Private health insurance for the over 60s in the UK
Private medical insurance is still widely available after 60 — but it costs more, because the likelihood of claiming rises with age. Here is why premiums climb, why cover remains open to older applicants, and the practical levers that keep the price manageable.
The essentials in 30 seconds
- Still available: most insurers offer PMI well beyond age 60, and many policies renew for life once you hold them — age alone does not lock you out.
- Costs more with age: premiums rise as you get older because the chance of needing treatment, and so of claiming, increases.
- You can manage it: a higher voluntary excess, a guided hospital list, a six-week NHS-wait option and trimming optional modules all lower the premium.
- Switching carefully: moving insurer on continued personal medical exclusions (CPME) terms can preserve cover for conditions you already have, rather than re-excluding them.
Why it costs more — and how to manage it
| Consideration | What it means for the over 60s |
|---|---|
| Premiums rise with age | The single biggest driver — as claims become more likely with age, the premium increases at each renewal and band |
| Cover is still available | Most insurers accept applicants well past 60, and many existing policies are guaranteed renewable for life regardless of age or claims |
| Voluntary excess | Accepting a higher excess you could comfortably meet lowers the premium without changing the underlying cover |
| Hospital list | Choosing a guided or regional list rather than a full central-London list can cut the premium while keeping good private access |
| Six-week NHS-wait option | Only goes private when the NHS wait exceeds six weeks — a meaningful saving that suits those happy to use the NHS for shorter waits |
| Switching with CPME | Moving insurer on continued personal medical exclusions terms preserves continuity for existing conditions instead of restarting underwriting |
Indicative considerations for orientation only — not a quote. Actual premiums and terms depend on the insurer, the cover chosen and your circumstances.
Age and the cost of cover
Private medical insurance is priced on risk, and the clearest risk signal is age. As we get older the chance of needing investigation or treatment rises, so the expected cost of claims rises with it — and the premium follows. That is why a policy that felt inexpensive at 45 can look very different at 65, even with the same cover. It is the underlying claims likelihood being repriced, not a penalty for getting older.
Crucially, higher cost does not mean closed doors. Many insurers actively offer PMI to applicants in their 60s and 70s, and policies bought earlier are commonly guaranteed renewable for life — the insurer cannot decline to renew because you have aged or claimed. For the wider picture on what PMI covers and how underwriting works, see the private health insurance hub.
Is private cover worth it after 60?
For many older patients the appeal of PMI is timing and choice: faster access to diagnostics and planned treatment, a choice of consultant and hospital, and a private room. NHS waiting times for routine and planned procedures have been long in recent years, and that context tends to weigh more heavily as we age and use healthcare more — though waits vary widely by treatment and region, so this is a qualitative consideration rather than a fixed figure.
Against that, the premium is higher than at younger ages and will keep rising, and PMI generally does not cover chronic, long-term condition management or emergencies — the NHS remains the backbone for those. The sensible approach is to weigh the value you place on speed and choice against an honest view of an affordable, sustainable premium, and to design the policy (excess, hospital list, modules) around what you would actually use. The private health hub sets out what is and is not covered before you compare.
Switching insurer with CPME
If you already hold PMI and want to switch to a cheaper or better-suited insurer, the term to ask about is continued personal medical exclusions, or CPME (sometimes called switch or continued moratorium terms). On CPME the new insurer broadly matches your existing exclusions rather than re-underwriting you from scratch, so conditions covered under your current policy generally stay covered. Without it, a fresh application could exclude conditions that arose while you were insured — a real risk the longer you have held cover. If you switch, confirm the new policy is offered on CPME or equivalent continuation terms before you move.
Over-60s private health insurance FAQs
Information only — not financial advice. Figures and considerations are indicative, to aid understanding, not quotes. My Insurance Expert is not an FCA-authorised intermediary and does not arrange or sell policies. Last updated: 2026-06-13