Does private health insurance cover PRP injections in the UK?
Quick answer, as of October 2026: Do not assume your policy covers PRP for joints or tendons. Cover depends on the insurer, policy and condition, and published Financial Ombudsman decisions show claims being declined under conventional-treatment exclusions. Recent Financial Ombudsman decisions have upheld insurers declining PRP for tennis elbow and shoulder arthritis. Some insurers may contribute what an equivalent conventional treatment would cost. If cover is refused, self-pay may be an option. Check your policy and get written pre-authorisation before spending.
Does private health insurance cover PRP injections in the UK?
- Some private medical policies exclude treatment they do not consider conventional or established. The wording in your policy matters.
- In a 2025 decision, the Financial Ombudsman Service found AXA acted reasonably in declining PRP for tennis elbow as non-conventional treatment.
- In another decision, the Ombudsman found AXA was entitled to pay only what steroid injections would have cost towards PRP for a wrist problem.
- In a 2025 decision, the Ombudsman found Vitality acted fairly in declining PRP for advanced shoulder arthritis.
- The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness offers self-pay joint and tendon PRP from £750, with the full cost confirmed before treatment.
Will my health insurance pay for PRP?
Ask your insurer directly before booking. The policies considered in the decisions below required conventional or established treatment, and PRP was not accepted for the particular conditions and policy terms in those cases. This is not a survey of all current UK policies.
Policy wording varies between insurers and plans. Typical phrases include "conventional treatment", "established medical practice in the UK" and exclusions for treatment with insufficient evidence of effectiveness. The exact wording in your own policy decides the outcome.
Ask our team about paying for PRP on WhatsApp and we will explain the costs clearly.
What have recent insurance decisions said about PRP?
The Financial Ombudsman Service, which settles complaints between consumers and financial firms in the UK, has published several decisions on PRP claims. They show how policy terms were applied in three individual complaints, not a universal rule for every policy.
- Tennis elbow, AXA. A patient's claim for a PRP injection for tennis elbow was declined because the policy covered only conventional treatment. The Ombudsman found AXA acted reasonably and did not uphold the complaint, in a decision issued in 2025.
- Wrist, AXA. A specialist suggested PRP as an alternative to steroid injections. AXA paid what steroid injections would have cost, £589 per injection towards the facility and £50 towards the specialist, and the patient paid the rest. The Ombudsman found this reasonable.
- Shoulder arthritis, Vitality. A claim for PRP for advanced shoulder osteoarthritis was declined as not established medical practice in the UK. The Ombudsman found Vitality acted fairly, in a decision issued in 2025.
These decisions concern individual policies and circumstances. They do not establish your cover or show how common self-funding is across all patients.
Why might an insurer exclude PRP?
An insurer may apply a policy exclusion for treatment it considers unproven or non-conventional. Research can support discussion of an option without establishing routine insurance cover. The NICE knee PRP guidance says efficacy evidence is limited in quality and calls for special governance, consent and audit or research arrangements.
A 2025 meta-analysis by Bensa and colleagues pooled 18 randomised trials and 1,995 people with knee osteoarthritis. It found clinically relevant improvement in WOMAC function at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and pain relief at 3 and 6 months compared with placebo. Results varied by platelet concentration. In contrast, the RESTORE trial found no significant benefit over saline for pain or cartilage volume at 12 months in 288 people. That mixed picture should be part of consent, whether you self-pay or claim.
Can insurance cover part of the cost?
Insurance may cover part of the process even when PRP itself is excluded. Depending on the policy, some patients can claim for a specialist consultation or a scan, then pay for PRP separately. As the AXA wrist decision shows, some insurers may contribute what a conventional alternative, such as a steroid injection, would have cost.
The practical steps are listed below.
- Read your policy wording for terms such as conventional treatment or established practice.
- Call your insurer and ask specifically whether PRP is covered for your condition.
- Ask whether consultations and scans are covered separately.
- Ask whether the insurer would contribute the cost of a conventional alternative.
- Get any agreement in writing, with a pre-authorisation number, before treatment.
Book your free suitability review on WhatsApp to find out whether PRP suits your joint before you spend anything.
How much does PRP cost if I pay myself?
As of October 2026, The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness offers doctor-led joint and tendon PRP from £750.
The doctor confirms the proposed number of injections and total cost before treatment begins. Read our full guide to PRP joint injection costs in London.
Is self-funded PRP worth it?
Self-pay PRP may be worth discussing for a selected condition after an assessment, when you understand the chance of no benefit, alternatives, risks, recovery and total cost. Knee osteoarthritis has more trial evidence than many other uses, but outcomes are not guaranteed. Do not assume evidence for one joint or tendon applies to another.
An uncontrolled observational report cannot prove that PRP delays knee replacement, so it should not be used to promise years without surgery. For severe symptoms or advanced damage, ask whether established care or a surgical opinion is more appropriate.
Request your personalised PRP plan on WhatsApp and a doctor will confirm suitability and cost.
How does the free suitability review work?
The free suitability review is a doctor's honest opinion before any appointment, at no cost. Send a short description of your joint, what you have tried and any X-ray or scan reports through WhatsApp. A GMC-registered doctor reviews the case and either approves you for a consultation or recommends a more suitable route.
Start your free review now, call +44 20 3951 3429, or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Frequently asked questions
Will my insurer cover PRP injections?
Cover varies by policy and condition. Published 2025 Financial Ombudsman decisions upheld AXA and Vitality declining particular PRP claims. Ask your own insurer for written pre-authorisation, including the procedure, provider and any shortfall.
Why will my insurance not pay for PRP?
Your policy may exclude treatment it defines as unproven or non-conventional. Ask for the relevant policy clause and the reason applied to your condition.
Can I claim my consultation or scan on insurance and pay for PRP myself?
Some policies cover specialist consultations and scans separately from treatment. Ask your insurer before booking and get any agreement in writing.
How much does PRP cost without insurance?
As of October 2026, The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness offers doctor-led joint and tendon PRP from £750.
Where can I have self-pay PRP in London?
The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness offers doctor-led self-pay PRP in London.
About The London PRP Clinic
The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness is a doctor-led regenerative medicine clinic in London. The clinic offers PRP for joints, tendons, hair and skin, with every treatment planned and performed by GMC-registered doctors. Assessment, imaging needs and any separate costs are discussed before booking.
References
- Financial Ombudsman Service. Decision DRN-5646434, AXA PPP Healthcare, PRP injection for tennis elbow, 2025.
- Financial Ombudsman Service. Decision DRN-5604219, AXA PPP Healthcare, PRP injections for a wrist condition.
- Financial Ombudsman Service. Decision DRN-5756927, Vitality Health, PRP injections for shoulder osteoarthritis, 2025.
Related reading
- How much do PRP joint injections cost in London, and how do you book one?
- Stem cell knee injections in the UK and how they compare with PRP
Reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. Updated 22 October 2026.