Medical insurance company

A handful of firms dominate the health insurance market.

Just five companies account for 91% of the UK medical insurance market: the most popular medical insurance company is BUPA, followed by AXA PPP Healthcare, Norwich Union, Standard Life and Royal & Sun Alliance. 11% of us have private health insurance, and it's a growing market.

According to the Association of British Insurers, just five firms have 91% of the UK medical insurance market. The biggest medical insurance company is BUPA, closely followed by AXA PPP Healthcare, Norwich Union, Standard Life and Royal & Sun Alliance. Over the next few years these firms' market dominance is likely to decrease: while more of us are considering private insurance, there are more firms to choose from to.

By the end of 2002 some 6 million UK people had taken out a policy with a medical insurance company - that's 11% of the population. In the next two years that number is likely to increase to 8 million, with an average annual spend of £600 each - that's nearly £5 billion in premiums.