National Friendly Health Insurance Guide

National Friendly’s My PMI private health insurance is built around simplicity and flexibility. Instead of lots of bolt-ons, you choose from two levels of cover, with each one offering a different depth of protection depending on your priorities and budget.

Both policies include access to Friendly GP+, a 24/7 virtual GP service, along with guided support to help you find the right treatment pathway when you need it.

Highlights of National Friendly’s health insurance include:

Two levels of cover to suit different needs and budgets.
A five-year term, so you don’t need to renew each year.
Access to Friendly GP+, a 24/7 virtual GP service.
Access to Friendly Dentist, a 24/7 dental helpline.
Guided support available to help you find the right specialist and treatment.
Cancer cover included across both levels, with more comprehensive protection at Level 2.

In this guide, we break down how National Friendly’s My PMI works, what each level includes, and how to choose the right option for you.

We’ve done our best to ensure the information on this page is accurate and up to date at the time of writing. However, insurers can change their terms, pricing and cover at any time. This page is for general information only and is not a substitute for full policy documentation, which you should always review to help you confirm that the cover meets your individual needs.

Our specialist advisers can walk you through National Friendly’s core cover and optional extras, and check for any current offers. They’ll also compare National Friendly’s cover and premiums with other leading UK providers so you can see if there’s a better fit for your budget and needs. Call 0800 144 4777 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or start your quotation online now.

Both policies include access to Friendly GP+, a 24/7 virtual GP service, along with guided support to help you find the right treatment pathway when you need it.

Highlights of National Friendly’s health insurance include:

Two levels of cover to suit different needs and budgets.
A five-year term, so you don’t need to renew each year.
Access to Friendly GP+, a 24/7 virtual GP service.
Access to Friendly Dentist, a 24/7 dental helpline.
Guided support available to help you find the right specialist and treatment.
Cancer cover included across both levels, with more comprehensive protection at Level 2.

In this guide, we break down how National Friendly’s My PMI works, what each level includes, and how to choose the right option for you.

Something we especially like about National Friendly’s approach is their flexibility when it comes to who can be covered:

Adults aged 18 to 85 can apply.
Policies can be set up for individuals, couples or families.
Children can be covered up to age 23.
You can include up to ten children on a policy, as long as they live at the same address.

National Friendly also gives you flexibility in where you are treated. When you take out your policy, you can choose from three options:

With the guided treatment option, after you get a GP’s referral, National Friendly’s claims team will select a consultant who will oversee your treatment path.

If you’d rather choose where you are treated, pay a little more for the standard hospital list option for access to a wide range of recognised private hospitals and healthcare providers across the UK. Only hospitals whose fees sit above typical national pricing levels are excluded.
For even more choice and flexibility, the extended hospital list allows you to use any private hospital in the UK, including those not included on the standard list. This is the most expensive option when it comes to premiums, but it gives you the highest level of choice.

Rather than one standard core package, National Friendly builds cover across two levels. Level 1 focuses on diagnosis and outpatient care, while Level 2 focuses on inpatient and day patient care, with comprehensive treatment benefits.

Here’s a summary of what the entry-level cover (Level 1) typically includes:

Benefit	What’s included
Private GP access	Unlimited face-to-face GP consultations that lead to a referral to a specialist, plus 24/7 virtual GP access. Non-referral GP visits: one per year, up to £100.
Diagnostic consultations	Consultations with a specialist sourced or authorised by National Friendly’s claims team.
Diagnostic tests	Includes colonoscopies, endoscopies, angiograms, biopsies, ECGs, pathology tests, MRI, PET, CT scans and X-rays.
Outpatient therapies	Acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy before inpatient/day-patient treatment.
Foot and lower limb therapies	Chiropody, podiatry and gait assessment for medical conditions.
Minor outpatient surgery	Includes carpal tunnel decompression, excision/cauterisation of cancerous tissue and joint injections for tendonitis/bursitis.
Mental health support	One psychiatric assessment per policy year and up to ten sessions with a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Heart tests	Angiograms, biopsies, blood tests and ECGs.
Cancer diagnostics	Biopsies, blood tests, scans and X-rays for diagnosis before treatment. Excludes genetic testing, screening, pre-diagnosis preventive treatment and treatment after diagnosis.
Excess choice	Choose no excess (so that 100% of a claim is paid by National Friendly) or excess levels of £100, £250, £500 or £1,000.

Level 1 is typically the most affordable option and is designed to help you get diagnosed quickly and access outpatient treatment without long NHS waits.

