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Health insurance excess

The higher the excess, the lower we can set your premium

As with home and car insurance, you can choose to pay a fixed sum - an excess – towards your treatment. You can set your excess at zero, £100, £250, £500 or £1,000.

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Once you’ve chosen an excess, you choose whether you pay:

Once a plan year:

Even if you make two or more claims in the same plan year. If your claim carries on into the next plan year, you’ll need to pay the excess again. This applies to each person included on your cover.

Each time you make a claim:

Make two or more claims in the same plan year and you’ll have to pay an excess for each claim you make. When you claim for treatment of a particular condition, we consider it a new claim after 12 months. So you’ll need to pay the excess again for any treatment after this point. This applies to each person included on your plan.

The excess doesn’t apply to some benefits, including: 

*£20 co-payment applies. 
**A £50 excess may still apply to some sections of core cover. 
***A 25% co-payment applies.

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few of the questions we’ve answered for our members

Can I change between paying my excess per plan year or paying per claim once I've taken out a plan?

Yes, you can make that request during your renewal window. However, you may be subject to new underwriting terms. If you’re in mid-claim at the time, or are about to start a claim, it may not be possible.

Does the excess apply to all parts of my plan, for example the Travel Insurance option?

No, the excess doesn’t apply to some benefits - Vitality GP and Face-to-Face GP, Weight Loss and Corrective Surgery, NHS Hospital Cash Benefit and Childbirth Cash Benefit. Your excess would also not apply to claims made under the Optical, Dental and Hearing Cover option and the Worldwide Travel Cover option, where a different excess may apply.

When can I change how much excess I pay?

You can only ask to change your excess at renewal. Any change you make to your excess may be subject to new underwriting terms or may not be available, if you’re in mid-claim at the time or are about to start a claim.

Who do I pay the excess to?

We’ll deduct your chosen excess amount from the first invoice we pay (and the next invoice if any excess still remains). We’ll tell you when we’ve done this. You’ll then need to pay the excess amount to the relevant medical professional, hospital or other facility.

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Need advice?

Call us on 0330 678 3326.
Our team are on hand to answer your queries.

Lines are open:
Monday to Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10am-2pm
Sunday and bank holidays: Closed.

Calls to '03' numbers cost no more than a national rate call to a 01 or 02 number, whether from a mobile or a landline. If you get inclusive free calls to local rate numbers with your landline or mobile tariff, calls to '03' numbers will be included.
Call charge information
Calls to '03' numbers cost no more than a national rate call to a 01 or 02 number, whether from a mobile or a landline. If you get inclusive free calls to local rate numbers with your landline or mobile tariff, calls to '03' numbers will be included.

Other ways to control your costs

  • Choose your treatment pathway

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    Choose Consultant Select or a hospital list.

    Learn more

  • Renewal premiums

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    Engage with the Vitality Programme to help manage your renewal premiums.

    Learn more