Is a Health MOT Worth It?

For many people, a private Health MOT is worth considering, particularly if you're over 40, have a family history of heart disease or diabetes, or want to keep track of changes in your health. It can highlight risks you may not notice yourself, such as raised blood pressure or cholesterol. But it isn't essential for everyone, and it doesn't replace NHS screening or advice from your GP.

Whether it's worth the cost depends on what you want to learn about your health and which tests are included.

What Is a Health MOT?

A Health MOT is a health assessment that measures selected indicators of your health and helps you understand your risk of certain conditions. Like a car MOT, it gives you a snapshot at a particular point in time. Unlike a car MOT, however, it can't provide a definitive pass or fail on your health.

A private health assessment usually combines a blood sample with non-blood tests, such as blood pressure measurements and an ECG, depending on the package you choose. At Bluecrest Wellness, a private health assessment appointment takes around 25 minutes with a Health Assessment Specialist. Your results are available through My Wellness, and you also have access to a 24/7 GP helpline.

The tests included vary between providers, so it's worth checking exactly what you'll receive before booking.

What Does a Bluecrest Health MOT Involve?

Bluecrest offers three Health MOT packages, with different numbers of blood readings and tests. The right option depends on how much information you want and which health indicators matter most to you.

• Active Health MOT – includes 24 blood readings, seven non-blood tests and access to a 24/7 GP helpline.
• Core Health MOT – includes 36 blood readings, adding blood health and immune markers to the assessment.
• Complete Health MOT – includes 37 blood readings, Lipoprotein (a), a marker associated with cardiovascular risk, and a private GP consultation.

All three packages include a range of health indicators, with differences in the tests and support provided. These can include cholesterol, blood sugar measured through HbA1c, and indicators of liver and kidney function.

You can compare the Health MOT packages to see which tests are included.

What Are the Benefits of a Health MOT?

A Health MOT can be useful because some health risks develop without obvious symptoms. Raised blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example, may go unnoticed until they're measured.

Potential benefits include:

• Understanding your risk factors: results can highlight indicators that may need attention, giving you a clearer starting point for conversations with your GP.
• Making informed lifestyle changes: understanding your blood sugar, cholesterol and other results can help you decide where to focus your efforts.
• Tracking changes over time: repeat assessments can help you see whether your results have changed, particularly if you're working towards specific health goals.
• Taking a more active role in your health: having your results in one place can help you ask more informed questions and decide what to do next.

Bluecrest's own data offers some insight into why people choose to have an assessment. 53.8% of people we test have at least one untreated heart risk. These are risks that may not cause noticeable symptoms, making measurements such as blood pressure and cholesterol useful sources of information.

There is also evidence that results can encourage people to take action. 84% of surveyed customers reported that they would focus on a positive health aim after seeing their results. This figure comes from a Feefo customer survey.

Repeat assessments can provide another useful reference point. 65.1% of customers who started amber or red on blood pressure (diastolic) improved by their second visit (55.7% returned to green). This shows how results can change over time, although it doesn't establish that having an assessment caused the improvement.

A health assessment can provide useful information, but the results are only one part of the picture. What you do with them, including any changes you make and follow-up advice you receive, matters too.

A Real Example: Understanding Cholesterol Risk

Robert’s Bluecrest Health MOT highlighted raised LDL cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease. After receiving his results, he decided to improve his diet and become more physically active. His experience shows how a health assessment can give you information you can act on, even when you haven't noticed any symptoms.

Read Robert’s story.

Is a Health MOT Worth It?

For some people, paying for a private Health MOT is a useful investment in understanding their health. For others, the free NHS Health Check may be enough for their current needs. Here are the main things to weigh up.

When Is a Health MOT Especially Worthwhile?

A private assessment may be worth considering if:

• You're aged 40 or over and want a broader picture of your health.
• You have a family history of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes and want to understand relevant risk factors.
• You aren't eligible for, or haven't yet been invited to, an NHS Health Check.
• You want to monitor changes in your health over time.
• You’d like to measure indicators that the NHS Health Check doesn’t routinely include, such as liver and kidney function, and HbA1c (blood sugar), which the NHS Health Check only checks for some people.

