Does UK health insurance cover hip and knee replacement?

Yes — comprehensive UK PMI covers hip, knee and shoulder replacement in full, including the implant, consultant surgeon fees, hospital accommodation and post-operative physiotherapy. Provided the joint has not been symptomatic pre-policy.

How fast can I have private hip surgery?

Typically 4–8 weeks from decision to surgery: 1–2 weeks to see a consultant, 2–3 weeks for pre-op assessment and imaging, then surgery scheduled within a further 2–4 weeks. NHS median wait is 27+ weeks.

What if I've had knee pain before — is that pre-existing?

Yes — under moratorium underwriting, any joint you have had symptoms of, treatment for or medication for in the last 5 years is excluded. However, if the joint remains symptom-free and treatment-free for 24 continuous months while insured, it returns to cover.

Are joint implants included in PMI?

Yes — all major UK insurers include the cost of the implant (prosthesis) as standard on comprehensive orthopaedic cover. There is no separate implant cost to the patient.

Which UK insurer is best for orthopaedic cover?

Bupa By You (HCA/Cromwell access), AXA Personal Health (Nuffield network) and Aviva Healthier Solutions are the top three for younger applicants. The Exeter Health+ is our first pick for over-60s with any borderline history.

Does PMI cover revision joint surgery?

Yes — provided the primary surgery was itself covered by the same policy (or accepted under CPME switch). Revision surgery is included with no annual cap on comprehensive tier policies.

Is post-operative physiotherapy covered?

Yes — comprehensive policies typically include unlimited or generously-capped physiotherapy sessions post-surgery (30–50 sessions/year is common). Bupa and AXA both include full post-op rehab.

Can I have private surgery on a specific consultant?

Yes — 'open referral' allows you to name the consultant. Bupa, AXA and Aviva all support open referral on their comprehensive tiers. If your GP recommends a specific surgeon, you can usually be seen by them.

Compare UK PMI cover for hip, knee, shoulder and orthopaedic surgery. Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and specialists benchmarked. Call 020 4525 0884.

Hip & Joint Replacement Insurance UK

Comprehensive UK PMI covers hip, knee and shoulder replacement in full. Typical private surgery is delivered within 4–8 weeks of decision, versus an NHS median wait of 27+ weeks (with over 40% of trusts breaching the 18-week standard for orthopaedics). Bupa (HCA/Cromwell), AXA (Nuffield) and Aviva all offer full orthopaedic cover on their comprehensive tiers.

Orthopaedic surgery is the largest driver of NHS elective backlog. As of Q1 2025, orthopaedic waiting lists exceeded 830,000, with 27+ week median waits for hip and knee replacement (NHS England RTT). Private orthopaedics is the single most common reason UK adults over 55 buy PMI — and the most likely successful claim.
A comprehensive PMI policy covers the full orthopaedic pathway: consultant orthopaedic surgeon appointments, MRI/CT/X-ray, pre-operative assessment, primary hip and knee replacement (implants included), revision surgery, shoulder replacement, arthroscopy, and post-operative physiotherapy. Hospital accommodation at Nuffield, Spire, Ramsay, HCA and BMI networks is standard on all major insurers.
There are two critical rules. First: osteoarthritis and joint pain are usually pre-existing. If you have had symptoms in the last 5 years (moratorium) or ever (FMU), the joint will be excluded. Second: modular policies often make orthopaedic surgery a specific benefit that must be included — never buy Aviva Solutions without the full inpatient module, and never buy Vitality Core when you should have Advanced.

PremierPMI is a UK private medical insurance broker specialising in whole-of-market placement across 10+ leading UK health insurers including Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Freedom Health, The Exeter, General & Medical and National Friendly. FCA regulated (Tesha Family Ltd, FRN 1029667). Speak to a broker on 020 4525 0884, WhatsApp 07515 703307, or email contact@premierpmi.co.uk.

Speak to a UK PMI broker

PremierPMI's brokers are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. Call 020 4525 0884, message us on WhatsApp 07515 703307, or email contact@premierpmi.co.uk. You can also request a callback or meet our team.