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Most of us carry insurance policies of one kind or another…health, home contents, travel, cars. And while we may have felt confident we were getting the best deal at the time, few of us ever revisit those policies to check whether they still reflect our current needs.
It’s a simple step that can take as little as 10 minutes, yet skipping it allows these policies to quietly drain our wallets, and nowhere is this more true than with health insurance – especially when the NHS is under severe strain, with 7.11 million people facing wait times of up to 18 weeks. A HMCA survey of 1,052 Rest Less members found that 83% were concerned about the standard of NHS care.
Health insurance offers invaluable peace of mind by giving us access to prompt, reliable care, from diagnostic scans to treatment plans. Yet it’s not just a question of whether you have health insurance. The type of plan you hold matters, too, as you could be paying for cover that no longer fits your life.
Not sure if your current health plan is working for you? It might be worth taking a closer look. We’ve partnered with HMCA (Hospital & Medical Care Association), a family-owned health insurance specialist with 45 years of experience, to give you access to something a bit different. HMCA’s plans aren’t available to the general public – they’re exclusive to members of recognised groups, professional bodies, and associations, like Rest Less, which means a more flexible, personalised service delivered by a friendly, knowledgeable team.
HMCA medical plans have no age limit and guaranteed acceptance, and 92% of members saved money when switching from another provider (based on data provided by members who joined HMCA between 1st January 2026 and 30th April 2026). Crucially, any future claims for acute conditions that originated while you were on your previous plan will still be honoured when you transfer to HMCA, so that you won’t lose out on existing cover.
New members also receive a £100 Amazon, Marks & Spencer, or John Lewis gift card, or £150 off their subscription.
Why most of us never review our health insurance
If you’ve ever set up a health insurance policy and then quietly forgotten about it, you’re in good company. Life moves fast, and revisiting an insurance policy rarely makes it to the top of the to-do list, especially when everything seems to be ticking along fine.
There’s also a tendency to assume that because a policy worked well at first, it must still be the right fit. But the reality is that our lives change constantly; our health needs shift, and our financial situations evolve.
For many people, there’s also a quiet assumption that changing health insurance is complicated, time-consuming, or risky, and that it might mean losing cover, navigating confusing small print, or starting from scratch. So instead of reviewing, we renew, and renew again, all the while our healthcare plan could be quietly draining our wallets, while not providing us with the right coverage.
Worried about accessing the NHS care you need?
83% of Rest Less members are worried about accessing the healthcare they need on the NHS#, making fast access to treatment more important than ever.
HMCA private medical cover offers affordable, flexible plans, with 90% of members saving money when they switch. Enjoy peace of mind. Join today and get £150 off your subscription.
#Data from over 1,000 Rest Less members surveyed in 2025
^Data from HMCA members who joined between 01/01/25 and 30/06/25
Signs your current plan might no longer be the right fit
A good place to start is thinking about how your life has changed since you first took out your health insurance. Has your general health shifted? Have you developed or recovered from a condition, given up smoking, or seen your kids leave home or income change? Any of these can have a real bearing on whether you’re paying for outdated cover.
For example, you might have specialist care or optional extras that are no longer relevant to your life, or be paying for family cover you no longer need. Premiums can also cost more for smokers, so if you’ve been nicotine-free for at least 12 months, it could be worth switching to a non-smoker policy, as most providers offer lower rates as standard.
Other signs it’s time to review your plan include realising it doesn’t cover something you assumed it would, meaning you had to seek care elsewhere, or finding that your premium has crept up quietly at each renewal, even if you’re not sure you’re still getting good value. If any of this sounds familiar, it may be worth taking a closer look at what your plan actually covers and whether something better is available.
What a good health insurance plan should actually give you
At its core, a good health insurance plan should give you one thing above all else: peace of mind. That means knowing that if something happens – whether it’s an unexpected diagnosis, a referral to a specialist, or the need for treatment – you can access the care you need quickly, without the anxiety of a long wait or out-of-pocket costs.
Your plan should also be flexible enough to grow with you. Your health needs at 60 aren’t the same as they were at 40, and your plan should reflect that, not lock you into a one-size-fits-all policy that’s no longer useful. It should also come with a team of real people behind it: knowledgeable, responsive, and willing to talk you through your options rather than leaving you to navigate the small print alone.
Why switching can be easier (and more rewarding) than you might think
One of the biggest barriers to switching health insurance is often the fear of what you might lose. Will an existing condition be excluded? Will you have to start from scratch? For many people, these concerns are enough to keep them renewing year after year, even when they suspect they could do better.
The good news is that many of these fears are unfounded. With HMCA, for example, any future claims for acute conditions that originated while you were on your previous plan will still be honoured, so that you won’t lose out on cover you’ve already built up. Medical plans also have no age limit and guaranteed acceptance, which removes two of the most common concerns for people reviewing their cover later in life.
And as for the financial aspect, 92% of members saved money when transferring to HMCA from another provider (based on data provided by members who joined HMCA between 1st January 2026 and 30th April 2026). For many people, that would make a meaningful difference to their monthly outgoings, while having cover that works harder for them.
One HMCA member said, “I had private health insurance for over 20 years prior to moving last year to HMCA. I very rarely used it and felt the insured was never their priority. But my experience with HMCA is very different and wholly positive. The phone was answered promptly on my first call to discuss a claim, and since then, I’ve felt no question I asked was silly, and I’ve received really fast and very clear responses.”
Worried about accessing the NHS care you need?
83% of Rest Less members are worried about accessing the healthcare they need on the NHS#, making fast access to treatment more important than ever.
HMCA private medical cover offers affordable, flexible plans, with 90% of members saving money when they switch. Enjoy peace of mind. Join today and get £150 off your subscription.
#Data from over 1,000 Rest Less members surveyed in 2025
^Data from HMCA members who joined between 01/01/25 and 30/06/25
Could HMCA be the right fit for you?
HMCA has been providing healthcare plans for 45 years, and as a family-owned business, they take a distinctly personal approach. Unlike many mainstream providers, their plans aren’t available to the general public; they’re exclusive to members of recognised groups, professional bodies, and associations, including Rest Less. This means a more tailored, attentive service from a team that genuinely knows its members.
HMCA also offer plans specifically tailored to over 50s with no upper age limit, guaranteed acceptance upon transfer, and no required medical exams. Members can choose their own hospitals and specialists while accessing fast-track care to skip long NHS queues.
Whether you’re looking to reduce your premiums, improve your cover, or simply find a plan that better reflects the life you’re living now, HMCA’s team is on hand to help you work out what’s right for you, without any pressure or obligation.
Another member said, “I heard about HMCA’s plan via my membership magazine. The information was sent out to me within 3 days of me having made my enquiry on the phone. My plan was agreed within the week. I’m very happy with the list of benefits and levels of cover – it’s great value for money.”
As a welcome bonus, new members will also receive a £100 Amazon, Marks & Spencer, or John Lewis gift card, or £150 off their subscription.
Final thoughts…
If you’re unsure whether your healthcare plan is right for you, the good news is that you could find out in as little as 10 minutes and make a substantial saving. Switching plans is also stress-free when moving to the right provider, as you won’t end up with gaps in your cover.
You can learn more about HMCA and get an instant quote using the button below.
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