While Level 1 focuses on outpatient diagnosis and treatment, Level 2 is designed for people who want financial protection against the cost of more expensive treatments, such as operations and cancer care. It covers eligible inpatient and day-patient treatment up to £1 million per year and provides an allowance towards scans and tests.

Here are just some of the additional benefits you can get from selecting a higher level of cover.

Cover area	What’s included
Diagnostic tests and scans	An allowance towards GP or specialist-recommended scans and tests, including MRI, CT and PET scans, X-rays, ECGs and biopsies. Annual limits are £1,500 for scans and £1,000 for tests. Consultation fees aren’t covered.
Inpatient cover	Level 2 includes up to £1 million per year per policyholder for inpatient and day-patient treatment, including hospital stays and specialist fees for surgery.
Cancer care	Diagnosis is covered with both levels, with different limits for each one. Treatment can include cancer drugs, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, consultations with specialists during treatment, home treatment, wigs and prostheses (see below for more details).
Heart treatment	Includes coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass, pacemaker or defibrillator fitting, and cardiac valve surgery.
Cosmetic surgery	Covers pre-authorised reconstructive surgery to restore function or appearance following an accident or covered surgery that occurred after the policy start date.
Private ambulance	Covers private land ambulance transport where medically necessary.
Home nursing	Covers home nursing, under your specialist’s supervision, following authorised in- or day-patient treatment, for up to six months per claim.
Parent accommodation	Covers hospital accommodation costs if you need to stay with a child insured under the policy while they receive eligible treatment.
Fixed cash allowance	A cash payment if you choose NHS treatment instead of a pre-authorised private inpatient procedure covered by your policy.
NHS hospital stays	Pays £100 per night for up to ten overnight stays per policy year where the treatment could also have been provided privately.
Therapies	If you need extra treatment to help you recover, Level 2 covers follow-up therapies such as acupuncture, chiropody, chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy and podiatry.
Dental, optical and hearing treatment	Covers certain hospital treatments, including surgery to remove impacted teeth or cysts in the jaw, treatment for acute eye conditions such as cataracts, and repair of a perforated eardrum.

Raising your cover level will naturally increase your premiums, but it does give you more protection. How much you need depends on your personal circumstances, so comparing plans and insurers can help you find the right balance between cover and cost.

National Friendly’s My PMI offers cancer cover through its two levels, but each is designed to cover a different stage of care. Level 1 helps towards the cost of diagnosis, while Level 2 covers diagnosis tests and scans plus eligible cancer treatment, subject to policy limits and exclusions.

Covers cancer diagnosis, including scans and tests, with an annual limit of £2,000 or £5,000, depending on your policy choice.

Covers cancer diagnosis through scans and tests, with separate annual limits of £1,500 for scans and £1,000 for tests. It also covers conventional cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, up to the policy’s £1 million annual limit. Some licensed cancer drugs, medically necessary home treatment, follow-up care, wigs and prostheses are also covered, subject to the policy terms.

Biological therapies, immunotherapy, stem cell and bone marrow treatments, clinical trials and palliative care are excluded.

Every My PMI policy includes access to Friendly GP+ and Friendly Dentist, giving you round-the-clock support without needing an appointment.

Friendly GP+ gives you 24/7 access to virtual GP consultations by phone or video, so you can speak to a qualified doctor at a time that suits you. GPs can provide advice, issue fit notes and arrange an open private referral if you need further investigation or treatment.

The service also includes a physiotherapy helpline for aches and pains, up to six counselling sessions a year and online wellbeing resources, with guidance on mental health, sleep, diet and exercise. Prescription and medication costs may apply.

Friendly Dentist gives you round-the-clock access to dental advice, including guidance on symptoms and second opinions. You can also upload photos or videos for a personalised assessment, with private prescriptions available if needed at an additional cost.

These services make it easier to get advice when you need it, without having to wait for a GP or dental appointment.

As with most private medical insurance policies, National Friendly’s My PMI focuses on treating new, short-term conditions rather than ongoing or routine health needs.

Exclusions include (but are not limited to):

Pre-existing conditions, depending on the terms you joined on.
Allergies.
Chronic conditions where treatment is ongoing or aimed at managing symptoms.
Fertility treatment.
Issues related to alcohol or substance misuse/addiction.
Transplant procedures and kidney dialysis.
Preventative treatment, routine check-ups and screening where no symptoms are present.

Mental health treatment that requires inpatient or day-patient care.
Treatment received outside the UK.
Injuries from professional or high-risk sports.
Sleep disorders.
Developmental/behavioural conditions including dyslexia and dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger syndrome and autism.
Weight loss treatment.

