Equity Health vs Healthplan: Which UK Broker Suits You?

Summary: Neither Equity Health nor Healthplan is automatically the better choice for every customer. Equity Health highlights personal service, a dedicated account manager and free, no-obligation comparisons; Healthplan emphasizes technology-assisted quotes, broad insurer access and detailed underwriting guidance. Compare their support, fees and regulatory details, then assess the insurer’s policy terms before deciding.

If you are weighing Equity Health vs Healthplan, compare the advice process, insurer panel, underwriting support and follow-up, not just the first quoted premium. Equity Health highlights a small-team service, a dedicated account manager and free, no-obligation comparisons. Healthplan emphasizes technology-assisted quotes and tailored help for individuals, families and businesses. For insurer-level context, see our guide to compare private medical insurance providers.

Both businesses act as insurance brokers, not as the insurers that underwrite your policy. Your cover, exclusions and claim eligibility depend on the terms offered by the chosen insurer. MoneyHelper’s broker guidance explains how advice can help you compare cover across insurers and consider needs that a comparison site may not address.

Equity Health vs Healthplan: comparison table

Comparison point	Equity Health	Healthplan
Service and process	Personal broker service, with a small Bournemouth-based team and a dedicated account manager.	Technology-supported quote journey followed by advice from a broker.
Insurers considered	Says it compares the UK market and is not tied to a limited number of providers.	Says it compares major insurers and smaller specialist providers.
Medical history and underwriting	Discusses continued personal medical exclusions for some people leaving employer cover. Ask about options for your circumstances.	Explains fully medically underwritten and moratorium options, as well as some routes for switching existing cover.
Claims and policy changes	Its public information focuses on arranging, comparing and renewing cover. Ask what support is available after purchase.	Says its brokers can help with claims and policy changes.
Quotes and service fees	Describes its comparison service as free and without obligation.	Offers tailored quotes after gathering information about your needs. Check the service terms and any remuneration details.
Regulatory details	Equity Health is a trading name of Brown & Brown Health and Employee Benefits Ltd, which says it is FCA-authorised.	Healthplan is a trading style of Santé Partners Ltd, which says it is FCA-authorised.

On the information each business publishes, Equity Health may appeal if personal contact and a named account manager are priorities. Healthplan may suit you if you value a guided online quote process and clearly explained underwriting routes. For either broker, ask who will advise you, what support continues after the sale, and how the insurer will assess your medical history.

How do the two brokers work with you?

Equity Health presents its service as personal and nationally available, despite its Bournemouth base. Its published material highlights a small team, a dedicated account manager and an individual review of your options. It also says its comparison and advice service is free and carries no obligation. This model may suit you if you prefer direct conversations while considering individual, family or business cover.

Healthplan describes a process that begins with questions about your needs, followed by quotes from insurers and broker guidance. Its site describes access to major insurers as well as smaller specialist providers. It also presents its own purpose-built technology as part of its comparison service. This may suit you if you want a structured online start, alongside access to a broker rather than relying on a quote alone.

Equity Health

Best for: You may prefer Equity Health if you value a personal broker relationship, a dedicated account manager and a free comparison without an obligation to buy.

Equity Health says its Bournemouth-based team serves customers across the UK and compares policies from multiple providers. It also discusses personal, family and business cover, along with options for people leaving employer-sponsored insurance. Its public pages identify the regulated firm behind the trading name as Brown & Brown Health and Employee Benefits Ltd.

Pros

• Its personal-service approach and dedicated account manager give you a named contact while comparing cover.

• It describes its advice and comparison service as free and without obligation, so you can explore options before deciding whether to proceed.

• It says it is not tied to a limited number of providers, supporting comparisons across its stated market.

Cons

• Its published information gives less detail about ongoing claims support. Ask what help is available once a policy is in place.

Healthplan

Best for: Healthplan may suit you if you want a structured quote process, access to a broad range of insurers and explanations of medical underwriting choices.

Healthplan says it serves individuals, families and businesses, including small and medium-sized employers. Its materials describe both fully medically underwritten and moratorium policies. They also discuss switching existing cover, where the insurer’s terms determine whether existing exclusions or underwriting arrangements can continue. Healthplan identifies Santé Partners Ltd as the regulated firm operating the trading style.

