Happy young girl holding a clear savings jar with coins inside and small plant. Guide To Health Insurance DiscountsHappy young girl holding a clear savings jar with coins inside and small plant. Guide To Health Insurance Discounts
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What health insurance discounts are there at the moment?

Whether you are looking for health insurance for the first time or looking to change insurers, find out which private health insurance providers are offering premium discounts in the summary below.

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Health insurance discounts are one part of the overall search

Before you explore the current list of health insurance discounts, it's essential to consider these incentives as just one part of the overall search for the right private health insurance. It is important to look at the policy as a whole and factor in the benefits of each insurer, cover limits or monetary amounts and how the cover works in practice. Selecting a provider purely on price could leave you without a key cover area.

Related guides:

What types of discounts are on offer from insurers?

There are two types of health insurance discounts offered by the providers we’ve surveyed; these are policy discounts where you might get a reduction for paying in full annually or a discount for couples and families. The second type of discount is where private health insurers offer a discounted benefit, this could be gym memberships at a preferential rate or rewards for referrals.

The health insurance discounts provided are designed to attract new customers but often only apply to the first year of the policy. While you have the option to move providers in the future, this can be difficult if you have had health issues. As a result, we recommend looking at the best insurer for the next 3-5 years, rather than focusing too heavily on upfront offers and discounts.

An important note

While every effort is made to update the information contained in this guide, offers and discounts can be added and withdrawn by insurers at any time; therefore, it is important to check with providers and brokers when you are ready to go ahead.

We provide general information, and what is best for you will depend on your circumstances. Please speak with a financial adviser or do your research before making a decision.

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Health insurance discounts by provider

  • Aviva

    Aviva is one of the largest insurers in the UK, offering a range of financial service products, from insurance and investments to pensions and retirement planning. Over 1.2 million people currently have health insurance with Aviva.

    Here is a summary of the current discounts available from Aviva:

    • My Healthy Discount: Up to a 15% discount on your first-year premium if you meet its health-related eligibility criteria. The discount reduces to 10% at first renewal and 5% at second renewal, after which it ends. The My Healthy Discount offer is available to customers purchasing a Healthier Solutions policy until 31 December 2025. You can read the full terms of this promotion here.
    • Child Discounts: If you have more than one child under 20 on the policy, you'll only pay for the oldest child.
    • Multi-Person Discounts: If you add your spouse, partner or civil partner there is a premium discount of up to 15% off the price of two individual policies.
    • Existing Customer Discount: New customers who already have an Aviva product can get a loyalty discount of up to 10% off their new health policy. 
    • Aviva's “Get Active” scheme gives policyholders discounted gym membership at over 3,500 UK health and fitness clubs.
  • AXA Health

    AXA Health was formed in 2020 and is part of one of the largest and most recognisable insurance groups in the world. AXA Health's flagship health insurance policy, Personal Health, is sold through brokers, while its newer product, The AXA Health Plan, is available to consumers direct through its website.

    Here is a summary of the current discounts from AXA Health:

    • 40% Gym discount with no cancellation charges and in-person and online options
    • Save 5% by paying your premium annually
  • Bupa

    Bupa is synonymous with private health insurance in the UK and is the best-known provider. With its global reach, Bupa provides healthcare through an international network of hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental centres and care homes.

    Here is a summary of the current discounts from Bupa:

    • Couples pay 5% less than individual policies (providing that they live at the same address). The discount applies to Comprehensive and Treatment and Care policies.
    • Families pay 10% less than individual policies. The policy must include at least one adult and one or more children. Children don't have to live at the same address as the main member.
    • Free cover for younger children - add more than one child under 20 and only pay for the oldest. You'll also still get their 10% family discount. You can read the full terms of this promotion here.
    • A 10% health and lifestyle discount for over 18s, if you meet Bupa's health-related eligibility criteria. You can find the full terms of this promotion here.
    • Doctors and dentists and their dependants save 15% with an active General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC) registration number. You can find the full details here.
    • There is an Armed Forces Discount, details of which can be found here; HM Forces Bupa Health - Forces Health. However, please note that this information hasn’t come directly from Bupa.
    • Health and Wellness Rewards: The current list of rewards and discounts includes.
      • 30% off health assessments
      • 40% off multi-gym memberships
      • 25% off annual English Heritage membership
    • Free medication check worth £195 for new customers taking out a Bupa By You policy before 19 December 2025.
  • Freedom Health Insurance

    Freedom Health Insurance is a relatively new health insurance provider. It was founded in 2003 in Poole (not far from us). As a specialist health insurer, it can focus its efforts on providing the best products and services to its clients.

    Here is a summary of the discounts currently available from Freedom Health Insurance:

    • Pricing: Its pricing isn’t based on your postcode, so it doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city or a rural village, the price is the same.
    • Family Discounts: If you add three or fewer children to your policy you only pay for the first child. The maximum you will pay is also capped at four children.
    • Annual Discount: There is a 6% discount for paying your premium annually.
  • Saga

    Saga specialises in offering services to people over 50s, from holidays and cruises to car, home, and health insurance. Saga health insurance is underwritten by Bupa Insurance Limited.

