What is over-70s health insurance?

Over-70s health insurance is private medical cover that can give you faster access to the care you need. It can help pay for consultations, scans, surgery and treatment for eligible conditions, usually in a private hospital.

For many people in their 70s, health decisions can feel more time-sensitive. You may want reassurance that if something changes – whether it’s your vision, mobility or general wellbeing – you won’t be left waiting too long for answers. Working alongside NHS care, private medical insurance can also give you more choice over when and where you’re treated.

It’s reassuring to know that many UK insurers don’t set a strict upper age limit for new applicants. Applying in your seventies, or even later, is still possible. Whether you are accepted depends on your health and the insurer’s criteria. Whilst premiums are usually higher than for younger age groups, comparing policies can make a real difference to the price you pay.

Why choose over-70s health insurance?

NHS waiting times can be a bit of a lottery, especially for planned procedures. In November 2025, there were 7.31 million people on waiting lists. The Royal College of Surgeons reported that in May 2025, almost 197,000 patient pathways had been waiting over a year. For someone in their 70s, that can mean prolonged discomfort, anxiety and significant disruption to daily life.

As an example, there are over 110,000 knee replacement surgeries each year in the UK (according to Bristol Biomedical Research Centre), with most patients getting them over 65. You could wait many months for surgery on the NHS, but it could be arranged within weeks through private health insurance.

Health insurance can give you a way to skip the worst of the waiting. It may help you see specialists, get scans and access eligible treatments more quickly. It helps you keep moving, stay independent and get back to the things you enjoy.

Some of the main benefits you might notice include:

  • Faster diagnosis: Get specialist appointments and tests without long delays

  • Quicker treatment: Reduce the waiting time for surgeries and procedures

  • Comfy hospital stays: Private rooms and quieter facilities for recovery

  • More choice: Pick your hospital and sometimes your consultant

  • Extra treatments: Access to some therapies and drugs not routinely available on the NHS

  • Outpatient support: Physiotherapy and rehab services to keep you moving

Think of private cover as a valuable extra layer of help. It doesn’t replace the NHS, but it gives you options when waiting lists are long, helping you maintain your independence and quality of life.

What does over 70s health insurance cover?

Your exact cover will depend on the insurer, the type of policy you choose and the level of cover you select. To give you an idea, here’s what might be included as standard or available as optional extras:

Typically covered

  • Inpatient care: Most plans cover the cost of treatment, surgery and overnight stays in private hospitals, helping you access care quickly and avoid NHS waiting lists.

  • Outpatient care: This usually covers scans, tests, X-rays and hospital appointments where you’re not admitted as an inpatient.

  • Private consultations: You can see a specialist without long delays, giving you faster diagnosis and treatment planning.

  • Digital healthcare access: Many insurers provide video or phone GP consultations, ideal if you need advice quickly or can’t get to a surgery. Some plans also provide 24/7 phone support from nurses or medical advisers for advice around the clock.

  • Physiotherapy and musculoskeletal care: Cover often includes treatment for muscle, bone and joint conditions, such as sessions with a physiotherapist.

  • Cancer treatment: Certain policies include advanced cancer treatments – sometimes even options not available on the NHS – plus home chemotherapy in some cases.

  • Private ambulance transport: Some plans cover private ambulance journeys if medically necessary for admission to a private hospital, often up to a set limit per trip.

  • Dental cover: You may be able to add regular dental check-ups to your policy.

  • Mental health support: Options for talking therapies, counselling or even inpatient treatment when you need extra support.

What isn’t covered?

Over-70s health insurance offers plenty of benefits, but it doesn’t cover everything. Long-term conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, are generally excluded, since including them would make premiums and excesses much higher for everyone.

Regardless of which health insurance provider or plan you choose, your policy typically won’t include:

  • Pre-existing conditions (although some might be covered after a symptom-free period).

  • Long-term conditions like asthma or diabetes.

  • Emergency care.

  • Allergies and food intolerances.

  • Cosmetic treatments, gender reassignment and injuries from professional sports.

  • Routine dental or optician visits (unless you’ve added that coverage to your plan).

If you’re unsure whether a condition is covered, always check with your insurer or refer to your policy documentation.

Can I get cover if I have pre-existing conditions?

If you already have a health condition, it’s worth knowing how this affects private cover. New policies often won’t include anything you already know about or have had symptoms for before taking out the plan.

The good news is that some policies offer a moratorium approach. This means a pre-existing condition might still be covered if you haven’t had symptoms or treatment for it in the past two years. Even if you’ve had health or injury issues before (knee surgery, for example), you could still access the care you need, as long as your condition has been stable. Read more about this in our guide to health insurance and pre-existing conditions.

If you are still in work, it’s also worth checking your workplace health cover if you have it. Some schemes let you switch it to a personal policy when you retire, which can allow you to continue covering pre-existing conditions that might otherwise be excluded. But do compare that cover with new deals from other providers and decide which option offers the best coverage and value.

How much does private health insurance cost for over-70s?

The cost of health insurance in your 70s depends on factors such as your exact age, medical history, postcode, smoking status and the level of cover you choose.

As an example, one leading insurer’s pricing in mid-2025 showed people in their seventies paying around £170 per month if they don’t smoke and about £200 per month if they do smoke. Your own quotes could come in lower or higher than this depending on your health, where you live and the level of cover you select.

Two insurers may price similar cover very differently, so it’s important to compare plans and premiums. Reviewing your options side by side can help you decide whether the benefits justify the cost and ensure you’re getting fair value for the protection you want.

How to keep costs down

Although health insurance premiums are typically higher in your 70s, there are ways to manage the cost while still keeping meaningful protection in place.

  • Choose the six-week NHS wait option: If the NHS can treat you within six weeks, you use their service. If not, you can access private care.

  • Increase your excess: Agreeing to pay more towards a claim can reduce your monthly premium.

  • Review optional extras: Only add benefits you are likely to use.

  • Maintain healthy habits: Non-smokers and those with healthier lifestyles often benefit from lower premiums.

  • Check existing cover: If you are still in full or part-time employment, your company may offer group health insurance. This can sometimes provide cover at a lower cost than arranging an individual policy.

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