Pros

• Its described access to major and specialist insurers gives you a broad starting point for a quote comparison.

• Its published underwriting explanations can help you prepare questions about medical history and existing cover.

• It says brokers can assist with claims and policy changes, which may be useful after arranging cover.

Cons

• A quote comparison is not the same as a final policy decision. You still need to check the insurer’s exclusions, limits and terms before accepting cover.

What should you check before choosing?

Start with the cover you need, rather than assuming that either broker’s quoted premium represents the same policy. Compare outpatient limits, hospital lists, excesses, cancer cover, exclusions and any waiting periods. Our best private medical insurance in the UK overview can help you identify policy features to compare.

If you have a medical history or an existing policy, ask how the proposed insurer will assess it. Healthplan describes fully medically underwritten and moratorium routes; Equity Health discusses continued personal medical exclusions for some people leaving employer cover. These are not guarantees that a particular condition will be covered. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that policy terms, medical history and any moratorium clause can matter when a pre-existing condition claim is disputed. Read its private medical insurance guidance.

Also ask whether the broker will assist with policy changes or claims, and whether that support is included in its service. Equity Health’s public material emphasizes advice and arranging cover, while Healthplan says its brokers may help with claims and policy changes. Clarify the extent of any support directly before you proceed.

Finally, check the legal entity and its permissions on the Financial Conduct Authority register. Equity Health identifies Brown & Brown Health and Employee Benefits Ltd; Healthplan identifies Santé Partners Ltd. The FCA recommends checking that a firm has permission for the financial service it provides. Its firm-checking guidance explains how to verify a business before using its services.

When comparing the policy itself, our guide to choose a private health insurance plan covers practical selection points. You can also explore our overview of top private healthcare providers in the UK to understand the healthcare networks that may be relevant to your chosen policy.

A practical decision rule

Choose Equity Health if personal contact, a named account manager and a free, no-obligation comparison matter most to you. Consider Healthplan if you prefer its structured quote process, want to discuss a wide insurer range, or need to ask about its published underwriting and claims-support options. In either case, compare like-for-like quotations and request important advice and policy details in writing.

Conclusion

There is no universal winner in the Equity Health and Healthplan comparison. Equity Health emphasizes personal service and free, no-obligation advice; Healthplan emphasizes a technology-supported quote process and published explanations of underwriting options. The right choice depends on which service fits your needs, but the insurer’s terms determine the cover you ultimately receive. Before proceeding, compare exclusions, claims support, fees and the permissions of the regulated firm. In short, choosing a UK health insurance broker is about finding the right advice and service for your circumstances, then checking the policy itself carefully.

Get help choosing private health insurance

If you would like support organizing your health information before exploring cover, our free AI assessment can turn symptoms and health-risk indicators into a summary you can share with a doctor or private consultant. It is an information tool, not an insurance policy or a substitute for medical advice.

Our free intermediary service can also connect UK residents with regional specialists for a private medical insurance consultation. We are not an insurer or an FCA-regulated provider, and we do not make the final insurance decision. Advice and policy decisions come through the FCA-regulated provider. To explore this route, get help choosing private health insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Equity Health an insurer?

No. Equity Health arranges and compares private medical insurance as a broker. The insurer issues the policy and sets its terms.

Is Healthplan a regulated broker?

Healthplan identifies Santé Partners Ltd as its FCA-authorised firm. Check the FCA register to confirm the firm’s current permissions before proceeding.

Do Equity Health and Healthplan sell the same policies?

Both describe access to multiple insurers, but their available quotations and recommendations may differ. Ask each broker for the insurer, policy terms and exclusions behind any quote.

Will either broker guarantee cover for a pre-existing condition?

No broker can guarantee that an insurer will cover a particular condition. The insurer assesses your medical history and applies the policy’s underwriting terms and exclusions.

How should I decide between the two?

Compare the advice process, insurer range, underwriting guidance and help available after purchase. Then compare equivalent policy terms, including excesses, exclusions, limits and premiums.