What does switching health insurance mean?
Switching health insurance is a process whereby an individual or company moves their cover from one insurer to another, ensuring continuation of cover and terms and potentially without any new medical underwriting being applied.
Like car or home insurance, your health insurance is an annual policy that can be renewed each year. The premiums you pay for your health insurance policy will likely increase each year as you get older, but other factors, such as medical inflation, will also impact health insurance premiums.
Renewal terms are typically sent to you 4-6 weeks before your renewal is due. The annual renewal of your health insurance policy is the perfect time to review your current cover, options and provider. You might look to switch providers if your premium is too expensive or if you have experienced poor customer service from your existing provider. It is really important to consider any switch of providers carefully and seek expert advice to discuss your specific needs.
What are the benefits of switching providers?
There are a number of factors that individuals, families and businesses consider when deciding whether to switch away from their current health insurance provider. These include:
- A different provider may offer a better level of service and support.
- Alternative benefit options.
- Ability to reduce health insurance premiums.
- A provider may offer a greater choice of where, when and who provides treatment.
If you are considering switching your current health insurance to another provider, it is important you consider the options carefully before committing. Here are some helpful do's and don'ts when it comes to switching providers.
Do
- Review your current policy a couple of months before the renewal is due to give yourself enough time to consider alternatives.
- Explore the market so that you can make an informed decision.
- Think carefully about what health cover options and benefits are important to you.
- Seek help from recommended, trustworthy sources so you can make decisions with confidence.
Don't
- Cancel an insurance policy before receiving confirmation of acceptance on the new policy and understanding its terms.
- Start a new underwriting term until you have understood the implications or received expert advice.
- Downgrade your cover (like a six-week option) if you're unsure of the impact to your cover.
- Exclude conditions to save money without fully understanding the consequences.
What switching options does WPA offer?
WPA offer several underwriting options for those looking to switch from their current insurer to us. The following describes the options available to individuals and families as well as for companies looking to switch their group scheme to us.
If we agree a transfer from another health insurer, only the underwriting terms are transferred. The terms and conditions of the new WPA policy/scheme will apply and these may be different to those of the previous insurer. A current Certificate of Insurance is required when joining. The switching options offered are dependent on group scheme size.
How do I switch my health insurance?
There are several ways you can switch your health insurance to WPA to suit all needs and requirements.
Contact us
Individuals and families can get a WPA quote and understand the terms available for switching from your current provider by contacting us.
Individual & familyWPA Healthcare Partner
Our local specialist Healthcare Practice Partners can talk through your choices and answer your questions face to face.
Your local Healthcare Partner
Intermediary
Get independent advice on your switching options. You can find an intermediary on the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) website.
BIBA websiteWhy switch your health insurance to WPA?
With a heritage of over 120 years, we've been helping our members as a not-for-profit organisation since 1901. That's quite a while now and, because we're good at it, that's all we do. Just health insurance. No distractions.
- All of our members are free to choose when, where and who provides them with treatment.
- WPA Health app provides 24/7 access to pre-authorise a new claim with an instant decision.
- We're rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot.
We are here for you
Become a member
If you'd like to talk to someone about becoming a member, please give our UK team a call on
01823 625050
Group schemes
Whatever the size of your business we have a group scheme available. Call us on
01823 625247
WPA Healthcare Practice
Find your local specialist Healthcare Practice Partner who can talk through your choices and answer your questions face to face.