An alternative choice of private healthcare cover

• Call the helpline or log in to the Benenden Health App 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to book an appointment.

• Book an appointment for a telephone or video consultation with a UK-based GP for you or your immediate family.

• Call the helpline or log in to the Benenden Health App 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to book an appointment.

• Signposting and emotional support for problems such as mild to moderate anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationships, and legal and debt concerns.

• Access to support from a care adviser.

• Information and advice about adult care issues including short or long-term care.

• Advice for children and adults with neurodiverse or disability needs, including autism, ADHD, learning and physical disabilities.

• Inspire a healthy lifestyle with our new Wellbeing Hub in the Benenden Health App.

• Free online wellbeing classes for all fitness levels.

• Receive our health and wellbeing magazine Be Healthy.

• Money-saving deals on gym membership, cinema tickets and gift cards from selected retailers.

• Special offers on our other products including health cash plans, health assessments, travel and home insurance.

• Request private medical diagnosis in our diagnostic network of hospitals when there's a wait above our current NHS wait time threshold, for symptoms which you have been referred by a qualified NHS practitioner. 

• Once authorised, we can support your diagnostic costs up to £2,500. All costs up to this amount will be settled directly by Benenden Health.

• Request private medical treatment when there's a wait above our current NHS wait time threshold, for approved procedures in our treatment network.

• All authorised treatment costs are directly settled in full by Benenden Health.

• Request a physiotherapist to assess your condition over the phone to determine if you’re likely to benefit from physiotherapy.

• If recommended, physiotherapy may be provided either via guided self-managed exercise or virtual or face-to-face sessions with a physiotherapist in our network.

• Request Mental Health Support for life stressors such as bereavement, issues with work or relationship difficulties, and support for mild to moderate distress.

• This can include support for common mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression where a short course of structured support would be clinically beneficial.

• Request our Cancer Support service which gives you access to an experienced registered nurse who'll provide emotional and practical support and advice.

• Your nurse can help identify, arrange and pay* for services or therapies to aid you with issues related to your condition including short-term home care and complementary therapies.

* This is subject to a per case budget agreed with our Service Partner.

The price of membership is £12.80 per person, per month and is reviewed annually.

Yes, everyone pays the same price of £12.80 per person, per month, regardless of age or pre-existing conditions.

Yes, everyone is accepted.

All UK residents can join Benenden Health regardless of their medical history.

No, there's no excess to pay.

But you'll be responsible for funding any costs incurred over £2,500 for a diagnosis.

Yes, when there's a wait above our current NHS wait time threshold.

Medical Diagnostics

You can request private medical diagnosis at one of the hospitals in our diagnostic network for symptoms for which you have been referred by a qualified NHS practitioner.

Once authorised, we can support your diagnostic costs up to £2,500.

Medical Treatment

You can also request assistance for Medical Treatment at one of our hospitals in our treatment network.

Please make sure you've checked our approved procedure list first. 

Yes, there are limits and exclusions which apply to membership. Examples of medical treatment not on our approved procedures list are joint replacements, and brain, heart and cancer treatment.

Our healthcare services are provided on a discretionary basis and are subject to the resources we have available.

Some cases can be dependent on a referral by a qualified NHS practitioner, NHS wait times and the type of treatment required. 

No, our services are offered on a discretionary basis. This is so we can manage our funds and the services we provide carefully to ensure that we can continue to offer every member one affordable price, regardless of age and pre-existing medical conditions.

Services continue to be available across the UK but there maybe localised restrictions in place, your healthcare provider will keep you informed.

This may result in delays when accessing appointments. 

We are an affordable alternative to health insurance. All of our services excluding treatment of tuberculosis (which is provided on an insured basis) are offered on a discretionary basis.

Please read the Insurance Product Information Document to make sure Benenden Healthcare is suitable for you.

1. This membership meets the demands and needs of someone who is looking for access to healthcare services such as Medical Diagnostics, Medical Treatment, Physiotherapy, GP and Mental Health helplines.

2. We are not a private medical insurer. We provide healthcare services on a discretionary basis, except treatment for TB, which is provided on an insured basis. Our services are reviewed regularly and subject to the resources we have available. In some cases, provision of service can be dependent on factors such as a referral from a qualified NHS practitioner, NHS wait times and the type of treatment required.

