Couples’ health insurance explained

If you’re living together as a couple and considering taking out private health insurance, take a look at couples’ health insurance. It’s also known as joint health insurance.

In this guide we explain what couples’ health insurance is and how it works. We review the benefits of a couples’ policy and compare it to separate individual health insurance. After reading this guide, you should understand your private health insurance options as a couple.

What is couples’ health insurance?

Couples’ health insurance helps cover the cost of private healthcare for you and your partner. It covers seeing a private GP, physiotherapist, or mental health professional. It also covers treatment in private hospitals. As well as access to specialist drugs and ongoing care.

One of the main advantages of private health insurance is that it gives you quicker access to diagnosis and treatment. Couples’ health insurance can help you and your partner get the treatment you need when you need it.

You don't need to be married or in a civil partnership to apply for joint health insurance. This insurance is available to any two people living as a couple in the same household.

There are a few differences between having two individual policies and one joint policy.

A joint policy will provide the same cover for both you and your partner. So, you’ll both have access to the same treatments. With an individual policy, you can choose different cover options to your partner. For example, they may wish to add optical, dental and hearing insurance, but you can choose not to.

With joint or couples’ health insurance you’ll only have one policy, not two. So, you’ll only have one renewal date to deal with. Also, when you first take out a joint policy it can be slightly cheaper than taking out two individual policies. So, more cost effective in the first year.

Benefits of couples’ health insurance

Here are some benefits of having joint health insurance:

• Both you and your partner are covered on the same health insurance policy, so you’ll have access to the same treatment options. It’s reassuring to know you both have the same level of cover.
• You can pick and choose optional extra cover. This means you’ll have health insurance that suits you as a couple.
• Having one health insurance policy means you’ll only have one bill to pay and one renewal date to deal with. This simplifies your life admin considerably.
• When you first take out health insurance, you may be offered a discount on a joint policy. It could be more cost-effective in the first year for you to buy your health insurance as a couple.
• You can easily add children to your private health insurance. So, if your family expands, you can make sure all members are covered

 Read our guide about family health insurance for more information.

How does couples’ health insurance work?

During your application, both you and your partner need to provide details about your health and lifestyle. These details are assessed by your insurer. They’ll provide you with a quote which is the price you pay for your joint health insurance.

If you need to make a claim, speak to a private or NHS GP for a referral or self-refer for certain conditions. Once your referral and treatment plan is approved, then your insurer will cover the cost of the treatment.

If you’ve opted to pay an excess, you’ll need to do this before treatment starts. You can choose to pay an excess once each year or each time you make a claim. With health insurance for couples, you may need to pay the excess each time you or your partner make a claim. Check the small print to make sure.

Couples’ health insurance vs. individual policies

How to apply for couples’ health insurance?

Before you take out your joint health insurance you’ll want to know how much it’ll cost. You can get a quote directly from most insurers online. Alternatively, you can use an insurance comparison site or speak to an adviser.

When you apply, you can choose to add someone to the policy. You’ll also need to decide which optional extra cover you want and if you want to add an excess to the policy.

Both of you will need to answer a series of questions about your health and lifestyle separately. You’ll need to let the insurance company know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. These can be physical or mental health conditions. They could also be long-term conditions or one-off medical events.

You also need to tell your insurance company if you’ve had any symptoms, tests or treatment for any illness or injury in the past. And they’ll need to know if you're currently going through diagnosis tests for a condition.

Each of you will be assessed separately but you’ll be given just one premium amount. If one of you has existing medical issues it may be a good idea to get two individual quotes as a comparison.

How much does couples’ health insurance cost?

The cost of health insurance for couples will vary depending on several factors. These include:

• Your ages: The younger you are, the cheaper your premiums are likely to be. If there is a large age gap between you and your partner, the price of the insurance could be higher for the older partner. This is because it takes into account that the older partner may need to claim more often.
• Where you live: The cost of providing your healthcare will vary depending on where you live. Prices in the southeast of England, especially London, will be higher. This is because treatment costs more there.
• Your medical histories: You’ll both need to provide information about any existing conditions. And any treatments or tests you're having.
• Your lifestyle: Smoking raises your risk of many medical conditions. So, your premiums may be higher if either of you smoke. Other factors can be taken into consideration too. Like alcohol intake and use of non-prescribed medication and drugs.
• Type of cover: Most insurers offer additional health insurance options. You’ll need to agree together which of these you want to take out.
• The excess you choose: If you choose to have an excess on your plan, it should reduce the cost of your regular premiums. An excess means that you're paying towards your treatment, so the insurance company doesn't need to cover the whole cost of your care.

Read our guide about the cost of private health insurance for more information.

Couples’ health insurance – things to consider

Choose cover that suits you both

Different providers offer different levels of cover. So, choosing the right options for you and your partner is important. Make sure you have cover for the types of treatments that are important to you both. But there’s no point paying for treatment that you’re unlikely to use.

Cost effective cover

It's important to understand exactly what level of cover you're getting for your money. Also, if you choose to have an excess, check whether you’ll pay that excess per claim.

Different medical histories

If you and your partner have very different medical histories, you may want to consider taking out separate policies. That way you can be sure you’ll both be covered in the way you need. Bear in mind that pre-existing conditions are unlikely to be covered.