UK Diagnostic Delay Crisis 2026
UK 2026 Shock New Data Reveals Over 1 in 4 Britons Face Critical Diagnostic Delays, Fueling a Staggering £4.1 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Progressive Illness, Complex Treatments, and Diminished Quality of Life – Your PMI Pathway to Rapid Diagnosis & LCIIP Shielding Your Future Against Unseen Health Threats
The United Kingdom is standing on the precipice of a healthcare challenge of unprecedented scale. As we move through 2025, the echoes of a strained system are becoming a deafening roar. Projections based on the latest NHS data and analysis from leading health think tanks paint a stark picture: more than one in four Britons could face a clinically significant delay in receiving a diagnosis for a serious condition. This isn't merely an inconvenience; it's a crisis that carries a devastating human and financial cost.
For an individual, a delayed diagnosis can trigger a domino effect of progressive illness, more complex and invasive treatments, and a severely diminished quality of life. When modelled for a high-earning individual in their prime, the potential lifetime financial burden—encompassing loss of income, private treatment costs, ongoing care, and home modifications—can exceed a staggering £4.1 million. This is the unseen threat that looms over millions of families, business owners, and self-employed professionals across the country.
But in the face of this challenge, there is a clear pathway to security and peace of mind. This definitive guide will illuminate the scale of the diagnostic delay crisis, explore its profound impact, and reveal how a strategic combination of Private Medical Insurance (PMI) and a robust Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) portfolio can serve as your personal shield, ensuring you get the rapid diagnosis you need and the financial protection you deserve.
The Anatomy of the 2026 Diagnostic Delay Crisis
Understanding the crisis requires looking beyond the headlines and into the data. The numbers reveal a system under immense pressure, with waiting lists for diagnostics and treatment reaching levels that compromise patient outcomes.
The Numbers Don't Lie: A System at Breaking Point
The official NHS target states that 95% of patients should wait no more than 6 weeks for a diagnostic test. However, data from early 2025 shows this target is being missed by a significant margin.
- Overall Waiting List: The total number of people waiting for consultant-led elective care in England has continued to swell, with projections indicating it could surpass 8 million treatment pathways in 2025.
- Diagnostic Bottlenecks: Analysis reveals that hundreds of thousands of patients are waiting longer than the 6-week target for crucial tests like MRIs, CT scans, endoscopies, and ultrasounds. A significant portion of these individuals have been waiting for over three months.
- The Cancer Care Chasm: The critical "62-day" standard, which mandates that 85% of patients with an urgent cancer referral should start treatment within 62 days, has been consistently missed. These delays can mean the difference between a treatable condition and a terminal diagnosis.
To put this into perspective, let's look at the trajectory of diagnostic waiting times.
| Metric | 2019 (Pre-Pandemic) | 2023 | 2025 (Projection) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients waiting >6 weeks for diagnostics | ~50,000 | ~350,000 | >450,000 |
| Total waiting list (referral to treatment) | 4.4 million | 7.7 million | >8.0 million |
| Median wait for treatment (weeks) | 8.4 | 14.5 | >16.0 |
Source: Projections based on analysis of NHS England data and trends reported by The King's Fund and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Why Is This Happening? The Root Causes
This crisis is not the result of a single failure but a convergence of powerful factors that have been building for years:
- Lingering Pandemic Backlog: The monumental effort to tackle COVID-19 led to millions of cancelled appointments and procedures, creating a backlog that the system is still struggling to clear.
- Chronic Staff Shortages: The UK faces a severe shortage of key medical professionals, including radiologists, sonographers, gastroenterologists, and specialist nurses, who are essential for performing and interpreting diagnostic tests.
- Ageing Infrastructure: Decades of underinvestment have left many hospitals with outdated diagnostic equipment (MRI and CT scanners) that are slower and more prone to breakdowns.
- A Growing and Ageing Population: As people live longer, they develop more complex, long-term conditions that require ongoing monitoring and diagnostics, placing ever-increasing demand on services.
The Domino Effect: How Delayed Diagnosis Crushes Health and Finances
A wait for a diagnosis is never just a wait. It is a period of intense anxiety where a condition can silently progress, treatment options can narrow, and the future can become increasingly uncertain.
Progressive Illness: When Every Week Counts
For many of the UK's biggest killers, including cancer, heart disease, and neurological conditions, early diagnosis is the single most important factor in determining a positive outcome. A delay of just a few months can fundamentally change a patient's prognosis.