3. There are exclusions, limits and restrictions that apply – this document does not contain comprehensive information about us and our services. Please refer to any additional information we have provided. Our Rulebook and our Guide to Benenden Healthcare are available on our website or on request by calling 0800 414 8100*.

4. Some services have a six-month qualifying period.

5. The services are only available to you within the UK apart from the 24/7 GP and 24/7 Mental Health telephone helplines which can be accessed from around the world.

6. We are unable to pay for services obtained before we have given our authorisation (with the exception of 24/7 GP and Mental Health helplines and Mental Health Support).

7. Benenden Health is a trading name of The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited. Benenden Healthcare is offered by The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited, which is an incorporated friendly society, registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, registered number 480F. The Society's contractual business (the provision of tuberculosis benefit) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The remainder of the Society's business is undertaken on a discretionary basis. Financial Services Register number is 205351. This can be verified on the FCA’s Financial Services Register.

8. Membership is available to anyone over the age of 16 who is normally resident in the UK. Members can add friends and family to their membership regardless of their age.

9. The cost of membership is reviewed regularly and any increase agreed will be notified to in advance of any change.

10. We regularly review our services and make amendments from time to time. Members will be kept informed of any changes we make to our services, via our website, Be Healthy magazine, or communications to you.

11. Members have 14 days from the day they receive their membership pack after joining, to cancel their membership. Any payments made in this time will be refunded. All cancellations after the initial 14-day period will take effect and payments will cease at the end of the month in which the cancellation is received. If the membership contribution was paid annually in advance, the membership will cease at the end of the month in which we receive the cancellation request and we will reimburse the cost of the number of full months remaining on the annual payment.

12. Membership will continue for as long as contributions are paid.

13. If you have cause to make a complaint, please contact us. You can call us on 0800 414 8100, message via our website or write to us. If you’re still unhappy after we’ve investigated your complaint through our internal complaints procedure (available on our website), you may be able to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You can contact them at the address below and they’ll be able to advise you whether it is appropriate for them to review your complaint. Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London, E14 9SR Email complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk or call 0800 023 4567. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines. If the Financial Ombudsman Service is unable to review your complaint, we can direct you to an alternative dispute resolution service. Please contact us at complaints@benenden.co.uk if you would like more information.

14. We do not provide advice regarding the suitability or otherwise of Benenden Healthcare for that individual. If you are unsure about whether membership is suitable for you, you should seek independent advice.

15. Our staff are salaried and may receive a bonus based partly on sales activity and partly on non-sales activity.

16. All communications will be in English. The laws of England will apply.

17. Members may become actively involved in how the Society is run by participating in our democracy. When you become a Benenden Health member, you’re automatically allocated to a Benenden Health Community through which members are able to have their say. You’ll also be able to participate in key business decisions via Direct Member voting, which takes place every year ahead of the Society’s Conference. Find out more about how to get involved or you can email the Society Secretary at thesecretary@benenden.co.uk.

* Lines open 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri excludes Bank Holidays
Please note that your call may be recorded for our mutual security and for training and quality purposes.

As a mutual community, we’re committed to treating every member fairly. We aim to provide a range of discretionary services that will help our members and to deliver them with care, compassion and understanding. This guide has been created to help outline who’s eligible to request our help, the range of services you can currently request and those services we're unable to help with. 

Our discretionary model is at the heart of everything we do. It has served our members well for more than 115 years and allows us to manage our funds and the services we provide carefully to ensure that we can continue to offer every member one affordable price, regardless of age and pre-existing medical conditions.

Benenden Health operates according to a rulebook, which contains the Benenden Healthcare Society Limited’s memorandum and rules.

To request access to our services please click on one of the links below.

You'll find the contact details you'll need for each of the services in the links below:

24/7 GP Helpline
24/7 Mental Health Helpline 
Care Planning and Social Care Advice 
Medical Diagnostics
Medical Treatment
Physiotherapy
Mental Health Support 
Cancer Support

Or for general queries please call our Member Services team on 0800 414 8100 
(8am - 5pm Monday - Friday).