How Much Does Bupa Health Insurance Cost?

If you're looking for Bupa health insurance costs, you're in the right place. We've obtained hundreds of quotes to bring you this extensive pricing guide.

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This article was written by:
Chris Steele
Founder and Editor

Chris is our resident private health insurance and healthcare expert. He has over a decade of experience writing about private medical insurance and treatment. He's Chartered Insurance Institute qualified and is regularly quoted by the national press.

Disclaimer

Health insurance is a complicated financial product with many options and variables; therefore, the cost of your Bupa health insurance will differ from what we share here. The costs of Bupa Health Insurance included in this article are only meant as examples. While we've received hundreds of quotes from Bupa in January 2023, they were all based on fictitious people.

Why you should always compare health insurance providers

While Bupa is undoubtedly one of the best health insurers in the UK, they're one of many, and there's a high probability that another provider may be a better fit for you. Comparing health insurance is quick and easy and is a surefire way to ensure that you get the best policy and price for your circumstances.

Introduction to Bupa

Bupa Insurance Limited is an international health insurance and healthcare group that began in the UK. Today they have a presence in numerous countries and provide services to some 38 million customers worldwide. Bupa is perhaps the best-known health insurance provider in the UK and maybe unsurprisingly has one of the biggest customer bases, at around 2.3 million people. The company is limited by a guarantee, meaning it doesn't have shareholders and can reinvest profits.

Bupa Health Insurance

Bupa offers two core policy types, "Treatment and Care", their entry-level option, and "Comprehensive", which gives you access to a broader range of care. The independent rating agency Defaqto scored Treatment and Care three stars in 2023 and Comprehensive their maximum rating of five stars. At the time of writing, Bupa boasts an impressive Trustpilot rating of 4.3 from nearly 15,000 reviews.

If you'd like to learn more about Bupa's private health insurance cover, please read our recent review.

Key benefits of Bupa health insurance

Here are some of the most prominent benefits of Bupa health insurance:

  • Treatment in private hospitals as an inpatient or day-patient (all policies)
  • Outpatient treatment and diagnostic tests (comprehensive policies, limits may apply)
  • You can go direct to Bupa for certain conditions without seeing a GP first (Direct Access)
  • Bupa provides mental health insurance as standard, which is rare.
  • You get 24/7 access to a Digital GP service
  • 24/7 Nurse helpline
  • Access to breakthrough drugs and cancer drugs
  • Full Cancer Cover promise
  • Rewards and discounts from top brands
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What affects the cost of Bupa private health insurance?

There are a vast number of things which will affect the cost of private health insurance, be that with Bupa or another insurer. You'll have control over some of them, such as the level of cover you opt for and the excess you set on the policy, but for others, such as where you live or your age, you won't.

Here are just some of the factors that will affect the ultimate cost of your Bupa insurance:

  • Your age - health insurance costs more as we age and considerably more as we enter retirement and later life.
  • Where you live - if you live in a major city, the cost of private medical treatments is likely to be higher, and therefore you can expect to pay more for your health insurance. London is usually the most expensive; however, we've also seen high premiums in Manchester and other major cities.
  • Cover level - what you want your policy to cover is the most significant factor you have control over. Go for a basic policy, and you'll pay less. Opt for a comprehensive policy with many additional options, and you'll pay more.
  • Your excess - the higher your excess, the lower your premiums will be, however, please ensure that it remains affordable, as the last thing you want is a big bill that you can't afford when you're unwell.
  • Consultant access - the leading insurers, Bupa included, typically give you two choices regarding medical consultant access. You can opt for their "Guided Care", which limits you to a pre-approved list they have favourable terms with, or you can choose unrestricted consultant access. Based on our research of all leading providers, opting for restricted consultant access will typically reduce the cost of your health insurance policy by 20%.
  • Hospital list - some private hospitals charge more than others, especially those in central London, often operated by HCA. If you want to include high-end hospitals, you can expect your premiums to increase.
  • No claims discount Bupa offers a no claims discount (NCD) which increases from 10% for two years to 70% for 14 years of no claims. The only claims that won't affect your NCD are for Dental Cover (if you've opted for it) and their NHS Cash Benefit.
  • Therapies cover - with access to NHS physiotherapists and other alternative therapists becoming increasingly more complex, many people that take out health insurance will opt for the addon of "Therapies Cover". Doing so will, of course, increase your premiums.
  • Dental cover - If you want to cover the cost of routine dental appointments, such as checkups and trips to the hygenist, you can take out the optional Dental Cover.
  • Mental health cover - uniquely to Bupa, they include Mental Health Cover in their base policies up to certain limits. Therefore, there's no additional cost to protect your mental health unless you want to extend those limits.
  • The cost of private medical treatment - inflation affects all products and services in the UK, and the cost of private medical treatment is no different. Prices tend to rise and contribute to the increasing cost of private health insurance cover year on year.
  • Your medical history - if you opt for Moratorium Underwriting, your medical history won't affect the cost of your Bupa health insurance, as any pre-existing medical conditions will be automatically excluded. However, if you choose Full Medical Underwriting, your medical history may come into play.
  • Your smoker status - we all know that smoking is bad for us, and insurers know it too. You'll likely pay more for private health insurance if you're a smoker or using nicotine replacement products.