Many of these exclusions are standard across private health insurance policies. Always check the full policy wording to understand exactly what is and isn’t covered.

National Friendly’s My PMI is built around simplicity, fixed five-year terms, and two clear levels of cover. While this approach works well for many people, it may not suit everyone. It might not be the best fit if:

You need very specific or highly customised cover: National Friendly uses a two-tiered structure rather than a wide range of optional add-ons, so you choose from the two levels rather than picking individual benefits.
You want full in-patient cover included in the basic level: Level 1 focuses on diagnosis and outpatient care, so if you’re looking for full hospital treatment and more comprehensive cancer cover, you’ll need to consider Level 2.

You want coverage outside the UK: Treatment abroad is not included, unlike at least one other insurer offering this as an optional extra.
You want continued moratorium underwriting: National Friendly does not offer this option, so any symptom‑free time you’ve already built up with another insurer won’t transfer if you switch from another provider. As they require a full two years with no symptoms or treatment (after starting the new policy) before they’ll cover a pre‑existing condition, switching means that two‑year countdown starts again.

These might not be deal-breakers, but it’s certainly worth comparing this plan and insurer against other available options to make the right decision for you.

National Friendly issues policies on five-year terms, which means your own claims won’t affect your premium during that time. This gives you extra stability and peace of mind, while still allowing you to cancel if your circumstances change. The two-level structure also gives you flexibility, but it does mean you’ll need to think carefully about how much cover you actually need.

Outpatient cover is really about catching problems early. It covers things like GP or specialist appointments, diagnostic tests, therapy for injuries, and counselling for mental health. These are usually the first steps when something isn’t quite right. National Friendly’s Level 1 focuses on outpatient care, so it may suit you if you want help accessing diagnosis and treatment without long NHS waits.

In- and day-patient cover is designed for treatment that requires a bed in hospital, either for the day or overnight, such as operations and certain cancer treatments. Level 2 focuses on this type of care, with an allowance towards some scans and tests for diagnosis. It may suit you if you’re happy to pay for outpatient consultations yourself but want cover for eligible hospital treatment.

If you want full outpatient, inpatient and day-patient cover, you can take out Level 1 and Level 2 together. The right choice depends on the care you want covered and how much you’re comfortable paying for your policy.

Our health insurance advisers can help. They will review your circumstances, talk you through National Friendly’s coverage, and help you compare it against the other leading UK health insurers. Call us on 0800 144 4777 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or request a call back at a time that suits you.

National Friendly is a mutual insurer and friendly society based in Bristol with more than 155 years of experience, having been founded in 1868. Because it’s member-owned, there are no shareholders. That means profits are reinvested into improving products and services for members.

Despite being less widely known than some larger insurers, National Friendly has built a strong reputation for service. It has a 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot, reflecting overall positive customer feedback, particularly about its customer service. In both 2025 and 2026, National Friendly was a finalist in The UK Health & Protection Awards for ‘Best Individual Health Insurance Provider’.

National Friendly issues policies on five-year terms. You don’t need to renew each year, and your own claims won’t impact your premium during that time. You can cancel at any point without penalty.

Each year, National Friendly will write to you with your premium for the following year and a reminder of your cover. At the end of the five years, they’ll review overall claims trends and inflation before offering new terms.

Adults aged 18 to 85 can take out a policy. Children can be included up to age 23 as part of a family plan. You can take out cover for yourself, as a couple, or as a family with children living at the same address.

The cost of your premiums depends on several factors, including:

Your age and location.
The level of cover you choose (1 to 4).
Your excess level.
Your hospital access (standard or extended).

National Friendly offers three forms of underwriting:

Full medical underwriting: Complete medical declaration required upfront; pre-existing conditions may be excluded. This provides clarity on whether a pre-existing condition will be covered.
Moratorium: No full medical history needed when you arrange cover. Pre-existing conditions that you have had in the last five years aren’t covered for the first two years. Any cover for that condition can start after you’ve gone two full years after the policy start date with no symptoms, investigations, advice or treatment for it.
Continued personal medical exclusions: Continued personal medical exclusions let you bring any existing exclusions from your current policy over to your new one, while also giving you a clear answer on whether your pre‑existing conditions can be covered. Tell National Friendly about any treatment or GP conversations you’ve had in the past two years, and they will confirm which conditions must stay excluded and which they can cover. Your policy schedule will then spell out exactly what’s excluded or limited.

