Age
The risk of needing medical treatment generally rises as you get older, which means the price of health insurance plan will usually also go up.
Compare private medical insurance quotes from 7^ UK providers
Can couples get joint health insurance?
Joint private health insurance or couples health insurance is a type of health insurance policy you can take out to cover both yourself and your partner for the cost of private medical and mental health treatment. It often works out more cost-effective than taking out two individual policies. If you have children, it is also worth comparing family health insurance policies.
While we have free care under the NHS in the UK, private medical insurance offers you specialist treatment and diagnosis quicker, both as an inpatient and outpatient, at your convenience. From booking appointments to scheduling surgeries or therapies, private health insurance is designed to work around you.
Your policy will usually cover health conditions that begin after your policy starts. However, all policies are different, so it's important to pick the policy that will suit your needs best.
How does joint private health insurance work?
-
Get referred by your GP
If you or your partner have a health problem, visit your GP first. If the GP says they will refer you to a specialist, tell them you have private health care. Your GP will write a referral letter outlining your condition and their initial thoughts.
-
Inform your insurer
Contact your insurer to tell it you want to make a claim. Your insurer will confirm whether the treatment needed is covered by your policy and the next steps. You will usually be able to choose a doctor or hospital from an approved list as an outpatient. Give the doctor your GP referral letter.
-
The insurer covers the cost
The cost of a private consultation, tests and/or course of treatment will be covered by your insurer as long as the condition is covered by your couples health insurance plan. You may be asked to pay an excess toward the cost of treatment depending on your policy terms and conditions.
How much is joint private medical cover?
The cost of a joint private health insurance policy will vary from provider to provider. How much you’ll pay will be affected by the following factors:
-
-
Level of cover
Comprehensive couples health insurance is more expensive than a basic policy. More comprehensive policies might include cover for mental health conditions or physiotherapy.
-
Lifestyle
Current or former smokers will pay more for private health insurance due to the associated health risks.
-
The policy excess
The excess is the amount the policyholder pays in the event of a claim before insurance kicks in. The higher your excess, the cheaper your premium.
Is it cheaper to get joint health insurance or single policies?
According to Bupa, couples can save up to 5% by buying joint health insurance instead of two separate policies.
But it might not always be the case that a joint private health insurance policy will be cheaper. So, it’s a good idea to compare joint health insurance quotes and two single private health insurance quotes to see what will be the cheapest for you and your partner.
You can compare quotes for both single and couples health insurance policies with MoneySupermarket.
You might pay more for a joint policy if one of you has a pre-existing medical condition, smokes, or is significantly older than the other person.
Having one policy will mean less administration and just one payment each month. However, if your relationship ends, there could be an extra administration task as you will need to decide what to do about the joint policy.
Our expert says…
Private health insurance is cheaper than you think and gives policyholders peace of mind. Some insurers give customers rewards – such as freebies or discounts at retailers – if they can demonstrate they lead a healthy lifestyle. With NHS waiting lists long, access to private healthcare is more useful than ever.
Emma Lunn Personal finance expert
Why compare private health insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
-
Save time
MoneySuperMarket makes it easy to compare joint health insurance policies from multiple providers in one place, saving you the time and hassle of researching each provider individually.
-
Save money
By comparing policy quotes and features, MoneySuperMarket makes it easy to match our best deals with prices to fit your needs and budget, saving you money on your private medical insurance premium.
-
Get tailored cover
With a wide range of policies available, you can find joint private health insurance that meets your needs as a couple, or two separate policies with terms and conditions to suit each partner.
We're 100% independent, working only for our customers
Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
By combining independence with our excellent technology, we can negotiate the best prices and the best value on products and services.
Based on 249,692 reviews
our customers rate us
4.9/5
Is couples health insurance right for me?
Private health insurance gives you quick access to consultants and treatment if you suffer from a range of conditions.
There are pros and cons of taking out a couples policy versus two separate policies.
-
Pros
Both partners can be covered on the same terms and conditions with the same level of cover
One payment a month for both people will make admin easier
A joint policy might be cheaper than two single policies
You can sometimes convert a joint policy to a family plan if you have children
-
Cons
You need to be living together to be eligible for a joint private health insurance policy
Each person may be better off with their own policy suited to their medical history and lifestyle
You might not both need cover if one of you has health insurance via their employer
In the event of a break-up, you will need to decide what to do with the policy
What do I need to get a health insurance quote?
Get tailored private healthcare quotes with MoneySuperMarket. To find a suitable quote for you, we will need to know a few details, including:
-
Personal details
As well as details such as your age and where you live, you’ll need to disclose whether you’re a smoker, if you are recovering from any long-term medical issues, and answer questions about your lifestyle.
-
Your policy
Choose what level of cover you would like to include in your policy. You can also choose a couples or family policy.
-
We will browse the market
We will browse the market for deals from leading UK health insurance providers to find the best policy for you at the lowest possible price.
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Couples health insurance guides and expert tips
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
Can unmarried couples get a joint policy?
You don’t need to be married to be eligible for a couples or joint private health insurance policy. Couples living together at the same address can also buy a joint policy.
Does joint health insurance include dental?
Private health insurance normally doesn’t include routine dental treatment as standard, but some policies will include cover for dental surgery performed in a hospital. Routine dental treatment can sometimes be added as an extra cost or may be included in the most comprehensive policies.
Is couples therapy covered by joint health insurance policies?
Private health insurance usually includes cover for mental health conditions. But policies don’t cover couples therapy as relationship issues are not a diagnosable mental health condition.
Super save with MoneySuperMarket
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
Whip your credit score into shape with Credit Score
Super save over and over again with Energy Monitor
There are always more ways to save with MoneySuperMarket
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy something, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.
Reviewed on 8 Dec 2025 by
Accurate as of September 2025