As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 750,000 policies, WeCovr understands that choosing private medical insurance for your family in the UK is a significant decision. We are here to compare two excellent smaller providers, General & Medical and The Exeter, to help you find the perfect fit.
When considering private health cover, many families naturally think of the industry giants like Bupa or AXA. However, the UK's private medical insurance market is rich with specialist providers who often offer a more tailored service, unique benefits, and a different ethos.
Two such providers are General & Medical and The Exeter. Whilst they may not have the same household name recognition, they both have a long-standing reputation for providing quality cover and excellent customer care. For families, who have unique and evolving health needs, a smaller, more focused insurer can sometimes be the ideal choice.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down how these two providers stack up, looking at everything from core cover and family-specific benefits to cost and customer service. Our goal is to give you the clarity you need to make an informed decision for your family's health and wellbeing.
Before we dive in, it's vital to understand a fundamental principle of private medical insurance (PMI) in the UK.
PMI is designed to cover acute conditions that arise after you take out your policy.
Understanding this distinction is the key to having the right expectations for what your private health cover can do for you.
Let's get to know our two providers. They come from different backgrounds but share a commitment to providing high-quality health insurance.
Founded in the 1980s, General & Medical has built a strong reputation as a specialist provider of private medical insurance. They pride themselves on offering a wide range of flexible and modular policies, allowing customers to build a plan that precisely matches their needs and budget.
Key characteristics of General & Medical include:
The Exeter has a unique structure that sets it apart: it's a Friendly Society. This means it is owned by its members (the policyholders), not by external shareholders. Any profits are reinvested back into the business to improve products and services or are returned to members. This mutual ethos is at the heart of everything they do.
Key characteristics of The Exeter include:
All PMI policies are built on a foundation of core cover, which primarily deals with treatment you receive whilst admitted to a hospital. This is known as inpatient or day-patient care.
Both General & Medical and The Exeter offer comprehensive cover for these treatments as standard, but there are nuances in what is included.
Feature | General & Medical (Typical Mid-Tier Plan) | The Exeter (Health+ Policy) | What This Means for Families |
---|---|---|---|
Inpatient & Day-Patient Fees | Covered in full | Covered in full | Both providers ensure that if a family member needs surgery or hospital treatment, the costs for specialists and the hospital itself are paid. |
Hospital List | Choice of tiered hospital lists (e.g., Signature, First Choice, Freedom) | Choice of a national list of quality-assessed hospitals or a more restricted list for a lower premium. | A broader list gives you more choice, which can be crucial for accessing a specific paediatric specialist, but it will increase your premium. |
Cancer Cover | Comprehensive cancer cover as standard, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. | Comprehensive cancer cover is standard, with no time or financial limits on chemotherapy and radiotherapy. | This is non-negotiable for most families. Both providers offer robust cancer care, providing immense peace of mind. |
NHS Cash Benefit | Yes, typically around £100-£250 per night. | Yes, typically around £150 per night. | If you choose to use the NHS for inpatient treatment, the insurer pays you a tax-free cash sum. This can help cover incidental costs like travel or childcare. |
Parent Accommodation | Usually covered for a parent to stay with a child under a certain age (e.g., 12). | Covered for one parent to stay in the hospital with an insured child under 18. | A huge benefit. The Exeter's higher age limit of 18 is a significant advantage for families with teenagers. |
The Takeaway: Both providers offer a solid foundation of core cover. The Exeter's more generous parent accommodation policy gives it a slight edge for families with older children. The key decision for a family will be choosing the right hospital list to balance choice against cost.
Outpatient cover is arguably one of the most valuable parts of a family PMI policy. It covers the steps you take before being admitted to a hospital, such as seeing a specialist or having diagnostic tests. For parents worried about a child's health, this can mean getting answers in days rather than waiting weeks or months.
This is almost always an optional add-on, with different levels of cover available.