Something we especially like about National Friendly’s approach is their flexibility when it comes to who can be covered:

Adults aged 18 to 85 can apply.
Policies can be set up for individuals, couples or families.
Children can be covered up to age 23.
You can include up to ten children on a policy, as long as they live at the same address.

National Friendly also gives you flexibility in where you are treated. When you take out your policy, you can choose from three options:

With the guided treatment option, after you get a GP’s referral, National Friendly’s claims team will select a consultant who will oversee your treatment path.

If you’d rather choose where you are treated, pay a little more for the standard hospital list option for access to a wide range of recognised private hospitals and healthcare providers across the UK. Only hospitals whose fees sit above typical national pricing levels are excluded.
For even more choice and flexibility, the extended hospital list allows you to use any private hospital in the UK, including those not included on the standard list. This is the most expensive option when it comes to premiums, but it gives you the highest level of choice.

Here’s a summary of what the entry-level cover (Level 1) typically includes:

Benefit	What’s included
Private GP access	Unlimited face-to-face GP consultations that lead to a referral to a specialist, plus 24/7 virtual GP access. Non-referral GP visits: one per year, up to £100.
Diagnostic consultations	Consultations with a specialist sourced or authorised by National Friendly’s claims team.
Diagnostic tests	Includes colonoscopies, endoscopies, angiograms, biopsies, ECGs, pathology tests, MRI, PET, CT scans and X-rays.
Outpatient therapies	Acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy before inpatient/day-patient treatment.
Foot and lower limb therapies	Chiropody, podiatry and gait assessment for medical conditions.
Minor outpatient surgery	Includes carpal tunnel decompression, excision/cauterisation of cancerous tissue and joint injections for tendonitis/bursitis.
Mental health support	One psychiatric assessment per policy year and up to ten sessions with a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Heart tests	Angiograms, biopsies, blood tests and ECGs.
Cancer diagnostics	Biopsies, blood tests, scans and X-rays for diagnosis before treatment. Excludes genetic testing, screening, pre-diagnosis preventive treatment and treatment after diagnosis.
Excess choice	Choose no excess (so that 100% of a claim is paid by National Friendly) or excess levels of £100, £250, £500 or £1,000.

Level 1 is typically the most affordable option and is designed to help you get diagnosed quickly and access outpatient treatment without long NHS waits.

Here are just some of the additional benefits you can get from selecting a higher level of cover.

Cover area	What’s included
Diagnostic tests and scans	An allowance towards GP or specialist-recommended scans and tests, including MRI, CT and PET scans, X-rays, ECGs and biopsies. Annual limits are £1,500 for scans and £1,000 for tests. Consultation fees aren’t covered.
Inpatient cover	Level 2 includes up to £1 million per year per policyholder for inpatient and day-patient treatment, including hospital stays and specialist fees for surgery.
Cancer care	Diagnosis is covered with both levels, with different limits for each one. Treatment can include cancer drugs, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, consultations with specialists during treatment, home treatment, wigs and prostheses (see below for more details).
Heart treatment	Includes coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass, pacemaker or defibrillator fitting, and cardiac valve surgery.
Cosmetic surgery	Covers pre-authorised reconstructive surgery to restore function or appearance following an accident or covered surgery that occurred after the policy start date.
Private ambulance	Covers private land ambulance transport where medically necessary.
Home nursing	Covers home nursing, under your specialist’s supervision, following authorised in- or day-patient treatment, for up to six months per claim.
Parent accommodation	Covers hospital accommodation costs if you need to stay with a child insured under the policy while they receive eligible treatment.
Fixed cash allowance	A cash payment if you choose NHS treatment instead of a pre-authorised private inpatient procedure covered by your policy.
NHS hospital stays	Pays £100 per night for up to ten overnight stays per policy year where the treatment could also have been provided privately.
Therapies	If you need extra treatment to help you recover, Level 2 covers follow-up therapies such as acupuncture, chiropody, chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy and podiatry.
Dental, optical and hearing treatment	Covers certain hospital treatments, including surgery to remove impacted teeth or cysts in the jaw, treatment for acute eye conditions such as cataracts, and repair of a perforated eardrum.

Covers cancer diagnosis, including scans and tests, with an annual limit of £2,000 or £5,000, depending on your policy choice.

Biological therapies, immunotherapy, stem cell and bone marrow treatments, clinical trials and palliative care are excluded.

Every My PMI policy includes access to Friendly GP+ and Friendly Dentist, giving you round-the-clock support without needing an appointment.

These services make it easier to get advice when you need it, without having to wait for a GP or dental appointment.

