Private international health insurance in the UK
Whether you’re a student, expat or business transfer, protect yourself and your loved ones with private health insurance in the UK – and beyond.
Our policies are international, so you’ll be protected in the UK and over 200 countries and territories.
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Get a quote in under two minutes
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Customizable plan to meet your needs
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24/7 support and assistance available
Why choose Cigna for global health insurance in the UK?
Wide-ranging cover for medical expenses
We cover many costs at doctor’s clinics and hospitals in the UK. From accommodation charges and emergency treatment, to screening for cancer.
Direct billing with most care providers
We can settle the cost of treatment directly with the provider. This means you don't have to foot the bill upfront.
Customer care team available 24/7
Our customer care team is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. You can also speak to a doctor remotely if needed.
Our health insurance plans
Our Global Health Options plans are available in Silver, Gold and Platinum. Access wide-ranging support across medical providers and hospitals worldwide – from hospital rooms and outpatient medicines to rehabilitation assistance. Key cover includes:
- Mental health care
- Cancer treatment and preventative surgery
- Emergency outpatient treatments in hospitals
You could also receive maternity and dental care, depending on your health insurance plan.
In addition to our global plans, we also offer regional cover via our Close Care℠ plan.
| Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
Our Silver plan covers day-patient cover, including hospital stays and treatment. | Our Gold policy package includes maternity cover, and dental treatment. This plan could be ideal for you if you’re moving with your family. | Our most extensive insurance package, Platinum gives you and your family access to a broad range of treatments – often paid in full. |
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| Geographic cover | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide |
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| Overall annual benefit | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
$1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | Unlimited |
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| Inpatient, day-patient and accommodation costs | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Private room paid in full | Private room paid in full | Private room paid in full |
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| Cancer care | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
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| Mental and behavioral healthcare | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000 | Paid in full |
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| Maternity care | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Not included | Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $7,000 | Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $14,000 |
Our Silver plan covers day-patient cover, including hospital stays and treatment.
Our Gold policy package includes maternity cover, and dental treatment. This plan could be ideal for you if you’re moving with your family.
Our most extensive insurance package, Platinum gives you and your family access to a broad range of treatments – often paid in full.
Worldwide
Worldwide
Worldwide
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
Unlimited
Private room paid in full
Private room paid in full
Private room paid in full
Paid in full
Paid in full
Paid in full
Up to $5,000
Up to $10,000
Paid in full
Not included
Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $7,000
Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $14,000
Our essential plan covers you in your country of residence and your home country. You can also add modules to extend this cover, including dental and wider outpatient care. |
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| Geographic cover | Close Care℠ | |
Country you’re living in and home country only |
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| Overall annual benefit | Close Care℠ | |
$500,000 (with $250,000 condition limit) |
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| Inpatient, day-patient and accommodation costs | Close Care℠ | |
Semi-private room paid in full |
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| Cancer care | Close Care℠ | |
Paid in full |
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| Mental and behavioral healthcare | Close Care℠ | |
Not included |
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| Maternity care | Close Care℠ | |
Not included |
Our essential plan covers you in your country of residence and your home country.
You can also add modules to extend this cover, including dental and wider outpatient care.
Country you’re living in and home country only
$500,000 (with $250,000 condition limit)
Semi-private room paid in full
Paid in full
Not included
Not included
How does international health insurance work?
1. Get a free quote and
buy your policy
Build a quote online or give us a call at +44 (0)1475 492119
Choose a plan, customise your deductibles & cost shares, find a cost that meets your needs, and choose how you want to pay. Choose from monthly, quarterly and annual payments.
2. Manage your policy
with our easy app
Manage your health and wellbeing on the go, wherever you may be.
The Cigna Wellbeing® App gives you access to Global Telehealth consultations from anywhere in the world. Use our online customer area to access your policy documents, at any time.
3. Get your treatment
and make a claim
Get in touch with our customer care team to make a claim.
We’ll connect you to a medical expert within 24 hours, via global network of over 2.2 million partnerships.
Direct billing available in most cases, as we liaise directly with your treatment provider.
Healthcare in the UK
From London to the Scottish Lochs, there are many reasons to move to the UK. You may be studying at a respected university, taking up a role in the thriving tech sector, or retiring to the Cornish coast.
The United Kingdom has its own public healthcare system, known as the National Health Service, or NHS. It provides free healthcare services to UK residents. This extends to some people living in the UK from overseas, though the rules differ depending on whether you’re:
- an expat of another country now living in the UK
- an international student studying in the UK
- visiting the UK from abroad
- or working in the UK.
