Thinking about raising or lowering your excess part-way through the year? This guide explains how UK insurers usually handle mid-term excess changes, what you might save, how to request it (with scripts), what to watch for on waiting periods and claims in progress, and smart alternatives if your insurer says “renewal only”.
Last updated: 2 October 2025
In brief
- Renewal vs mid-term: Many insurers only allow excess changes at renewal; some will let you increase your excess mid-term, while reductions typically wait for renewal.
- Premium effect: Higher excess = lower monthly price; lower excess = higher price. The impact varies by age, region and hospital list.
- Beware “upgrade rules”: If changing excess accompanies a benefit upgrade (e.g., higher outpatient), insurers may apply waiting periods or fresh checks.
- Do the maths first: Compare like-for-like quotes and run a quick payback test (example below) before you confirm any change.
Take 60 seconds to check you still have the best price
Contents
- Who should consider changing their excess?
- How to request a change (step-by-step + scripts)
- Typical insurer rules & what they mean
- Worked examples: savings vs risk
- 1-minute payback calculator (manual)
- Pitfalls & how to avoid them
- Alternatives if mid-term changes aren’t allowed
- Pre-request checklist
Who should consider changing their excess?
Mid-term excess changes are mainly about cash-flow and risk tolerance. You might consider it if:
- Premiums feel high right now and you’re comfortable self-funding the first £250–£500 of eligible claims to reduce monthly costs.
- Claims have been low for the past couple of years and you don’t expect high usage before renewal.
- You’re planning a renewal switch but want a short-term saving in the meantime (if your insurer allows mid-term increases).
Conversely, you may avoid raising the excess if you have known treatment coming up, you prefer low out-of-pocket costs, or you’re already mid-claim.
How to request a change (step-by-step + scripts)
- Check your documents: Confirm current excess (per claim vs per year), renewal date, and any “mid-term change” rules in your member guide.
- Run a quick comparison: Ask your insurer or broker for two quotes: (A) current settings; (B) target excess (£250/£500/£1,000).
- Ask what happens to claims: Clarify how a change affects claims already authorised or booked.
- Confirm effective date: Get the exact date the new excess applies and whether anything else changes (benefits, waiting periods).
- Get it in writing: Ensure your schedule clearly shows the new excess and start date.
Phone script
“Hi, I’m calling about policy [number]. Could you price my plan with the excess at £[X] effective from [date]? Please confirm in writing whether any waiting periods or benefit changes apply and how this affects claims already authorised.”
Email template
Subject: Excess change request – Policy [number] Hi [Insurer/Broker], Please quote my current policy with the excess set to £[X] from [date]. Kindly confirm: * Any waiting period/underwriting changes (if any) * Impact on current or pre-authorised claims * The exact effective date shown on my schedule Thanks, [Name]
Typical insurer rules & what they mean
- Renewal-only changes: Many providers restrict excess changes to renewal. If so, plan your settings during renewal negotiations.
- Mid-term increases allowed: Some will let you increase the excess mid-term (reducing premiums). Reductions often wait for renewal to prevent “gaming”.
- Linked benefit upgrades: If you pair an excess change with a benefit upgrade (e.g., higher outpatient), new waiting periods may apply to the upgraded parts.
- Per-claim vs per-policy excess: Understand which kind you have; a per-claim excess can be paid multiple times a year.
Worked examples: savings vs risk
| Profile | Current excess | New excess | Indicative monthly change* | Break-even if you claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Couple, 30s, regional list | £250 | £500 | −£12 to −£18 | If one claim/yr → you pay +£250 once, but save £144–£216/yr |
| Family, 40s, extended list | £100 | £500 | −£20 to −£35 | With two small claims, extra £800 excess vs £240–£420 saved |
| Single, 55, regional | £0 | £250 | −£10 to −£20 | One claim → extra £250 cost vs £120–£240 saved |
*Illustrative only — pricing varies by age, location, benefits and hospital list. Always run real quotes.
1-minute payback calculator (manual)
- Estimate annual saving = (monthly saving × 12).
- Estimate likely claims this year and how many times the excess would apply.
- Compare: extra excess you’d pay in a typical year vs annual saving. If saving > expected extra excess, the change may be sensible.
Example: Save £15/month = £180/yr. If you expect zero or one claim (per-claim excess £250), you likely come out ahead unless you know a claim is imminent.
Pitfalls & how to avoid them
- Claims already authorised: These usually retain the original excess. Confirm in writing so you’re not surprised at the hospital desk.
- Unintended benefit upgrades: If you change other benefits alongside excess, check for new waiting periods or moratorium timers.
- Documentation lag: Always request an updated schedule; providers sometimes update pricing before paperwork.
- Cash-flow crunch: A very high excess looks cheap monthly but can bite if multiple small claims occur (per-claim excess).
Alternatives if mid-term changes aren’t allowed
- Adjust outpatient limits: Consider a lower outpatient tier if permitted mid-term. See Outpatient limits.
- Review hospital list: If you don’t need central London access, a different list can lower cost. See Bupa, Aviva, AXA, WPA.
- Switch at renewal on CPME: Use CPME to keep continuity where possible and reset plan design more cheaply.
Pre-request checklist
- Your policy number and renewal date.
- Target excess and whether it’s per claim or per policy year.
- Two quotes: current vs target excess.
- Written answers on: waiting periods, underwriting, impact on any existing authorisations.
- Updated schedule reflecting the new excess and effective date.
Related guides
- Excess explained
- Outpatient limits
- Switch health insurance
- Private health insurance hub
- Get a health insurance quote
FAQs
Can I reduce my excess mid-term?
Usually no. Reductions are commonly restricted to renewal to prevent adverse selection. Ask your provider to confirm their rule in writing. Will changing my excess affect an ongoing claim?
Most insurers keep the original excess for claims already authorised. Always confirm how your specific authorisation will be treated. Is excess per claim or per policy year?
It varies. Per-claim excess can be charged multiple times across different claims in the same year; per-policy-year excess is paid once. Does changing excess affect no-claims discounts?
Not normally, but plan design changes at renewal can interact with NCD rules. Check before you proceed. Can I pair this with other cost-savers?
Yes: lower outpatient, different hospital list, guided pathways. Weigh any waiting period implications.
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