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Private Medical Insurance — Explained

What are private GP services?

Private GP services are a benefit available through many private medical insurance (PMI) policies that provides access to a doctor outside of the NHS — without needing to wait for a standard appointment.

This typically includes telephone or video GP consultations available on demand, and in some cases face-to-face appointments at private GP clinics, giving policyholders faster access to medical advice when they need it.

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WHAT IS IT?

Private GP services at a glance

Private GP services are designed to remove the delay that often comes with accessing a GP through the NHS. Rather than waiting days or weeks for an appointment, policyholders can typically speak to a doctor on the same day — or within a matter of hours.

The most common form of private GP access included within a PMI policy is a virtual or telephone consultation service, often available around the clock and accessible via an app or phone line. Some insurers also include access to face-to-face private GP appointments, either through their own clinic network or via reimbursement for a private GP visit.

Private GP services are increasingly included as a standard feature across many PMI policies rather than a paid add-on, though the level of access — and whether face-to-face appointments are included — varies between insurers and policy levels.

Where a private GP identifies the need for further investigation or specialist referral, this can in some cases feed directly into the PMI pathway, allowing the policyholder to move from initial consultation to specialist or diagnostic care without returning to the NHS.

Because GP access is often the first step in any medical journey, having prompt access to a doctor can meaningfully reduce the time between a concern arising and treatment beginning.

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Private GP services let you speak to a doctor quickly — usually the same day — without relying on NHS appointment availability. Most policies include a telephone or video GP service as standard, and some extend to face-to-face appointments at private clinics.

How it fits into your policy

Private GP services typically sit alongside the core benefits of a PMI policy and are often used as the entry point into private medical care.

A private GP consultation can help assess a symptom, provide a diagnosis, issue a prescription, or refer a policyholder to a specialist — all without the waiting times associated with NHS general practice. Where a referral to a specialist or further diagnostics is recommended, this can trigger the wider benefits of the PMI policy, such as outpatient cover or consultant access.

Some insurers treat private GP access as a value-added benefit included at no additional cost, while others offer it as a paid enhancement. The service is usually separate from the main PMI excess, meaning consultations can be accessed without triggering the policyholder's chosen excess level.

For many people, fast access to a GP is one of the most frequently used and most valued parts of their private health insurance — particularly for those who find NHS GP appointments difficult to book or who need medical advice outside of standard surgery hours.

What's typically included

  • Same-day or next-day telephone GP consultations

  • Video GP consultations via app or online platform

  • 24/7 or extended-hours GP access

  • Prescription services (electronic or posted)

  • GP referral letters to private specialists

  • Sick note and fit note provision

  • Face-to-face private GP appointments (on selected policies)

  • Second opinion services (on selected policies)

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