. They call their PMI provider, who authorises an immediate consultation with a private ENT specialist. The specialist recommends grommet surgery, which is scheduled for just three weeks later in a clean, comfortable private hospital.
The policy covered the entire cost, minus their £250 excess. For the Taylors, the peace of mind and speed of treatment confirmed they had made the right decision for their family.
Top Tips for Choosing Family Health Cover
- Use an Independent Broker: A broker like WeCovr works for you, not the insurer. We provide impartial advice and compare the market to find the best value, at no cost to you.
- Review Cover Annually: Don't just auto-renew. Your family's needs change. We can re-shop the market for you each year to ensure you're still on the best plan.
- Check the Hospital List: Ensure the list of approved hospitals includes facilities that are convenient for you and have a good reputation.
- Understand the Excess: Choose an excess level you are genuinely comfortable paying. A higher excess saves money on premiums but means a larger upfront cost if you claim.
- Read the Outpatient Cover Details: This is a common area where cheaper policies cut back. Check the financial limit for consultations and diagnostic scans.
- Be Honest: Always be truthful on your application, whether it's a Mori or FMU policy. Inaccurate information can invalidate your cover when you need it most.
Protecting your family's health is one of the most important investments you can make. A family private medical insurance policy provides a robust safety net, ensuring that when medical issues arise, your loved ones can receive the best care, quickly.
Ready to find the right protection for your family? The experts at WeCovr are here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today and compare the leading UK health insurers in minutes.
Can I add my elderly parents to my health insurance policy?
Generally, no. Standard UK family health insurance policies are designed for partners and dependent children. Your elderly parents would typically need to take out their own individual policy. Premiums would be based on their age and medical history, and it's important to note that cover for pre-existing conditions would be excluded.
Is it cheaper to get a family health insurance policy than individual ones?
In most cases, yes. Insurers usually offer a discount for each person added to a policy, making the total premium for a family plan cheaper than the combined cost of separate individual policies for each family member. It also simplifies administration with a single point of contact and renewal date.
What happens when my child is too old for my family policy?
When your child reaches the insurer's age limit (e.g., 21, or 25 if in education), they will need to take out their own individual policy to remain covered. The good news is that most insurers offer "continuation" options. This allows your child to switch to their own policy without any new medical underwriting, meaning any conditions that were covered under the family plan will continue to be covered under their new plan.
Do I need to declare every past illness for my family members?
It depends on the type of underwriting you choose. If you opt for Full Medical Underwriting (FMU), you must declare the full medical history for each family member. If you choose Moratorium underwriting, you do not need to provide a medical history upfront, as the policy automatically excludes conditions from the past 5 years until you have been symptom-free for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts.