Provider comparison
Bupa vs AXA Health
Side-by-side comparison from the PerkIQ directory. Cover, pricing, regulator status, and fit at a glance.
Bupa and AXA Health are both top-tier UK private medical insurers, but they differ in emphasis. Bupa is the largest provider, with its own clinics and a focus on value across a whole workforce. AXA Health is known for flexible scheme design, making it easy to tier cover across different groups of employees.
- Comprehensive PMI. In-patient, day-patient, and outpatient cover with flexible tiering. Choose from open-referral, guided, or directional schemes.
- Bupa Anywhere GP. Virtual GP service with 15-minute appointments, prescriptions, and onward referral, included in most schemes.
- Mental health support. Direct-access talking therapies, no GP referral required. Up to 28 sessions on most corporate plans.
- Bupa-owned clinics. Members get priority access to Bupa Cromwell Hospital, Bupa Dental Care, and Bupa Health Clinics across the UK.
- Comprehensive PMI. In-patient, day-patient, and outpatient cover with flexible tier design. Open-referral, guided, or directional schemes.
- Doctor At Hand virtual GP. Video GP consultations seven days a week, prescriptions to your local pharmacy, and onward referrals into the AXA network.
- Mental health pathways. Direct-access talking therapies with no GP referral required. Up to 25 sessions on most corporate plans.
- Tiered scheme design. Differentiate cover levels between senior leadership, mid-management, and broader workforce in a single scheme.
- Employers wanting a recognised PMI brand: Bupa's scale, consultant networks and own clinics suit companies competing on health benefits.
- Workforces that value fast treatment access: broad hospital lists, a virtual GP and direct-access mental health support reduce reliance on NHS waiting lists.
- Mid-sized to large employers (50+): flexible tiering and broker-negotiated renewals work best at scale.
- Pure cost-led buyers: premiums sit at the fuller end of the market, so a cash plan may give broader coverage per pound.
- Small teams wanting whole-workforce cover: acute PMI is pricier per head than a cash plan for everyday costs.
- Employers wanting service-led PMI: AXA Health competes on digital health tools and member support rather than on being the cheapest.
- Workforces that value virtual GP and mental health support: talking therapies, musculoskeletal and remote GP services are central to the offer.
- Mid-sized and larger employers: flexible underwriting (moratorium or medical history disregarded) suits established schemes.
- Lowest-cost seekers: entry premiums are rarely the cheapest on a like-for-like basis.
- Very small teams: a cash plan often delivers more visible value than full PMI at low headcounts.
Bupa prices corporate PMI per-employee-per-month, varying by cover tier, age profile, sector, and excess. Typical UK SME premiums range £30-£100 per employee per month for standard cover.
Available direct or through a broker. Brokers often negotiate sharper renewal terms for mid-market schemes (250+ lives).
Indicative range; obtain a quote via Bupa or an FCA-authorised broker.
Not stated
- FCA authorised & regulated
- UK's largest PMI provider by member count
- No shareholders (company limited by guarantee)
- 2.3m+ UK members
- Direct & broker channels
- Own clinics and dental practices
- FCA authorised & regulated
- Part of AXA Group (global)
- 1.5m+ UK members
- Strong corporate tiering options
- Direct & broker channels
- Doctor At Hand virtual GP
Which should you choose?
Choose Bupa for scale and value. Its owned clinics and broad consultant networks give it leverage on cost and waiting times, which suits employers covering large or whole workforces who want a recognised brand at a competitive price.
Choose AXA Health if you need to differentiate benefits between groups, for example senior leadership, mid-management and the broader team. Its scheme design and excess structures are particularly flexible, making it a strong fit for organisations with varied cover requirements.
Both are FCA-authorised, long-established and price per employee per month. The split is largely value and network reach (Bupa) versus flexible, tiered scheme design (AXA Health).
Pick the right one with data, not a sales pitch
Score your benefits stack with PerkIQ and you'll see which of these (or another provider entirely) closes the biggest gaps for your team.
Information on this page is editorial, gathered from public sources and the providers' own materials, and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation. For a quote, contact each provider directly or speak to an FCA-authorised broker. PerkIQ is not a reseller and earns no commission on provider sign-ups.
