There are three ways to pay for a private GP in the UK. Pay-as-you-go is cheapest for one or two appointments a year (£25 by video or £90 in clinic at The Vesey). A subscription is cheapest from about three in-clinic appointments a year and adds a health screening and priority booking (from £19 a month at The Vesey). Health insurance is for what comes after the GP, the consultant, the scan, the operation, and usually includes its own digital GP. Most people need one of the first two; only people who want cover for treatment need the third.
The three routes, in one table
| Pay-as-you-go | GP subscription | Health insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you buy | One appointment | A year of GP access plus a screening | Treatment after a referral |
| Typical cost | £25 video, £90 in clinic (The Vesey) | £15–£56 a month (UK, 26 September 2026) | Varies with age, cover and excess; often £30–£100+ a month |
| Includes a GP? | Yes, that is the product | Yes | Usually a digital GP, remote only |
| Covers scans and specialists? | No, priced separately | No, discounted at some providers | Yes, within limits and after a referral |
| Commitment | None | Monthly (The Vesey) or 12 months (most) | Annual policy |
| Pre-existing conditions | Seen | Seen | Usually excluded |
The maths, for three kinds of patient
Using The Vesey's own prices: £25 for a Virtual GP, £90 for a 30-minute in-clinic GP appointment, £99 for an Essential Health Assessment, and £19 a month (£228 a year) for Essential, which includes six appointments in clinic or by video, the Essential screening and a flu jab.
- One problem a year, sorted by video. Pay-as-you-go: £25. Subscription: £228. Insurance: a year of premiums for a GP call you could have bought for £25. Pay as you go.
- Three in-clinic appointments and a health check. Pay-as-you-go: £270 + £99 = £369. Subscription: £228, with three appointments spare. Subscribe.
- A niggle you suspect needs a consultant and a scan. Pay-as-you-go or subscription gets you the GP and the referral letter for £25 to £90; the consultant (from £260) and the scan (from £325 for a private MRI) are on top. Insurance would cover those, but only if the policy pre-dates the symptom. If you are already symptomatic, insurance cannot help this time; buy the GP appointment and the referral, and take the private route or the NHS route from there.
Three or more GP visits a year? Essential is £19 a month
In clinic or by video from anywhere in the UK · Essential health screening included · cancel anytime
When pay-as-you-go is right
You see a GP rarely, you know what you need (a prescription, a fit note, a referral letter, a second opinion) and you want no commitment. A £25 Virtual GP does most of this in 15 minutes from anywhere in the UK. It is also the right way to try a provider before subscribing.
When a subscription is right
You or your family see a GP several times a year, you want the same doctor to know your history, you want a screening done every year without booking it separately, and you want priority when something comes up. Choose a plan with a clinic behind it if you might ever need examining, and a plan without a 12-month term if you are not sure. The Vesey's plans are the only ones in our comparison that are both.
When insurance is right
You want the consultant, the scan and the operation paid for, not just the GP. Insurance is a different product with underwriting, excesses and exclusions; a digital GP is bundled with it as the front door. If you already hold a policy, use its GP service and skip the subscription. Independent guides such as Going Private UK cover the insurer comparison in detail; we do not sell insurance.
Can you combine them?
Yes, and many people do. An insured patient still uses a pay-as-you-go GP when their insurer's digital GP cannot examine them. A subscriber still pays for a scan. Nobody needs all three; most people need exactly one, and the table above tells you which.
Frequently asked questions
Is a GP subscription cheaper than health insurance?
Almost always, because it buys less. A subscription covers GP access (from £15 to £56 a month in the UK); insurance covers treatment after a referral and costs more, with exclusions for pre-existing conditions. They are not substitutes.
Does health insurance include a GP?
Most UK policies now include a remote digital GP at no extra charge (Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA and The Exeter all do). It is usually phone or video only; if you need examining you use the NHS or a pay-as-you-go private GP.
How many appointments before a subscription pays off?
At The Vesey, three in-clinic appointments a year (£270) already cost more than a year of Essential (£228), before counting the included screening. For video-only use, six appointments (£150) cost less than Essential, so pay as you go unless you want the bundle.
Can I get a referral letter without a subscription?
Yes. Any private GP appointment, including the £25 Virtual GP, can end with a referral letter where clinically appropriate. Insurers may have rules about who can refer, so check your policy if you intend to claim.
Can I subscribe and still use my NHS GP?
Yes. You stay registered with your NHS practice. With your consent a private GP sends a summary of each consultation to your NHS GP.
This article is general information about paying for GP care, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999.