Let's examine the stark difference between early and late diagnosis for two common conditions:
| Condition | Early Diagnosis & Treatment | Late Diagnosis & Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Bowel Cancer | Often treatable with minimally invasive surgery (e.g., removing a polyp). Survival rates are over 90%. | May require extensive surgery, chemotherapy, and a colostomy bag. The cancer may have spread, drastically reducing survival rates. |
| Coronary Artery Disease | Can be managed with lifestyle changes, medication, and possibly a stent. Patient can return to a normal, active life. | Can lead to a major heart attack, requiring emergency bypass surgery, causing permanent heart muscle damage and a lifetime of medication. |
The Staggering £4.1 Million+ Financial Burden: An Illustrative Breakdown
The headline figure of a £4.1 million lifetime burden may seem abstract, but for a high-earning professional, director, or business owner, it is a terrifyingly plausible scenario. Let's break down how a delayed diagnosis of a severe condition, like a neurological disorder, could lead to such a devastating financial impact for a 45-year-old earning £150,000 per year.
- Loss of Future Earnings: A career cut short at 45 could mean a loss of 20 years of peak earnings. Even at a conservative estimate, this could easily amount to £2,500,000 - £3,000,000 in lost gross income.
- Cost of Private Care & Therapies: While some care is available on the NHS, specialist neurological physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support can be extensive. Over a 20-30 year period, this can accumulate to £300,000 - £500,000.
- Essential Home Adaptations: Installing ramps, a stairlift, a wet room, and other necessary modifications to maintain a degree of independence can cost £50,000 - £100,000.
- Specialist Equipment & Transport: An advanced wheelchair, a modified vehicle, and other assistive technologies can add up to another £100,000 - £150,000 over a lifetime.
- Loss of Pension Contributions: The cessation of earnings also means the end of pension contributions from both the individual and their employer, significantly impacting retirement security. This can represent a future loss of £300,000+.
- Impact on Spouse's Career: Often, a partner must reduce their working hours or give up their career entirely to become a full-time carer, further compounding the family's financial losses.
When combined, these direct and indirect costs paint a clear picture of how the financial fallout from a single delayed diagnosis can spiral into the millions, wiping out a lifetime of savings and jeopardising a family's entire future.
Your Proactive Solution: Private Medical Insurance (PMI) – The Fast-Track to Certainty
In a system where time is a luxury many cannot afford, Private Medical Insurance (PMI) offers a direct and powerful solution: speed. It is designed to work alongside the NHS, giving you a private pathway to bypass the queues when you need it most.
What is PMI?
At its core, PMI is a health insurance policy that covers the costs of private medical treatment for acute conditions (illnesses that are short-term and likely to respond to treatment). Its primary benefit in the current climate is providing prompt access to specialist consultations and, crucially, diagnostic tests.
How PMI Smashes Through Waiting Lists
The difference between the standard NHS pathway and the PMI pathway is dramatic.
| NHS Pathway | PMI Pathway |
|---|---|
| 1. GP Visit: You see your NHS GP about a worrying symptom. | 1. GP Visit: You see your NHS GP or use the policy's Digital GP service. |
| 2. NHS Referral: Your GP refers you to an NHS specialist. | 2. Private Referral: You receive an open referral for a private specialist. |
| 3. The Wait: You are placed on the NHS waiting list. This can last for weeks or, increasingly, many months. | 3. Insurer Authorisation: You call your PMI provider, get the consultation authorised, and they may provide a list of approved specialists. |
| 4. NHS Consultation: You finally see the NHS consultant. | 4. Private Consultation: You see the private consultant, often within days. |
| 5. The Diagnostic Wait: The consultant refers you for a scan (e.g., MRI). You go on another waiting list. | 5. Rapid Diagnostics: The consultant refers you for a scan, which is authorised by the insurer and typically carried out within a week at a private hospital or clinic. |
| 6. The Treatment Wait: After diagnosis, you are placed on a waiting list for treatment. | 6. Prompt Treatment: Your treatment is authorised and scheduled promptly in a private hospital. |
This expedited process doesn't just reduce anxiety; it can fundamentally alter your medical outcome by ensuring a diagnosis is made at the earliest, most treatable stage.
Beyond Speed: The Added Benefits of a Private Pathway
PMI offers more than just promptness. Policyholders benefit from:
- Choice: You can often choose the specialist consultant and the hospital where you receive your treatment.
- Comfort: Treatment is delivered in a private hospital, typically with a private en-suite room, more flexible visiting hours, and better food.
- Advanced Treatments: PMI policies can provide access to new drugs or treatments that may not yet be available on the NHS due to cost or NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) approval delays.
- Integrated Support: Many modern PMI plans include valuable extras like 24/7 digital GP access, mental health support lines, and physiotherapy sessions without needing a GP referral.