As with most private medical insurance policies, National Friendly’s My PMI focuses on treating new, short-term conditions rather than ongoing or routine health needs.

Exclusions include (but are not limited to):

Pre-existing conditions, depending on the terms you joined on.
Allergies.
Chronic conditions where treatment is ongoing or aimed at managing symptoms.
Fertility treatment.
Issues related to alcohol or substance misuse/addiction.
Transplant procedures and kidney dialysis.
Preventative treatment, routine check-ups and screening where no symptoms are present.

Mental health treatment that requires inpatient or day-patient care.
Treatment received outside the UK.
Injuries from professional or high-risk sports.
Sleep disorders.
Developmental/behavioural conditions including dyslexia and dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger syndrome and autism.
Weight loss treatment.

Many of these exclusions are standard across private health insurance policies. Always check the full policy wording to understand exactly what is and isn’t covered.

You need very specific or highly customised cover: National Friendly uses a two-tiered structure rather than a wide range of optional add-ons, so you choose from the two levels rather than picking individual benefits.
You want full in-patient cover included in the basic level: Level 1 focuses on diagnosis and outpatient care, so if you’re looking for full hospital treatment and more comprehensive cancer cover, you’ll need to consider Level 2.

You want coverage outside the UK: Treatment abroad is not included, unlike at least one other insurer offering this as an optional extra.
You want continued moratorium underwriting: National Friendly does not offer this option, so any symptom‑free time you’ve already built up with another insurer won’t transfer if you switch from another provider. As they require a full two years with no symptoms or treatment (after starting the new policy) before they’ll cover a pre‑existing condition, switching means that two‑year countdown starts again.

These might not be deal-breakers, but it’s certainly worth comparing this plan and insurer against other available options to make the right decision for you.

The cost of your premiums depends on several factors, including:

Your age and location.
The level of cover you choose (1 to 4).
Your excess level.
Your hospital access (standard or extended).

National Friendly offers three forms of underwriting:

Full medical underwriting: Complete medical declaration required upfront; pre-existing conditions may be excluded. This provides clarity on whether a pre-existing condition will be covered.
Moratorium: No full medical history needed when you arrange cover. Pre-existing conditions that you have had in the last five years aren’t covered for the first two years. Any cover for that condition can start after you’ve gone two full years after the policy start date with no symptoms, investigations, advice or treatment for it.
Continued personal medical exclusions: Continued personal medical exclusions let you bring any existing exclusions from your current policy over to your new one, while also giving you a clear answer on whether your pre‑existing conditions can be covered. Tell National Friendly about any treatment or GP conversations you’ve had in the past two years, and they will confirm which conditions must stay excluded and which they can cover. Your policy schedule will then spell out exactly what’s excluded or limited.

National Friendly Health Insurance

National Friendly's cover, benefits and policy options explained

Thinking about National Friendly’s health insurance?

Who does National Friendly cover?

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National Friendly Health Insurance

National Friendly Health Insurance

National Friendly's cover, benefits and policy options explained

Thinking about National Friendly’s health insurance?

Flexibility for who you cover and where you access treatment

Who does National Friendly cover?

Individual health insurance

Family health insurance

Joint health insurance

Over 50s health insurance

Who does National Friendly cover?

Core cover included with a National Friendly Level 1 plan

Additional cover with Level 2

Cancer cover across the levels

Level 1

Level 2

Health and wellbeing support through National Friendly

What isn’t covered

When National Friendly may not be the best fit for you

Things to consider when you decide

Looking for help to decide?

About National Friendly

Frequently asked questions

How does the five-year term work?

Who can apply?

How much does National Friendly health insurance cost?

What underwriting options does National Friendly offer?

Get tailored health insurance advice and quotes

Call us now

We’ll call you

Get an online quote

See how other health insurers compare

See how other health insurers compare

Flexibility for who you cover and where you access treatment

Who does National Friendly cover?

Individual health insurance

Family health insurance

Joint health insurance

Over 50s health insurance

Core cover included with a National Friendly Level 1 plan

Additional cover with Level 2

Cancer cover across the levels

Level 1

Level 2

Health and wellbeing support through National Friendly

What isn’t covered

When National Friendly may not be the best fit for you

Things to consider when you decide

Looking for help to decide?

About National Friendly

Frequently asked questions

How does the five-year term work?

Who can apply?

How much does National Friendly health insurance cost?

What underwriting options does National Friendly offer?

Get tailored health insurance advice and quotes

Call us now

We’ll call you

Get an online quote

See how other health insurers compare