You do not have to use one, but for anything beyond the simplest policy a broker usually finds better cover for the same money — at no direct cost to you.

How it works in practice

You can buy private medical insurance straight from an insurer, and for a simple renewal with an insurer you already know, that is fine. The limit is that going direct you only ever see one company's products and one company's price. You cannot tell from inside a single insurer whether another would cover you better or cheaper.

A broker exists to close that gap. An FCA-authorised broker compares several insurers, and — more usefully — knows which one suits your particular situation: your age, any medical history, the hospitals you want access to, and how each insurer underwrites. That matching is where most of the value sits, because two policies at a similar price can differ sharply on what they actually cover.

The part that surprises people is that this usually costs you nothing directly. Brokers are generally paid by commission from the insurer rather than by a fee from you, and that commission is built into the premium whether you use a broker or not — so using one rarely makes the cover dearer.

It matters most when there is any complexity. If you have a pre-existing condition, you are older, you want a specific hospital, or you are switching insurer, a broker earns its keep. If your needs are genuinely simple and you know exactly the policy you want, going direct is a reasonable choice.

Questions to put to the insurer or broker

  • How many insurers would a broker compare for someone in my situation?
  • Would a broker cost me anything on top of the premium?
  • Does my situation have enough complexity that a broker would add real value?

Related questions

How this site fits in

This explains how UK private health insurance brokers work in general. Health Insurance UK is not itself a broker and is not FCA-authorised; when you request a quote we introduce you to one selected FCA-authorised broker, which is responsible for any regulated advice, and we may be paid for the introduction. Always check any firm on the FCA Financial Services Register before you act, and remember a broker cannot cover a condition you already have — that is set by underwriting, not by who arranges the policy.

Get a free quote — a specialist broker calls you back, free and with no obligation.

Or see how UK cover compares and the FCA-authorised broker list.