Navigating the world of PMI can be complex, with different levels of cover (e.g., comprehensive, treatment-only) and options like a 6-week wait clause. This is where an expert broker becomes invaluable. At WeCovr, we specialise in cutting through the jargon. We compare plans from all of the UK's leading insurers to find a policy that matches your specific needs and budget, ensuring you have the right protection in place.
Shielding Your Future: Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP)
While PMI is your key to unlocking rapid treatment, it doesn't protect your income or pay your mortgage if a serious illness stops you from working. This is where the "LCIIP" safety net comes in. These policies are designed to protect your financial world when your physical world is turned upside down.
The Financial Safety Net You Can't Afford to Ignore
A complete protection strategy addresses two separate problems: the cost of getting well (PMI) and the cost of being ill (LCIIP).
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Income Protection (IP): The Cornerstone of Your Defence Often described by financial experts as the most important protection policy of all, Income Protection pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury. It continues to pay out until you can return to work, your policy term ends (typically at retirement age), or you pass away. Key features include the deferment period (the time you wait before payments start, e.g., 4, 13, 26 weeks) and the definition of incapacity. The "own occupation" definition is the gold standard, as it pays out if you are unable to do your specific job, rather than just any job.
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Critical Illness Cover (CIC): A Lump Sum for Life's Biggest Challenges This cover pays out a tax-free lump sum on the diagnosis of a specified serious condition, such as some types of cancer, heart attack, or stroke. This money is yours to use as you see fit. It can be used to:
- Clear your mortgage or other debts.
- Pay for private treatment not covered by PMI.
- Adapt your home.
- Replace a partner's income if they need to stop work to care for you.
- Provide a financial cushion to allow you to focus on recovery without financial stress.
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Life Insurance: The Foundational Protection The most well-known form of protection, Life Insurance provides a lump sum or regular income to your loved ones if you pass away. It ensures your mortgage can be paid off and your family can maintain their standard of living without your income. Types include Level Term (payout remains the same) and Decreasing Term (payout reduces over time, designed to cover a repayment mortgage).
Your Comprehensive Protection Portfolio
These products are not mutually exclusive; they are designed to work together to provide a seamless web of security.
| Scenario | PMI Role | Income Protection Role | Critical Illness Cover Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| You suffer back pain and need an MRI & surgery. | Pays for a swift consultation, MRI scan, and private surgery to get you back on your feet quickly. | After your deferment period, it pays a monthly income to cover your bills while you are off work recovering. | Not applicable for this condition, so no payout. |
| You are diagnosed with a specified type of cancer. | Pays for consultations, diagnostics (biopsy, scans), chemotherapy, and surgery in a private hospital. | Pays a monthly income to support you during a potentially long period of treatment and recovery. | Pays a large, tax-free lump sum upon diagnosis to clear debts and reduce financial pressure. |
Building the right blend of cover requires expert advice to ensure there are no gaps in your protection and that you are not paying for overlapping features.
Specialist Protection for Directors, Business Owners, and the Self-Employed
If you run your own business or work for yourself, the stakes are even higher. Your personal health is inextricably linked to the health of your business. A period of illness doesn't just mean a loss of personal income; it can threaten the very survival of the enterprise you have worked so hard to build.
The Unique Risks of Running Your Own Show
- No Sick Pay: You have no employer to fall back on for sick pay. If you don't work, you don't earn.
- Business Continuity: Your absence can lead to missed deadlines, lost contracts, and a decline in service quality, damaging your business's reputation and profitability.
- Financial Liabilities: Business loans, leases, and supplier payments don't stop just because you are unwell.
Fortunately, there are specialist insurance products designed to mitigate these exact risks, often in a highly tax-efficient manner.
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Executive Income Protection: This is an Income Protection policy owned and paid for by your limited company. The premiums are typically considered an allowable business expense, making it a tax-efficient way to secure an income for a key director. The benefit is paid to the company, which then pays it to you via PAYE.
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Key Person Insurance: This is a Life Insurance or Critical Illness policy taken out by the business on a key individual whose death or serious illness would cause a significant financial loss to the company. The payout goes directly to the business, providing the capital needed to hire a replacement, cover lost profits, or reassure lenders and investors.
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Relevant Life Cover: A tax-efficient alternative to a traditional "death-in-service" scheme, perfect for small businesses. The company pays the premiums for a director's or employee's life insurance, but it is not treated as a P11D benefit-in-kind. The payout goes to the individual's family via a trust, free from inheritance tax.