Here’s how they compare on the key outpatient services:
Feature | General & Medical | The Exeter | Why This Matters for Families |
---|---|---|---|
Specialist Consultations | Optional add-on, with various limits. | Optional add-on, with different levels available. | This gets you fast access to paediatricians, dermatologists, ENT specialists, etc., bypassing long NHS waiting lists. |
Diagnostic Tests (MRI, CT, PET scans) | Usually covered in full if outpatient cover is selected. | Usually covered in full if outpatient cover is selected. | Crucial for a swift diagnosis. Both providers are strong here, recognising the importance of advanced diagnostics. |
Therapies (Physiotherapy, Osteopathy) | Optional add-on, often with a set number of sessions or a cash limit. | Optional add-on. Their Healthwise app also provides access to online physiotherapy assessments. | Essential for active families dealing with sports injuries or musculoskeletal issues. The Exeter's digital physio is a great initial triage tool. |
Mental Health Cover | Optional add-on, with different levels of cover for psychiatric treatment. | A key strength. Cover is often included for outpatient mental health consultations, with a strong focus on getting members quick access to support. | Mental health is a growing concern for families. The Exeter's integrated and robust mental health support is a standout feature. |
The Takeaway: Both offer excellent, flexible outpatient options. The best choice depends on your priorities. If you want maximum flexibility to build a bespoke plan, General & Medical's modular system is appealing. If strong, integrated mental health support and digital tools are a priority, The Exeter's offering is very compelling.
Beyond the core components of inpatient and outpatient care, the best PMI providers for families offer benefits that acknowledge the unique challenges of parenting.
One of the first questions parents ask is how to cover their children.
What happens when your family grows?
For a busy parent, being able to access a GP from home at 10 pm is a game-changer.
Healthwise is more than just a GP app; it's a comprehensive health and wellbeing hub included as standard. This provides enormous day-to-day value for a family.
When you apply for PMI, the insurer needs to know about your medical history to decide what they can cover. There are two main ways they do this:
Both General & Medical and The Exeter offer both underwriting options, allowing you to choose the path that best suits your family's circumstances. A specialist PMI broker like WeCovr can talk you through the pros and cons of each to help you decide.
The cost of a family PMI policy depends on several factors:
To give you an idea, let's look at a hypothetical example.
Scenario: A family of four living in Bristol. Two adults aged 40, one child aged 10, and one child aged 7. They want a mid-tier policy with £1,000 of outpatient cover and a £250 excess.
Provider | Estimated Monthly Premium (Illustrative) | Key Considerations |
---|---|---|
General & Medical | £170 - £220 | This price is highly dependent on the specific modules chosen. Promotions (e.g., free cover for one child) could reduce this. |
The Exeter | £180 - £230 | The premium includes access to the comprehensive Healthwise app. Community rating for children can keep their portion of the premium stable. |
Disclaimer: These figures are purely illustrative for 2025 and are not a quote. The actual premium for your family will depend on your specific circumstances, chosen cover, and underwriting. The only way to get an accurate price is to get a personalised quote.
A great health insurance policy is a safety net, but the best approach is to build a foundation of health and wellbeing. Here are some simple, effective tips for UK families:
As a WeCovr client, you also get complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a fantastic tool to help your family understand their dietary habits and make healthier choices together.
So, after this deep dive, which provider should you choose? As with most things in private medical insurance, there is no single "best" provider—only the best provider for you.
Here’s our expert summary to help you decide:
Choose General & Medical if:
Choose The Exeter if:
Ultimately, the right decision requires balancing your family's specific health needs against your budget. This is where working with an independent PMI broker like WeCovr is invaluable. We don't just give you prices; we take the time to understand your family's requirements and compare policies from across the market, including from these excellent specialist providers. Plus, when you buy PMI or Life Insurance through us, you can get discounts on other types of cover, adding even more value.
Ready to find the best private medical insurance for your family?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from WeCovr today. Our friendly experts will compare policies from leading UK providers to find the perfect protection for the people who matter most.