    Here is a summary of the discounts currently available from Saga:

    • Customers can take advantage of a range of benefits, including exclusive offers from Saga Holidays, Cruises and Insurance, as well as carefully chosen offers from its partners. These include informative articles, videos, advice, and prize draws.
  • The Exeter

    The Exeter has mutual status, which means it is owned by its members (customers) and, without shareholders, can reinvest profits to benefit its members. It excels in its incredibly fair approach to how claims affect your no-claims discount, alongside an excellent, comprehensive core product and great customer reviews.

    Here is a summary of the discounts currently available from The Exeter:

    • Couples named on the same policy receive a 5% discount on premiums.
    • A discount of 7.5% applies if the policy covers one adult and one or more children.
    • Families receive a 10% discount if two adults and one or more children are included in the policy. 

    However, these discounts are only shown once you've requested a quote so please be mindful that they may change or be available only to clients who meet specific criteria.

  • Vitality

    Vitality is one of the UK’s most recognised health insurers, and stands out through its “shared value” approach to insurance. Its Vitality Programme rewards members for staying active and living healthier by offering discounts and perks as an incentive.

    Here is a summary of the current premium discounts and membership benefits offered by Vitality:

    • Mori+, pass a medical declaration to get 10% off your premiums.
    • Gym Membership: Up to 50% off a monthly gym membership with PureGym. 
    • Apple Watch: Enjoy Apple Watch Series 11 from £9 upfront. And you could pay nothing more by staying active.
    • Discounted Treats: Get active to earn treats from Caffè Nero, Odeon and Waitrose & Partners.  
    • 50% discount on Bluecrest Health Assessments. Free Advanced Bluecrest Health Assessment if you are over 40 and have a Vitality Age Gap of five years or more.
    • Refer a friend and get a £100 gift card to spend at Amazon or John Lewis. You can refer up to 10 friends each calendar year.
  • WPA

    WPA is a specialist not-for-profit health insurer, which allows it to reinvest profits back into the services it offers its members. It provides health insurance cover for over 470,000 members in the UK.

    Here is a summary of the discounts currently available from WPA:

    • Doctors and dentists receive a 10% discount with an active General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC) registration number.
    • Refer a friend and receive £100 if they take out a WPA health insurance policy. Each household can make up to five recommendations each policy year.
    • Membership benefits include Hussle gyms, Fiit memberships, selected Nuffield Fitness & Wellbeing gyms, Garmin fitness devices, Apex Rides, Bluecrest health checks, a range of Check4Cancer screening services, Specsavers discounts, Allen Carr's Easyway seminars, Gousto healthy food recipe boxes and SpaBreaks.com experiences.

Why discounts are only one part of the equation and what else to look for

The discounts offered by private medical insurers are designed to attract new customers, whether you’re buying cover for the first time or looking to move cover at renewal.

While the sound of a cheaper gym membership or a shiny new piece of tech might be appealing you need to make sure that the policy itself meets your demands and needs and that when it comes to making a claim, the policy responds how you expect it to.

Before you take out a policy you should:

  • compare the benefits of each insurer
  • compare any cover limits or monetary amounts
  • consider your own health needs
  • consider what benefits are available to help keep you in good health
  • ask questions about how the cover works

Why thinking long-term helps when it comes to private health insurance.

While the incentives and discounts might look appealing at first glance, we would advise caution! It is worth looking at the benefits available over the lifetime of the policy and not just for the first 12 months.

Private health insurance is an annually renewable product but usually runs for much longer periods of time, so we encourage you to consider what your needs might be over the next 5-10 years rather than focusing too much on upfront offers and discounts.

We appreciate that there is a lot to consider and understand so that you can make an informed decision. It might be beneficial for you to seek professional advice from a financial advisor or insurance broker; that way, you are getting expert advice and information about what is and isn’t covered. Professional advisors will make sure that they correctly assess your needs and match you to the most appropriate cover available in the market.

How do I buy private health insurance?

The process of buying private health insurance is similar to buying other types of insurance and can be bought directly from the insurer, via an independent insurance broker or from a retail outlet such as bank, building society or supermarket.

The application process can be face to face, over the phone, online or by post. It is important to know that if you go direct to an insurer or a tied agent who sells policies on an insurer’s behalf, they will only be able to discuss that insurer’s own policies whereas an independent adviser offers policies from a range of insurers.

Independent advisers can give you recommendations after assessing your needs. They are responsible to you for the advice they give, this is an important distinction to make between advised sales and non-advised sales. Whichever way you buy your private medical insurance the adviser must explain whether they are independent or not and if they are advising on a range of insurers or only one.

If you buy direct from an insurer or insurer’s agent without receiving advice, it is your responsibility to choose a policy that is right for you.

The application process

It is common to be asked to fill in an application form and you may be asked for information about your health. Your application, or any declaration you make to your insurer, is very important. In fact, it forms the basis of your contract with your insurer.

It is vital that you answer any questions you are asked as fully and as accurately as you can, to the best of your knowledge and belief. If you do not, your insurer may reduce your claim or refuse to pay and cancel your policy. If you are unsure whether something is important, it is best to tell your insurer. Once your application has been accepted you will be told when cover will start.

What if I change my mind?

You will have 14 days from the day you receive the policy documents to decide if the insurance is suitable for you, this is known as the “cooling off period”. During this period, you can let your insurer know that you would like to cancel your policy. You can do this within the specified time and if you have made any payments these will usually be refunded in full unless you have made a claim.

Sources

Association of British Insurers: Are you buying private medical insurance?

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

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