Bupa rolls out AI-powered skin cancer checks

Bupa has become the first UK insurer to integrate AI-powered skin cancer checks into its at-home skin assessments for moles and lesions. The move is aimed at speeding up diagnosis for customers who have potential skin cancer concerns.

The new pathway uses Skin Analytics’ DERM technology, an artificial intelligence system approved for autonomous use in cancer care, to analyse images submitted by patients and deliver a risk assessment in under a minute.

Customers concerned about potential skin cancer will be able to access faster reassurance or be referred for further clinical support, such as face-to-face care.

AI skin cancer checks pathway

Through the pathway, customers who contact Bupa about a concerning mole or lesion will be sent an at-home kit within 24 hours, including a smartphone and a dermoscopy lens capable of capturing clinical-quality images.

These images are uploaded and analysed by the DERM system alongside the patient’s medical history. Results are returned within minutes, and customers can speak to a GP to discuss next steps.

Skin Analytics’ DERM is the only AI device globally to be CE marked as a Class III medical device for autonomous use in skin cancer pathways, meaning it has been independently approved as safe and effective.

The technology can rule out melanoma with 99.9% accuracy,exceeding dermatologists' performance in comparable cases. It means that patients identified as low risk can avoid unnecessary appointments, while those flagged as higher risk are directed into appropriate care pathways, including face-to-face consultations where needed.

Referrals for Bupa’s at-home skin assessment service have increased by 260% since its launch in 2020, with more than 30,000 customers already using the pathway. In the past year, around half of referrals have come through Blua, Bupa’s digital health platform.

Neil Daly, chief executive of Skin Analytics, said the partnership marked a significant step forward for AI in healthcare: “Having partnered with Bupa for five years, and already delivered faster access to diagnosis for over 30,000 members, we are incredibly proud to see them become the first UK insurer to integrate our autonomous AI directly into their pathway. This expansion of our partnership with AI gives their members access to the world's most experienced specialist.”

Rising demand for dermatology services

The Bupa rollout comes against a backdrop of rising skin cancer rates and increasing pressure on healthcare services. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, affects around 17,600 people in the UK each year and is now the fifth most common cancer.

Cases have risen by around 147% since the 1990s, and are expected to keep increasing. Demand for dermatology services has grown significantly over the same period due to an ageing population, greater awareness and more complex cases.

Lucy Pallett, Medical and Healthcare Director at Bupa, said: “Speed is critical in diagnosing skin cancer. The sooner a concern is assessed, the sooner people can get the reassurance or treatment they need. Crucially, this speed is backed by clinically accredited, regulator‑approved technology, giving customers confidence in the quality and safety of their results, while helping ease pressure on dermatology services.”

By automating the identification of benign lesions, Bupa says the AI pathway can help free up specialist capacity, allowing dermatologists to focus on patients who need urgent or complex care.

Chris Steele, founder and editor of myTribe Insurance Experts, said: “Bupa’s decision to integrate AI-powered skin cancer checks into its at-home assessment service is a smart move, particularly in an area like cancer where faster detection can significantly impact survival rates. Providing customers with near-instant answers while freeing up specialist capacity is a powerful combination that could reshape how early-stage concerns are managed.”