WPA (Western Provident Association) Health Insurance is a UK-based, not-for-profit organisation that sets itself apart through its ethical approach, personalised service, and flexible health plans.
With over a century of experience, WPA offers its flagship Complete Health policy, which allows members to tailor their cover with optional benefits such as mental health support, dental
and optical care, and overseas treatment. Its not-for-profit status means all surplus is reinvested into improving member services, rather than paying dividends to shareholders.
WPA members benefit from the WPA Health app, which provides 24/7 remote GP access and convenient health management tools. Recognised for its transparency and outstanding service,
WPA is a Which? Recommended Provider, trusted for putting the health and wellbeing of its members first.
WPA (Western Provident Association) has a rich history dating back to 1901, when it was established as a provident association aimed at helping working people access affordable healthcare. Over the decades, WPA evolved alongside the UK’s healthcare landscape, maintaining its core ethos of mutual support and ethical practice. As a not-for-profit health insurer, WPA has consistently prioritised member wellbeing over profit, reinvesting any surplus into improving services and coverage. It played a pioneering role in the development of private medical insurance in the UK and has maintained a strong reputation for integrity, transparency, and personalised care. Today, WPA continues to blend its heritage with innovation, offering digitally enhanced, flexible health insurance solutions while staying true to its founding principles.
WPA’s Complete Health insurance policy is a flexible and comprehensive private medical insurance plan designed for individuals and families. It provides full cover for inpatient and day-patient treatment, including access to private hospitals and advanced diagnostic tests. Members can customise their policy with optional extras such as outpatient care, mental health support, dental and optical cover, and overseas emergency treatment. A key feature is the WPA Health app, offering 24/7 access to remote GPs, health advice, and digital tools for managing appointments and claims. Backed by a not-for-profit ethos, WPA’s policy is built around choice, transparency, and high-quality care tailored to individual needs.
WPA Health App: 24/7 access to GPs, health advice, and digital claim management.
Member offers: As a member you can take advantage of a range of discounts and offers which are in addition to your policy/scheme benefits.
Strong Reputation: Recognised as a Which? Recommended Provider for its high service standards.
Named Personal Advisers: Direct support from a dedicated adviser instead of call centres.
WPA are a Which? Recommended Provider for its high service standards.
Health Insurance Provider of the Year award at the Moneyfacts Consumer Awards 2020 to 2023.
2022 Health & Protection Awards Best Individual Healthcare Provider.
WPA achieved 5-star ratings from independent rating service Defaqto.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| In-patient treatment | Full cover for hospital stays, surgery, specialist fees, and nursing care in private hospitals. Includes hospital accommodation, nursing, operating theatre fees, and drugs needed for treatment. Typically treatment will start with a specialist consultation. Core cover contributes £250 per year towards these costs. Complex scans such as MRI/CT/PET scans are included, plus procedures carried out by your specialist on an out-patient basis.
Complex Scans. Out-patient Procedures. Pre-admission Tests. |
| Out-patient treatment | WPA has options to cover extra out-patient consultations and out-patient tests. Extra Out-Patient Consultations: Enhances the £250 core benefit to provide you with extra peace of mind if you have an appointment in a hospital or clinic as an out-patient.
Out-patient consultations woth a financial limit of £500 or £1000. As there is no benefit for out-patient tests under the core cover, this valuable Optional Extra provides benefit for tests such as blood tests, x-rays and ultrasound scans.
Out-patient tests woth a financial limit of £500, £1000 or £1500. |
| Cancer cover | WPA's aim with this Optional Extra is to provide easy and prompt access to a diagnosis, followed by full and comprehensive cover for medical treatment. You and your family can have the confidence you are in excellent hands if you are diagnosed with cancer.
Unlimited follw-up care. Personalised Support. |
| WPA Health App | WPA Health App Features include: Book remoted GP appointments. Submit claims and get instant responses. Track your submitted claims and remaining benefit limits. Explore WPA health and wellbeing resource library. |
| Additional Benefits | WPA Health policies offers a range of additional benefits and options: Mental health treatment. Therapies cover. NHS day-patient/in-patient cash benefit. NHS out-patient cash benefit. Hospice Donation. Private ambulance transport. Parent accommodation. Nursing at home. Overseas Emergency Treatment. Dental Care. |
As with most health insurers WPA have three options you can choose from for how your policy is underwritten:
Moratorium: No requirement for detailed medical history upfront, a moratorium period of two years is in place for any condition for which you have experienced symptoms or received treatment for in the last five years.
Full medical underwriting: Full medical underwriting means you disclose your full medical history when applying, allowing the insurer to assess and confirm which conditions are covered or excluded from the start.
Continued medical exclusions (Switch): You will need to answer a few questions regarding your medical history in the last five years and some questions on specific health conditions. The underwriting will transfer from your previous insurer rather than being re-underwritten. This option is only available to those with an existing health insurance policy with another insurer.
For more definitions of terms, please see our glossary.
An excess is the amount you will pay towards a claim, the higher the excess you choose the lower the premium will be. Vitality offer the following excess options:
£0, £100, £250, or £500.
You can choose different excess levels per family member - these are then applied per person, per policy year and not per claim.