For freelancers and sole traders, a robust personal Income Protection policy is non-negotiable. Some insurers also offer Personal Sick Pay policies with very short deferment periods (as little as one week), which are ideal for tradespeople and others in riskier jobs who need immediate financial support if an injury stops them from working. As specialists in business and self-employed protection, WeCovr can help you construct a resilient financial plan that protects both you and your business.
Proactive Health & Wellness: Taking Control While You're Well
While insurance provides a crucial safety net, the first line of defence is always a proactive approach to your own health. The choices you make every day have a profound impact on your long-term risk of developing the very chronic diseases that are straining our health service.
Pillar 1: Diet & Nutrition
What you eat is fundamental to your health. A diet rich in whole foods can reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and control blood sugar. Focus on:
- Fruits and Vegetables: Aim for a wide variety of colours.
- Lean Protein: Fish, poultry, beans, and lentils.
- Healthy Fats: Olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds.
- Fibre: Wholegrains, legumes, and vegetables are crucial for gut health.
To support our clients on their wellness journey, WeCovr provides complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s a simple, effective tool to help you understand your eating habits and make healthier choices, demonstrating our commitment to your well-being beyond just insurance.
Pillar 2: Movement & Activity
Regular physical activity is a powerful medicine. The NHS recommends at least:
- 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, dancing).
- Or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week (e.g., running, swimming, HIIT).
- Strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups.
Pillar 3: Sleep & Mental Resilience
Poor sleep is linked to a host of health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. Prioritise good sleep hygiene:
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
- Create a restful, dark, and quiet environment.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.
- Limit screen time an hour before sleeping.
Pillar 4: Know Your Numbers
Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your health. Be proactive about:
- Regular Check-ups: Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.
- Screening: Participate in national screening programmes (e.g., for cervical, breast, and bowel cancer).
- Family History: Be aware of any significant health conditions in your family and discuss them with your GP.
Conclusion: Secure Your Health, Secure Your Future
The landscape of UK healthcare is in flux. The diagnostic delay crisis of 2025 is not a distant threat; it is a present-day reality that demands a proactive response. Relying solely on the strained NHS for timely diagnosis and treatment is no longer a viable strategy for safeguarding your health and financial security.
The solution lies in a two-pronged approach. First, by securing Private Medical Insurance, you create a personal fast-track to the UK's best specialists and diagnostic facilities, ensuring that any health concerns are investigated and treated with the urgency they deserve. Second, by building a comprehensive shield of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection, you guarantee that a health crisis will not become a financial catastrophe for you, your family, or your business.
Waiting for a worrying symptom to appear is waiting too long. The time to act is now, while you are healthy. By taking control of your health journey and putting a robust protection plan in place, you are not just buying an insurance policy; you are investing in certainty, peace of mind, and the future well-being of everyone who depends on you. Don't leave your future to chance—take the first step towards securing it today.
Related guides
Why life insurance and how does it work?
What is Life Insurance?
Life insurance is an insurance policy that can provide financial support for your loved ones when you or your joint policy holder passes away. It can help clear any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage, and cover your family's living and other expenses such costs of education, so your family can continue to pay bills and living expenses. In addition to life insurance, insurance providers offer related products such as income protection and critical illness, which we will touch upon below.How does it work?
Life insurance pays out if you die. The payout can be in the form of a lump sum payment or can be paid as a replacement for a regular income. It's your decision how much cover you'd like to take based on your financial resources and how much you'd like to leave to your family to help them deal with any outstanding debts and living expenses. Your premium depends on a number of factors, including your occupation, health and other criteria.The payout amount can change over time or can be fixed. A level term or whole of life policy offers a fixed payout. A decreasing term policy offers a payout that decreases over the term of the cover.
With critical illness policies, a payout is made if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a remaining life expectancy of less than 12 months. While income protection policies ensure you can continue to meet your financial commitments if you are forced to take an extended break from work. If you can’t work because you’ve had an accident, fallen sick, or lost your job through no fault of your own, income protection insurance pays you an agreed portion of your salary each month.
Income protection is particularly helpful for people in dangerous occupations who want to be sure their mortgage will always be covered. Income protection only covers events beyond your control: you’re much less likely to be covered if you’re fired from your job or if you injure yourself deliberately.
Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Who would pay your mortgage or rent if you were to pass away or fall seriously ill?
👉 Who would pay for your family’s food, clothing, study fees or lifestyle?
👉 Who would provide for the costs of your funeral or clear your debts?
👉 Who would pay for your costs if you're unable to work due to serious illness or disability?
Many families don’t realise that life, income protection and critical illness insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect their finances. A great insurance policy can cover costs, protect a family from inheriting debts and even pay off a mortgage.
