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Why You Should Consider Private Medical Insurance

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Lives at risk with current NHS waiting times

NHS data shows that 7.6 million people are now on the waiting list for routine treatment – the highest number ever recorded. The figure has increased every month since May 2020, when it was 3.83 million people. It means the number of people having to wait longer than 52 weeks to start treatment is around 35 times higher than those waiting a year earlier.

Former health secretary Sajid Javid told the Sunday Telegraph he was "shocked" when officials warned him that the backlog could reach 13 million patients.

The pressures on the NHS due to the pandemic are very severe, with leading charity The British Heart Foundation finding that nearly half of the heart patients found it harder to get medical treatment during the lockdown. Heart and circulatory diseases are a major cause of death in the UK, with more than 160,000 deaths each year.

Even with huge efforts, the reality is that longer waiting times for treatment are likely to be a feature of the NHS for several years at least.

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Protect yourself and your family

With a PMI policy in place, you'll have access to a wider range of expert medical help should you need it; and depending upon the terms of your policy, the main costs of your treatment will be covered. Whilst the NHS does an amazing job, queues are inevitable for all but the most acute medical emergencies, and PMI policies are often taken to avoid those queues in the future, by being able to access a wider range of expert medical help. Learn more about treatments and plans for private health insurance.

Typical cost of private treatment and the average NHS waiting times for some of the most common procedures

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But I'm healthy, so why would I want Private Medical Insurance?

A PMI policy, like all insurance policies, is your protection against the future and not the present. There's no better time to consider taking PMI than when you're healthy - if you wait to become sick it may be too late. Most policies won't cover pre-existing conditions that you've suffered in the 5 years prior to taking your policy - so getting cover while you're feeling fit and healthy is an effective way to lock in your good health.

Also, The Telegraph has reported that there has been a 40% surge in patients paying for private healthcare in order to avoid long waiting lists in the NHS since the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, The Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimates as many as 300 to 500 deaths per week as a result of delays in receiving emergency medical care. Against this backdrop, more and more UK families are opting for private healthcare to give them greater peace of mind and more reliable medical options.

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Step 2: Answer a few simple Health Window questions to get your FREE quote.

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What are the top treatments claimed for?

To give an indication of the treatments commonly covered by private health insurance, the 2023 Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) report highlights the most common private procedures:

Beyond these, other significant drivers of private healthcare demand include Heart & Circulatory Diseases, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Treatments, Dental & Orthodontics, Gallbladder Removal, Dermatology, Mental Health Services, and Maternity & Fertility Treatments.

Health Window isn’t an insurance company. Health Window is a free service that connects you with FCA-authorised, whole-of-market brokers who can help you compare quotes from a wide range of health insurers.

Just complete Health Window's quick online form with a few details about yourself and your cover needs. You’ll then be introduced, via the Health Window platform, to an impartial broker who can provide tailored quotes and expert guidance.

Health Window does not provide insurance advice or arrange cover. All regulated services, including advice and setting up any policy, are provided directly by the broker. Our service is completely free to use, with no obligation to accept any of the quotes you receive.