Guest blog by WPA Healthcare, in partnership with Parasol
WPA is an award-winning, not-for-profit health insurer. In this blog, they answer some of the most common questions contractors have about their private medical insurance (PMI), including the different plans available and what’s covered.
How can contractors benefit from health insurance like WPA Private Medical Insurance?
Ultimately, contractors tend to lack employer health benefits. So a PMI gives fast access to care, flexible appointments, and a choice of providers. WPA delivers all this with a strong service record, topping Which? Best Private Medical Insurance Survey in 2025.
What types of PMI plans are available?
WPA offers a tiered Complete Health policy (Core, Mid-Range, Comprehensive).
- Core / Essentials: Covers inpatient/day-patient treatment, basic outpatient (usually capped, e.g. £250 limit), remote GP, health helpline, and NHS cash.
- Optional extras: You can add cancer cover, extra outpatient cover, therapies and dental, and optical cash extras to your policy to personalise it to your needs.
All tiers are highly customisable and can include mental health add-ons and premium hospital access.
Why choose WPA as a contractor?
- Recognised by Which? for both customer service (74%) and claims handling (82%)
- No guided consultant lists, so you decide which specialist to see – a rarity among providers
- Access to 600+ hospitals including BMI, Nuffield, Spire, Ramsay, and NHS private wings and the option to add ‘Premium Hospitals’
- Flexible pricing: no-claims discounts, co-payment (excess), and no maximum age limit.
How does WPA PMI suit contractor needs?
- Flexible appointment scheduling
- Tailored coverage and premium control including modular policies, outpatient options, therapy, remote GP, etc
- Remote GP services and 24/7 health helplines, perfect for fitting into a contractor’s variable schedule
- NHS cash benefit: receive cash for NHS stays (e.g., £150–£200 per night, up to £4,500/year)
What’s not covered under WPA PMI?
Like any PMI, WPA excludes:
- Pre-existing conditions, unless declared and accepted via underwriting
- Fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, allergies and cosmetic procedures
- Chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes
- Certain targeted cancer therapies if aged 66+, depending on NHS availability
How should contractors compare WPA to other PMI options?
Checklist for comparison:
- Flexibility: Remote services, modular add-ons, and pricing customisation may fit the contractor lifestyle better.
- Tier suitability: Does the plan’s outpatient, diagnostics, mental health, and cancer cover match your needs?
- Hospital and consultant choice: WPA offers wide choice and no restrictive consultant lists.
- Service quality: WPA has shown excellent customer and claims satisfaction ratings.
Finally…
If you’d like to speak with a member of the WPA Healthcare team to find the right cover, you can book a consultation through MyMarketplace.