Public healthcare is devolved in the UK, so the rules around NHS access for people from abroad differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With private health insurance, however, you know where you stand on day one in the United Kingdom. Not only is your UK healthcare cover guaranteed, treatment is fast, with no long waiting lists. And it’s personalized to suit your needs.
Additional benefits as part of your international health insurance cover
Telehealth
consultations
We understand how to provide the support you need, when you need it. Get unlimited phone or video doctor consultations, plus counseling and coaching.
International cover,
wherever you are
Your international cover (Silver, Gold or Platinum) can help wherever you are.
Flexible plans,
made for you
Your health insurance quote is tailored to you and your family’s needs. Match it to your budget today.
Add more cover to your policy
Once you’ve chosen from our Silver, Gold and Platinum packages, make them even more bespoke to you with additional cover.
Our international outpatient insurance provides access to a broad range of healthcare treatments that don’t require admission to a hospital. For example, you can get:
- Consultations with specialists, in-person or online
- Prescribed drugs and dressings
- Radiology and diagnostic tests
- Outpatient rehabilitation
- Cover for hearing aids
This medical insurance add-on covers emergency healthcare and assistance. It could help if there’s a global crisis, or to evacuate you if local treatment can’t help. It can give you:
- Emergency transport to good hospitals.
- Repatriation if you experience a serious medical event
- Crisis response services following travel or security risks
- Help with compassionate travel and living costs
- Travel costs for people who accompany you
Boost your health with insurance for screening, tests and dietetic consultations. There’s also a mental health support program for expats as well.
Get eye tests and help with the cost of eyewear, plus a wide range of preventative, and routine dental treatments.
Who comes to us for health insurance in the United Kingdom?
International students
The UK is a popular destination for international students, with its historic universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. UK government statistics show there were 679,970 overseas students at British universities in 2021/22. Many of these students will have arranged private medical insurance for the duration of their UK stay.
Mobile workers
Another popular reason for living in the UK is work. UK government statistics show that the number of people applying for Skilled Worker – Health and Care visas rose sharply between 2022 and 2023. Many will likely have arranged private medical insurance before travelling to the UK too.
Retirees
If you’re retiring to the UK, there are plenty of places to choose from. Dorset, in south-west England, and Northumberland, in the north-east, are two popular coastal options. Whether you head to the coast, to a city, or a National Park, you’ll have added peace of mind with private medical insurance.
More information about healthcare in the United Kingdom
Hospitals: Hospitals and other services are broken up regionally into ‘trusts’. In England alone there are 229 NHS trusts (NHS England)
Healthcare ranking: 7th out of 195 countries (Global Health Security Index)
Useful drug names: In the UK, certain drugs are categorized as prescription-only medicines (POMs), while others are over-the-counter medicines (OTC).
Emergency services number (while in the UK): 999
Cigna claim number (while in the UK): +44 (0) 1475 788182
If you’ve recently moved to the United Kingdom and fall ill or are injured in an emergency, you can access free treatment in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at UK hospitals. Head to your nearest hospital or call 999 for an ambulance. You can also see a GP without being charged.
To access non-emergency hospital treatment as an outpatient or inpatient, however, you must have ‘ordinarily resident’ status. If you do not have ordinarily resident status, you’ll be classed as an overseas visitor and may be charged.
You may be able to reclaim treatment costs on your private health insurance in the United Kingdom, depending on the treatment you receive and policy terms.
In recent years, however, the UK has experienced more extreme weather events. Sudden heatwaves, storms, high winds and flooding are not uncommon.
If you’re concerned about the UK climate’s potential impact on your health, sign up to receive weather warnings from the Met Office, the national meteorological service. Taking our private medical insurance could also offer added peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in the United Kingdom
Cigna international medical insurance comes in three levels – Silver, Gold or Platinum. So, the exact cost of your insurance will depend on which you choose. Also, if you add any optional cover to your policy, your monthly premium may increase. The cost of paying monthly might also be slightly different to quarterly or annual billing.
Yes. If you’re travelling to the UK from another country, it is generally worth taking out private health insurance. Access to the NHS for people from abroad is dependent on the person’s individual status. In some cases, private medical insurance can complement NHS care. In others, official UK guidance considers it essential.
Yes, if you’re in the UK from overseas permanently or for a set period, it can be worth investing in private healthcare. Whether you’re studying, working or starting your retirement, accessing NHS services can be complex and come with charges. Investing in private health insurance ensures you have peace of mind should you suffer an injury or become ill and need hospital treatment.
Depending on location, facilities and other factors, the resources the NHS has available may not always meet the demands of those needing them. For example, the waiting list for treatment at hospitals in England has been rising steadily over the past decade. According to UK government statistics, it went from around 3.5m people to 7.8m in September 2023.