London has world class private healthcare. Private Medical Insurance is how you access it.
London’s private healthcare infrastructure is exceptional. Major hospital groups, Harley Street consultants, specialist diagnostic centres. The extensive access is hard to match anywhere else in the UK. The NHS in London, meanwhile, is under the kind of pressure that comes with serving a population of nine million. For the large number of Londoners working independently, contracting, or running their own businesses without an employer health scheme, private medical insurance is the most direct route to that private infrastructure.
The capital also has a particular concentration of people who have seen NHS waiting times for themselves. A referral that takes months to come through, a GP appointment that is two weeks away, a diagnostic scan that sits in a queue means that for anyone whose time or income is tied closely to their health, those delays have a real cost.
At The Private Healthcare Company, we compare PMI across six leading insurers for London individuals and families. We are FCA-regulated, non-advised, and focused on giving you a clear picture of what is available and what it costs.
Why London residents take out private medical insurance
London’s cost of living is high and for a lot of people, PMI turns out to be one of the more practical things they spend money on.
Access to London's best consultants
Direct access to leading specialists at private hospitals and clinics, often within a few days rather than months. No NHS referral queue.
Less reliance on your GP
Many policies now include a GP service whether that is a digital appointment or even face-to-face with some providers. This means the NHS backlog does not slow you down in the event of claiming.
Mental health cover
Demand for mental health support is high in London and NHS waiting times are long. PMI policies increasingly include therapy sessions, psychiatric consultations, and in some cases inpatient mental health cover.
Flexible structure
From comprehensive open referral policies to leaner plans with a higher excess. There is a wide range of cover levels available. We find what fits your budget without cutting back pm the parts you are most likely to use.
London PMI: what to think about before you choose
London premiums are higher than most other parts of the UK, reflecting the higher cost of private treatment in the capital. But the variation between insurers is also significant, and the right policy options — excess level, hospital network, outpatient limits can bring the cost down without removing cover that is important.
If you already have a policy and have not looked at it for a few years, there is a reasonable chance it no longer represents good value. Insurers regularly update their prices, your circumstances change, and policies that made sense three years ago sometimes do not hold up at renewal. We review existing cover as well as arranging new policies.
Frequently asked questions about private health insurance in London
Is private health insurance in London more expensive than elsewhere in the UK?
Generally yes, though the gap is smaller than many people expect. London PMI premiums are higher partly because private hospital costs in the capital are higher and insurers price this in. There are ways to manage costs without losing meaningful cover: a higher excess, a guided option or six-week wait policy, or a more focused hospital network can all reduce your monthly premium. On NHS waiting times: North Central London ICB alone has 15,315 patients on the orthopaedics list, with 52.1% waiting beyond the 18-week standard. Figures vary across London’s sub-ICBs. We compare across all the leading insurers we work with so you can see where the best value sits for your age and circumstances.
Source: NHS England RTT data via Medimo, March 2026.
Do London PMI policies cover Harley Street and the major private hospitals?
To include access to London’s main private hospitals — HCA facilities, Bupa Cromwell, The London Clinic, and others you will normally need to have an upgraded hospital network. Budget tier or guided network policies often restrict the hospital list, which reduces premiums but limits your choice of where you are treated. The distinction matters in London more than in most cities given the range and quality of private facilities available. We are clear about what each policy’s network includes before you commit.
Can I get PMI just for my children in London?
Child only policies area available but less common. Most families add children to a parent’s policy, which is usually cheaper than a standalone child plan. Some insurers price children at quite low marginal cost when added to an adult policy. If you want to compare both structures, we can run the numbers and tell you which works out better.
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