Lateral

Lateral is a direct-to-consumer health insurance carrier based in London, offering private medical insurance (PMI) for UK adults aged 60 to 74. The company was founded in 2025 by Laura Ashforth, former Managing Director at UK insurtech unicorn Zego, and Steven Mendel, co-founder and ex-CEO of ManyPets. Lateral launched its flagship product, the Lateral Health Plan, in early 2026, targeting the self-pay segment of older adults who use private care to complement NHS services.

The Lateral Health Plan is structured around a nurse-led care navigation service that helps members determine when to use NHS versus private pathways, avoiding unnecessary spending. The plan covers elective hospital procedures (up to GBP 50,000 per year), minor procedures, and specialist consultations and diagnostics. It deliberately excludes high-cost areas such as cancer and cardiac care, where NHS provision remains the primary route for most patients. An annual health check covering 40+ tests, virtual GP access via HealthHero, physiotherapy sessions, and virtual dietitian support are bundled into the policy.

Lateral targets a GBP 1.6 billion UK self-pay healthcare market. Over 14.5 million people in the UK are now aged over 60, with 71% of over-65s who use private care doing so through personal savings or disposable income rather than insurance. The company is FCA-regulated and raised a GBP 2.5M seed round in February 2026, led by Augmentum Fintech with participation from Triple Point and TinyVC.