As we mentioned at the start of this section, these are just some factors that'll affect the cost of your Bupa private medical insurance. There's more, which we don't want to get into now, but suffice to say, getting advice from an independent broker before buying is vital.

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How to get the best deal on your private health insurance

While this post focuses on Bupa, we hope it illustrates how complicated health insurance can be. If you multiply that by 7-8 of the top providers, each with subtle differences, it's a minefield. The only way you can truly ensure you get the best price and private health insurance policy is to get a comparison quote and speak to a health insurance broker. Health insurance brokers compare policies every day and therefore are in the perfect position to find the best private medical insurance provider for you. Health insurance brokers work for you, the customer, not the insurers, yet the service is completely free. Yes, they earn a commission if you buy a policy, but under their obligations with the Financial Conduct Authority, they have to work in your interests, not theirs.

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Cost of Bupa Health Insurance in 2023

Here are our findings based on many quotes from Bupa obtained in 2023. We examined how much they charge for seven age groups in ten major towns and cities across the UK.

Bupa policy configuration

To find a meaningful average, we needed to select policy terms that were typical for most people looking at health insurance. We must reiterate that these terms and, therefore, the prices are just examples. You could opt for more coverage and pay a higher premium, or vice-versa.

Here is a summary of how we configured our Bupa cover:

  • Pricing is based on an individual applying as a new Bupa customer
  • Prices are based on quotes in 10 major towns and cities across the UK
  • We opted for a Comprehensive policy, including private outpatient treatment, limited to £1,000 per policy year
  • We included cover for therapies such as physiotherapy
  • The pricing is based on an average of Guided Care and Unrestricted Consultant access
  • We didn't opt for routine dental cover
  • The individual wasn't a smoker
  • We opted for Bupa's standard hospital list
  • We set an excess on the policy of £250
  • The applicant didn't have a no-claims discount
  • The policy was underwritten on a Moratorium basis
  • Pricing was obtained in January 2023 via Bupa's website

Average cost of Bupa health insurance in 2023

In January 2023, we did in-depth pricing research and obtained hundreds of quotes from Bupa for fictional people across the UK. Here are our findings, which reveal the average cost of Bupa health insurance in 2023:

Avergae cost of Bupa Health Insurance in 2023
Applicants' Ages Monthy Premium
20-years-old £30.42
30-years-old
£41.56
40-years-old
£54.21
50-years-old
£78.49
60-years-old
£104.68
70-years-old
£164.14

As you can see, the price of Bupa health insurance is relatively affordable while you're young. However, as you age, the cost rises sharply, which is in line with other insurers. We recommend that you compare medical insurance to find the best policy at the best price for your circumstances.

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How much is Bupa Family Cover?

We don't have as much data for both couples and families, but if we hear that there is demand for it, we may expand this post in the future. For the time being, we can provide you with example pricing based on a single location in the UK chosen randomly. Families also benefit from a 10% discount in comparison to applying individually.

Couples and family health insurance policy configuration:

  • All prices were received in 2023 via the Bupa website
  • We used a St Albans, Hertfordshire postcode
  • We set the health insurance policy excess to £250 per policy year
  • The policy used Moratorium underwriting
  • We opted for their Guided Care (restricting consultant access)
  • We included £1000 of outpatient cover
  • We defaulted to their standard hospital list
  • Any children on the policy were ten years old
  • We didn't opt for dental cover
  • All applicants we non-smokers
  • Where more than one adult was on the policy, they were the same age, precisely

As you can see, this methodology is far from perfect, and it's improbable that you and your partner are the identical age and have kids the same age too! So, to reiterate, please take the following with a large pinch of salt and compare health insurance costs and providers before you buy a policy.

