Matt Gibbs’ journey into the world of private health insurance wasn’t one he planned, but it quickly became a calling. After losing his father to cancer, Matt found himself working in a contact centre role at Health-on-Line, one of the UK’s major health insurance providers. What started as simply “needing a job” became something much more meaningful.
This deeply personal motivation became the foundation for a successful 12+ year career in health insurance, during which Matt developed a strong reputation for guiding clients through the complexities of private healthcare, helping them get the right cover at the right time.
It kind of just took off. I came from a council estate background and never even knew about private medical insurance. But going through what Dad had with a misdiagnosis, it just made sense to continue helping people.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
Taking the leap from employee to entrepreneur
While Matt excelled in his roles, he felt something was missing. “I was just bored. I wanted to start my own business, and I did in a different industry, but I missed health insurance. I’d seen people I’d worked with go out on their own, and I thought, ‘If they can do it, I can do it.’”
After operating independently for a while, Matt began looking for a network that would truly support his vision and that’s when he found Coversure.
Why Coversure?
For Matt, this was a quick and easy answer – the community. “With Coversure, I love having the opportunity to go to anybody for support. You’re in business for yourself, but never by yourself.”
Having been part of other networks before, Matt knew the risks of joining one that didn’t understand his niche. But with Coversure, the support was different from the start: “The compliance team has been brilliant. They’re open to how I want things to work and they’ve actually used my experience to shape things. That’s been a real change.”
A strong start for Coversure Health
Based in Bournemouth, Matt launched Coversure Health in February 2025, the first dedicated health insurance and employee benefits brokerage in the Coversure network. From onboarding to early client wins, Matt has already felt the benefits of being part of a growing, supportive network.
The onboarding process was spot on. Meetings with everyone, checklists, access to people like my Franchise Development Executive, Lawrence Bennett, and the marketing team – it made things much smoother. Even before I officially joined, they kept me updated every step of the way.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
Matt also attended the Coversure Expo before his launch, which helped build connections early on:
It was great to meet other franchise owners and start building relationships ahead of launching. I’m already referring clients to others, and they’re referring clients to me. That’s why this community is so great.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
Looking ahead
Matt’s ambitions for Coversure Health are clear. He plans to build a small team of advisors for both PMI and employee benefits, and acquire client books to accelerate growth. But more than that, he’s aiming to create something sustainable.
In five years? Hopefully I’ll be living in Spain, but still running the business remotely with a team here in the UK. I don’t want to be on the phone 24/7. I want to mentor others and grow something meaningful.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
Matt is also seeing immediate personal benefits, especially around work-life balance:
During half term when my daughters were off school, we could have a kick-about in the front garden. In a previous job, I’d have had to book annual leave for that. Now I can take that time. That’s huge.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
Advice for aspiring insurance entrepreneurs
Having made the leap himself, Matt has clear advice for other professionals considering launching their own brokerage:
Just do it. Take the plunge. You’ll lose some of the corporate perks like pensions or paid holidays, but what you gain in the long run far outweighs it. I wish I’d done it sooner.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
Make sure the network is right for you. But if you want backing, flexibility and a real sense of community, Coversure is a brilliant choice. Everyone genuinely wants to help each other succeed.
Matt Gibbs, Managing Director at Coversure Health
