Provider comparison
WPA vs AXA Health
Side-by-side comparison from the PerkIQ directory. Cover, pricing, regulator status, and fit at a glance.
Category
Health & Insurance
Health & Insurance
Best for
5-5,000 employees
50-10,000+ employees
Pricing model
Per employee / month
Per employee / month
UK presence
Since 1901
Since 1940 (as PPP)
Regulator
FCA-authorised
FCA-authorised
Strapline
WPA is a UK private medical insurance specialist, particularly strong for SMEs wanting flexible tier design and member-focused service. Mutual structure means surpluses fund product improvements, not shareholders.
AXA Health (formerly PPP healthcare) is a top-tier UK private medical insurer with strong corporate schemes, flexible cover design, and the ability to bespoke benefits for different employee tiers.
What's included
- Tiered PMI. NHS-Plus, Premier, and Elite tier options with flexible scheme design across employee bands.
- Healthcare On The Go. Virtual GP service with same-day appointments, included on most corporate plans.
- Cash plan add-ons. Dental, optical, and therapy benefits available as bolt-ons to the core PMI scheme.
- Personal account manager. A named account manager for every employer scheme, rare in the wider PMI market.
- 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.
Who it's for
Not stated
- 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.
At a glance
- FCA authorised
- Not-for-profit mutual
- Founded 1901, Bristol
- SME focus
- Available direct or broker
- High retention rates
- FCA authorised & regulated
- Part of AXA Group (global)
- 1.5m+ UK members
- Strong corporate tiering options
- Direct & broker channels
- Doctor At Hand virtual GP
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.