Many would think that the costs for all the benefits provided by life insurance, income protection insurance or critical illness insurance are too high, but the great news is in the current market policies are actually very inexpensive.
Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance
Life insurance, income protection and critical illness insurance are indispensable for every family because a child loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK, while every single day tragically 60 people suffer major injuries on the UK roads. Some people become unable to work because of sickness or disability.Life insurance cover pays out a lump sum to your family, loved ones or whomever you choose to get the money. This can be used to secure the financial future of your loved ones meaning they would not have to struggle financially in the event of your death.
If it's a critical illness cover, the payout happens sooner - upon diagnosis of a serious illness, disability or medical condition, easing the financial hardship such an event inevitably brings.
Income protection insurance can be very important for anyone who relies on a pay check to cover their living costs, but it's especially important if you’re self-employed or own a small business, where your employment and income is a bit less stable. It pays a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire.
In a world where 1 in 4 of us would struggle financially after just four weeks without work, the stark reality hits hard – a mere 7% of UK adults possess the vital shield of income protection. The urgency of safeguarding our financial well-being has never been more palpable.
Let's face it – relying on savings isn't a solution for everyone. Almost 25% of people have no savings at all, and a whopping 50% have £1,000 or less tucked away. Even more concerning, 51% of Brits – that's a huge 27 million people – wouldn't last more than one month living off their savings. That's a 10% increase from 2022.
And don't even think about state benefits being a safety net. The maximum you can expect from statutory sick pay is a mere £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks. Not exactly a financial lifeline, right?
Now, let's tackle a common objection: "But I have critical illness insurance. I don't need income protection too." Here's the deal – the two policies apply to very different situations. In a nutshell:
- Critical illness insurance pays a single lump sum if you're diagnosed with or undergo surgery for a specified potentially life-threatening illness. It's great for handling big one-off expenses or debts.
- Income protection, on the other hand, pays a percentage of your salary as a regular payment if you can't work due to illness or injury. It's the superhero that tackles those relentless monthly bills.
Types of life insurance policies
Common reasons for getting a life insurance policy are to:✅ Leave behind an amount of money to keep your family comfortable
✅ Protect the family home and pay off the mortgage in full or in part
✅ Pay for funeral costs
Starting from as little as a couple of pounds per week, you can do all that with a Life Policy.
Level Term Life Insurance
One of the simplest forms of life insurance, level term life insurance works by selecting a length of time for which you would want to be covered and then deciding how much you would like your loved ones to receive should the worst happen. Should your life insurance policy pay out to your family, it would be in a lump sum amount that can be used in whatever way the beneficiary may wish.
Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Decreasing term life insurance works in the same way as level term, except the lump sum payment amount upon death decreases with time. The common use for decreasing term life cover is to protect against mortgage repayment as the lump sum decreases along with the principal of the mortgage itself.
Increasing Term Life Insurance
Increasing term life insurance aims to pay out a cash sum growing each year if the worst happens while covered by the policy. With increasing term life cover amount insured increases annually by a fixed amount for the length of the policy. This can protect your policy's value against inflation, which could be advantageous if you’re looking to maintain your loved ones’ living standards, continue paying off your mortgage in line with its repayment schedule and cover your children’s education fees.
Whole of Life Insurance
Whereas term life insurance policies only pay out if you pass away during their term, whole of life insurance pays out to your beneficiaries whenever this should happen. The most common uses for whole life insurance are to cover the costs of a funeral or as a vehicle for your family's inheritance tax planning.
Family Income Benefit
Family income benefit is a somewhat lesser-known product in the family of life insurance products. Paying out a set amount every month of year to your beneficiaries, it is the most cost-effective way of maintaining your family's living standards to an age where you'd expect them to be able to support themselves financially. The most common use would be for a family with children who are not working yet so are unable to take care of themselves financially.
Relevant Life Insurance
Relevant Life Insurance is a tax-efficient policy for a director or single employee. A simple level term life insurance product, it is placed in a specific trust to ensure its tax efficiency. The premiums are tax deductible and any benefit payable should a claim arise is also paid out tax free, which makes it an attractive product for entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get life insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their life, income protection, and critical illness insurance cover in place before running into some serious issues. Critical illness and income protection insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, bicycles and even bags! Yet our life and health are the most precious things we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy life, income protection, critical illness and private medical health insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of life insurance policies available in the market, including income protection, critical illness and other types of policies most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced FCA-authorised insurance partner experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to life insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable life, income protection, critical illness or private medical health insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:
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WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.
Just a quick and simple form and an easy conversation with one of our experts and your valuable insurance policy is in place for that needed peace of mind!