Your personal circumstances matter. If you have symptoms, a known medical condition or a particular concern about your health, speak to your GP about the most appropriate tests and next steps rather than relying on a private assessment alone.

How Does a Private Health MOT Compare With the Free NHS Health Check?

The NHS Health Check is a free preventative check offered to eligible adults in England aged 40 to 74, generally once every five years. It focuses on the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, alongside other relevant health factors.

A private Health MOT offers a different combination of tests. Depending on the package, Bluecrest includes measures such as liver and kidney function, HbA1c, ECG and lung function testing. Private assessments are available to adults from age 18, although the tests included depend on the package chosen.

The two options serve different purposes. The NHS Health Check is an important starting point for eligible adults and shouldn't be overlooked simply because you're considering private testing. A private Health MOT may suit you if you want additional measurements or prefer to monitor a broader range of health indicators.

What Can't a Health MOT Tell You?

A Health MOT isn't a diagnosis, and it can't guarantee that you're free from illness. It measures selected indicators at a particular point in time, rather than checking for every possible condition.

Results can sometimes flag something that turns out not to indicate a significant health problem. Other results may need further investigation by your GP. A result within the expected range doesn't rule out every health concern, either.

Bluecrest's reference ranges may flag changes earlier than the thresholds used to guide NHS treatment decisions, which can help explain why Bluecrest might flag a result that your GP would not. This doesn't necessarily mean that you need treatment, but it may mean that a result is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Private test results should be considered alongside your symptoms, medical history and other relevant information. A Health MOT isn't a substitute for NHS screening invitations, and you should always seek medical advice if you have symptoms that concern you.

What About the Cost?

Bluecrest Health MOT packages currently range from £179 to £339, depending on the tests and support included. When assessing the cost of a full body health check in the UK, consider what you want to measure and whether you need the additional tests offered by a private assessment.

Before paying, check whether your employer or health insurer offers a wellbeing scheme that includes health assessments.

Explore Bluecrest Health MOTs

If you'd like a clearer picture of selected aspects of your health, a Bluecrest Health MOT can provide useful information about indicators such as cholesterol, blood sugar, liver and kidney function, alongside other tests depending on your package.

Assessments take around 25 minutes at a booked appointment, and your results are available through My Wellness. You'll also have access to a 24/7 GP helpline.

Compare Health MOT packages and see today's prices to decide whether an assessment is right for you.

FAQs About Health MOTs

Is a health MOT worth it if I feel fine?

It can be. Some risk factors, including raised blood pressure and cholesterol, don't always cause noticeable symptoms. Bluecrest reports that 53.8% of people it tests have at least one untreated heart risk. A health assessment can help you understand selected indicators even when you feel well, although it can't rule out every health problem.

What's the difference between a health MOT and the NHS Health Check?

The NHS Health Check is free for eligible adults in England aged 40 to 74 and focuses on cardiovascular and related health risks. A private Health MOT offers a different range of tests, which may include liver and kidney function, HbA1c, ECG and lung function, depending on the package. The best option depends on your circumstances and the information you want.

How often should I have a health MOT?

Bluecrest recommends regular assessments, with annual checks helping you compare results over time. The right frequency depends on your health, risk factors and the tests involved. Follow your GP's advice about any specific monitoring you need.

Are health MOTs covered by insurance?

Some employers' wellbeing schemes and private health insurance arrangements include health assessments, but the benefits vary. Check your policy or ask your employer what is available before booking.

How long does a Bluecrest Health MOT take?

A Bluecrest Health MOT takes around 25 minutes. The appointment includes the tests in your chosen package, carried out by a Health Assessment Specialist.

Can a health MOT prevent illness?

A health MOT can't prevent illness on its own. It can highlight selected risk factors and give you information that may help you make lifestyle changes or seek advice from your GP. Some results may need further investigation, and a normal result doesn't guarantee that you'll remain healthy.