Managing Health Insurance Renewals – UK Guide (2025)

22% of Britons now have private health insurance.

According to a recent survey by Statista, more than 1 in 5 of us now have private health insurance, which is double what it was just a year or two ago.

With so many people taking out new policies, some of which will no doubt be rushed through heightened concerns over the NHS, renewals and how to manage them have yet to receive much attention.

Why it’s important to review your health insurance at renewal time

Each year, as you age, your health insurance premiums will rise due to the increased likelihood of claims and other factors, such as higher medical costs due to medical inflation. If you applied for your policy last year, you will likely find that the increase will be higher, especially if it has affected your no-claims discount, although this is not always the case – it varies from insurer to insurer.

How much do health insurance prices go up as we age?

In early 2024, we researched the average cost of private health insurance by obtaining more than 800 quotes for what we consider a typical comprehensive policy.

Some statistics from our research:

• The cost of health insurance for a 40-year-old is approximately 56% more than the same policy for a 20-year-old.
• As we pass 40, prices rise more steeply, with an increase of 32% between 40 and 50 and another 45% between 50 and 60.
• Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest increase is between the ages of 60 and 70, with premiums rising by 58% in one decade.

The chart below shows the results of this research, which is useful as a guide to see the approximate costs for each age group.

Waiver: The prices shown in the infographic below are averages based on a large sample of data, and the cost of your policy will vary based on your age, coverage levels, location and many other factors. If you want an exact comparative quote, request it by clicking here.

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^{*Average based on quotes from eight leading health insurers in 10 UK cities for a NEW policy. We opted for a comprehensive policy, with £250 excess (or as close as possible), outpatient cover limited to a maximum of £1,500 in claims per year, and included therapy cover. We defaulted to each provider’s standard hospital list and used a moratorium. Mental health, dental, optical and travel cover were excluded. Prices are correct as of 5 January 2023. Please note that these prices are illustrative only; the cost of your policy will be different.}

You may be able to get better terms at a better price elsewhere.

Health insurance companies are eager to get your business and are constantly offering various incentives, discounts and deals to get you to switch. You might be able to get better coverage for less money with another insurer, but you won’t know until you check. This is especially true if you have been with the same insurer for several years, there may be far better options out there.

Steps to renew your health insurance with your existing provider

The exact process for renewing your health insurance will vary by provider, but this is the general sequence of events:

1. Initial provider contact: Your current insurance company will contact you as your policy nears its renewal date. They may be able to give you an instant renewal quote or share details of how you can contact them to discuss renewing your policy.
2. Assessment of the existing policy: At renewal, your provider scrutinizes your current policy. Factors such as changes in your age, the impact of medical inflation and the effect of any previous claims can affect the premium for your renewed policy.
3. Decision of the service provider: After the provider evaluates your renewal, they consider any adjustments made, policy impacts, and changes you requested. They subsequently inform you of all changes in the premium and available options.
4. Your decision: The final call is in your hands. You can accept the renewal terms or choose another provider if the new policies do not meet your expectations or requirements.

Do not change until you have spoken to a broker

If you already have a health insurance policy, you should be familiar with how the insurance works and that pre-existing conditions are usually excluded from new policies. Before considering a change, please consider whether any health conditions you have been suffering from will be ruled out by the switch. This is not a decision that should be rushed into, so we recommend that you take the time to think about it and consider your options, and you should always consult an experienced broker for unbiased advice.

Can you switch without introducing new exclusions?

Each provider set questions and criteria for a medical switch to ensure a safe transfer without damaging the past. As long as you answer these questions truthfully and meet their criteria, you should be able to change without penalty. Lead brokers also often have leverage with underwriters and can ask them to take a second look at exclusions to see if there’s room for wiggle room.

When is the best time to review your policy?

While your current health insurance provider will give you about 30 days notice before renewal, it’s often wise to think about your options ahead of time. The last thing you want is to be rushed into making a decision because of an upcoming deadline, so we recommend reviewing your options a good 60-90 days before your renewal deadline.

How to request a free health insurance renewal check with myTribe

1. Request a comparative health insurance quote using one of the buttons on this page or by clicking here.
2. One of our highly rated, vetted and FCA authorized brokers will review your application and carry out a market check.
3. They will be in touch to discuss options and discuss whether it is worth and safe to change.
4. You decide what you want to do, stay with your current provider or proceed with the switch.

Bupa health insurance renewal procedure

Bupa will write to you at least 28 days before your health insurance renewal date, and unless you choose to end your insurance, it will automatically renew.

If you are an existing Bupa customer, you can contact them by calling 0345 6090 111 or visit this page on their website.

Axa Health renewal process

Axa will contact you 3 – 6 weeks before your health insurance is due to renew and, like other providers, will automatically renew your policy unless you choose to cancel.

Axa Health can be contacted on 0800 015 6204 or visit this page on their website.

Aviva Healthier Solutions renewal process

Aviva will contact you at least 30 days before your policy renewal date to allow you to make changes to your policy and let you know if they want to make changes.

You can contact Aviva by calling 0800 068 3827 or visit this page on their website to log into your account.

Vitality health insurance renewal process

Like the other insurers mentioned, Vitality will contact you before your policy is due to renew to allow you to make changes and notify you of any adjustments from their site.

You can find out more about how Vitality calculates its renewal rates here or you can call them on 0808 115 6084 to discuss your policy.

WPA restoration process

WPA will contact you prior to your policy renewal, allowing you to make amendments and informing you of any changes from their perspective.

You discuss your policy with WPA by calling 01823 625230 or visiting this page on their website.

Freedom health insurance renewal process

If you have a Freedom Health Insurance policy, they will contact you before your policy is due for renewal to discuss your options.

You can contact them by calling 01202 756350 or by visiting this page on their website.