Nurse looking at Bupa costs with patient

How much does Bupa health insurance cost for couples?

In this section, we share the price of a comprehensive Bupa medical insurance policy for a couple. Please note that couples save 5% compared to two individuals taking out a health insurance policy. This pricing research also has subtle differences from the research for individuals, so the two are not comparable. 

Cost of Bupa Comprehensive Health Insurance for Couples
Applicants' Ages Monthy Premium
20-years-old £58.92
30-years-old
£81.58
40-years-old
£106.16
50-years-old
£153.52
60-years-old
£202.74
70-years-old
£314.68

Disclaimer: The pricing is merely an example based on many factors, and your premiums will undoubtedly differ. Please request a comparison quote to get a valid quotation based on your personal circumstances.

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How much does Bupa health insurance cost for a family of 3?

In this section, we've obtained health insurance quotes from Bupa for a family of 3. Both adults were the same age, and the child was ten years old.

Cost of Bupa Comprehensive Health Insurance for Family of 3
Adults' Ages Monthy Premium
20-years-old £72.64
30-years-old
£93.52
40-years-old
£116.82
50-years-old
£161.70
60-years-old
£208.32

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How much does Bupa health insurance cost for a family of 4?

This section of our article shares examples of Bupa private health insurance prices for a family of 4. Both adults were the same age, and the children were both ten-years-old.

Cost of Bupa Comprehensive Health Insurance for Family of 4
Adults' Ages Monthy Premium
20-years-old £88.88
30-years-old
£109.76
40-years-old
£133.06
50-years-old
£177.94
60-years-old
£224.56

Disclaimer: The health insurance pricing provided in this article is meant only as an example and, while accurate, is based on many factors; therefore, the cost of your policy will be different. Please consult with a health insurance specialist before making a purchasing decision.

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How much does Bupa health insurance cost for a family of 5?

Finally, we looked at the cost of Bupa health insurance for a family of 5, with both adults sharing the same birthday and the children all being 10.

Cost of Bupa Comprehensive Health Insurance for Family of 5
Adults' Ages Monthy Premium
20-years-old £105.12
30-years-old
£126.00
40-years-old
£149.30
50-years-old
£194.18
60-years-old
£240.80

Disclaimer: This article's private health insurance pricing will not be the same as what your private health insurance will cost.

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"I  requested a policy review having been with Bupa for over 10 years and was astonished by the savings I've made on mine and my husband's policy. If you're thinking about reviewing your policy do it, you won't be disappointed. "

by Erica - 27th April 2022
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Disclaimer: This information is general and what is best for you will depend on your personal circumstances. Please speak with a financial adviser or do your own research before making a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Bupa health insurance cost?

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The average cost of a Bupa Health Insurance policy in 2023 is £78.92 per month. However, this is based on people aged 20-70 and many other variables, so the cost of your policy will be different. Please request a comparison quote to find out how much a policy will cost for you.

How can I reduce the cost of Bupa private medical insurance?

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There are several ways you can reduce the cost of Bupa health insurance, perhaps the most important is by shopping around and comparing all of the insurers in the market. You could also consider reducing or removing the outpatient cover or increasing your policy excess.

Is Bupa worth joining?

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Bupa is one of the best health insurance companies in the UK and is undoubtedly worth your consideration. Their Comprehensive policies have a 5-star Defaqto rating and excellent customer reviews. Please bear in mind that there are several leading insurers in the UK; therefore, it's always wise to compare policies before buying.

Is Bupa the best private medical insurance provider?

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Bupa is one of the leading health insurance providers in the UK; however, others might be better for you and your circumstances.

Does Bupa also provide private medical care?

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Yes, Bupa has a network of private hospitals and clinics across the UK.

Is cancer cover included with Bupa?

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Yes, a Bupa health insurance policy will include cancer cover. If you would like your policy to cover the cost of investigations and tests leading up to a diagnosis, you will need to opt for outpatient cover too.

Does Bupa cover pre-existing medical conditions?

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No, like others, Bupa won't cover pre-existing medical conditions; however, if you don't suffer from any symptoms or require treatment for the said condition for two years after taking out a policy, it will be covered.

Does Bupa cover mental health issues?

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Bupa is one of the only health insurance companies to offer mental health coverage as part of their core policy.

Does Bupa cover cosmetic surgery?

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Unless it is seen as reconstructive, cosmetic surgery typically isn't covered by Bupa health insurance.

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