WPA (Western Provident Association) is one of the UK's longest-established independent health insurers, founded in 1901 as a not-for-profit provident association and still operating outside the listed corporate sector today. That independence shapes everything from how premiums are applied to how claims are handled, with surpluses reinvested into policyholder value rather than returned to shareholders.
Headquartered in Taunton, Somerset, WPA provides private medical insurance to individuals, families, and corporate clients across the United Kingdom. Its product range covers inpatient and outpatient treatment, specialist consultations, diagnostics, and mental health support, with flexible benefit structures designed to sit alongside NHS care rather than replace it entirely.
The association is particularly well regarded in the corporate health benefits market, where employer-sponsored schemes can be tailored by sector, company size, and workforce need. WPA also operates a significant presence in the healthcare cash plan segment, offering lower-cost complementary cover for routine dental, optical, and therapy expenses.
WPA's not-for-profit status distinguishes it from the majority of UK private medical insurers, and the association has historically emphasised direct access to its customer service teams and a claims process managed in-house rather than via third-party administrators. It holds authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.
Further information is available at wpa.org.uk.