WPA is a well-established, not-for-profit private medical insurer with a strong reputation for personal service and a medical-first approach rather than lifestyle rewards. Its main appeal is flexibility — you build a policy from modules, choosing your outpatient level, excess and options — and many customers rate its claims handling and customer service highly. It won’t suit everyone: if you want bundled extras, gym rewards or the widest hospital lists as standard, other insurers may fit better. As with any insurer, the right answer depends on your priorities, budget and health needs.

As a rough guide, WPA cover often starts around £35 to £60 a month for a younger adult with a modest plan, rising to £100 to £150 or more for older applicants or fuller cover with low excess and comprehensive outpatient benefits. Because WPA is modular, your price depends heavily on the choices you make — outpatient limit, excess, hospital list, and any added options like mental health or therapies. The only way to know your real price is a personalised quote, as age, location and medical history all affect premiums.

Yes. WPA operates on a not-for-profit basis, meaning it doesn’t have external shareholders taking dividends, and it positions itself around long-term member interests and service rather than maximising profit. Supporters see this as an advantage — the focus is on paying claims and looking after members. It doesn’t automatically make WPA cheaper than profit-making insurers, since premiums still reflect claims costs, cover level and risk, but it does shape the company’s ethos and its emphasis on personal, medical-led service.

WPA’s core cover centres on inpatient and day-case treatment for new, acute conditions — hospital stays, surgery, consultant fees and related diagnostics — with optional modules you add on top. Common options include outpatient cover (consultations, scans and tests up to a chosen limit), mental health cover and therapies such as physiotherapy. Like all standard UK PMI, it generally excludes pre-existing conditions, chronic condition management, routine GP care, pregnancy and A&E. Always check the specific policy wording, because what’s included depends on the modules and limits you select.

Not necessarily — your access depends on the hospital list attached to your WPA plan, which you choose (and which affects your premium). Broader lists including central London hospitals cost more; narrower regional lists cost less. If you use a hospital that isn’t on your list, you may face a shortfall or a declined facility fee, so it’s important to check your list and get pre-authorisation before booking. WPA’s hospital access is explained in more detail in our WPA hospital list guide.

You’ll usually start with a GP referral (or an approved WPA pathway), then contact WPA for pre-authorisation before any treatment, tests or scans. WPA issues an authorisation reference, and where the provider is recognised they can often bill WPA directly; otherwise you pay and claim back with itemised invoices. Getting pre-authorisation first is the key step that avoids shortfalls and declined claims. Our how to claim on WPA guide walks through the process step by step.

WPA tends to suit people who value a not-for-profit ethos, personal service and the ability to tailor cover module by module rather than buying a bundled package. It’s often a good fit for self-employed people, families and those who want to control cost by adjusting outpatient level, excess and hospital list. It’s less ideal if you specifically want lifestyle rewards, gym discounts, standard dental cover or the widest hospital access built in as standard, where other insurers may offer better value for those particular needs.