Choosing the right hospital list ensures you have access to facilities you require, WPA has an option to upgrade your hospital list:
An extensive choice of hospitals are covered as standard.
Including Premium Hospitals Optional Extra extends your choice to over 1,000 hospitals.
Health insurance does not cover accident and emergency situations. Most leading health insurers do not cover treatment overseas, self-inflicted injury and professional sports related injuries are also not covered on a health insurance policy.
As with most health insurers WPA's exclusions are very standard, they do not routinely cover:
Allergies, allergic disorders or food intolerances.
Birth control, conception, sexual problems and gender reassignment.
Chronic Conditions.
Contamination, wars, riots and some terrorist acts.
Cosmetic Surgery.
Fertility treatment and infertility.
Pre-existing conditions.
Pregnancy and childbirth.
Navigating health insurance especially understanding what’s covered can be complex, but our expert advisors are here to guide you in choosing the right policy and underwriting option for your needs.
Like all health insurance providers, Vitality considers a range of factors when calculating the cost of your private health
cover—some of which you can influence, and others that are fixed.
WPA offers a customisable health insurance policy that you can tailor to suit your individual needs and budget. By adjusting options such as out-patient
cover levels, hospital lists, and the excess amount, you can manage the scope of your coverage and influence the cost of your premium.
In addition to your policy choice, here are several key factors WPA takes into account when generating your quote:
Age: Age is one of the most significant factors—the older you are, the higher your premium tends to be. Taking out insurance early is a smart way to control future costs.
Who's covered: Including family members on your policy will result in higher premiums. Insurers do offer varying discounts for couples and familys.
Location: Where you live can impact pricing. Health insurance tends to be more expensive in London and the South East, where private treatment costs are typically higher.
Level of Cover: Comprehensive cover (e.g., private diagnosis and treatment) costs more than basic or treatment-only options. Extras like mental health cover, dental, and optical benefits increase the overall premium.
Excess Level: The higher the excess (the amount you agree to pay toward a claim), the lower your monthly premium will be. Choosing a high excess can reduce upfront costs.
Lifestyle and BMI: Most insurers now offer discounts based upon health and lifestyle. Your body mass index (BMI), fitness level, health conditions, and other lifestyle choices can affect your premium.
Smoking Status: Nearly all insurers charge higher premiums to smokers, reflecting the greater risk of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions.
Hospital and Consultant Access: Choosing a wider hospital network or the ability to select any consultant usually costs more. Guided care or restricted networks lower costs by limiting provider options.
Understanding the key factors that affect your premium can help you take control of your health insurance costs. At Insured Health, we’re committed to supporting you throughout the life of your policy—helping you preserve the valuable benefits of private healthcare. We offer some the most competitive prices on the market, guaranteed not to be beaten elsewhere. Ready to take the next step? Get your personalised quote today.
What are the benefits of health insurance?
The main benefit of health insurance is that it gives you access to private healthcare. You can often bypass long NHS waiting times and receive prompt diagnosis and treatment getting you back to health sooner.
How does private health insurance work?
You’ll usually pay monthly or yearly for your cover. Then, if you become unwell or are injured, you can make a claim. Your insurer will then pay some or all of the cost of any private healthcare that you need.
How do you make a claim on health insurance?
Most insurers require a GP referral before you access private treatment. Some offer online GP appointments or allow direct access to specialists through a triage process. In most cases, you’ll need authorisation before seeing a specialist. The insurer usually pays the provider directly, though you may cover any excess or costs beyond your policy limits.
Will my premium increase every year?
Premiums can rise annually due to age and inflation in medical costs. Making a claim on your policy can impact your premium. If you've noticed an increase, speak to one of our advisers today.
I have medical history can I get cover?
Yes, you can still get health insurance if you have a medical history, but it may affect what’s covered. Some conditions you’ve had treatment or symptoms for may not be included right away. Depending on the policy, these conditions could be covered later if you don’t need any treatment for them. Speak to one of our advisers who can help find the right policy for your needs.
How much does private health insurance cost?
Costs vary based on factors such as your age, health, location, level of cover, and excess amount. Policies can range from under £30 per month to several hundred, depending on these variables. For an accurate price speak to one of our advisers today.
At Insured Health, we help you compare prices and cover from top UK health insurance providers like Aviva, AXA, Bupa and Vitality. Our service is completely free, and we remain fully independent and impartial to ensure you get the best advice for your needs.
Our expert, approachable advisers are here to guide you through every step with ease. They’ll take the time to understand your personal needs, compare prices and policies on your behalf, and provide clear, honest advice to help you find the best and most affordable cover.
Whether you're exploring health insurance options or already have cover and want to ensure you're getting the best deal, Insured Health is a trusted health insurance broker
We offer the most competitive prices available from insurers, you will not get a cheaper price for health insurance elsewhere.
Our service is entirely free, and we pride ourselves on being independent and impartial.
Based in Sheffield, our team of expert advisers is just a call or click away, ready to guide you through the process with ease.
4.9 Average review score from Trust Pilot
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“Made contact with Bryn at recommendation of a family member. Already had private health cover but it was costing me a fortune and was unsustainable. Bryn got me comprehensive cover with a smaller excess with the same company (!!!) for less than half the cost. ”
