Your 2025 Guide to
Health Insurance

In this article, our health insurance specialists explain how health insurance works, what treatments are covered, and how you can save on your policy.

While the NHS does an incredible job, waiting times are inevitable, leaving many UK residents on lengthy waiting lists for routine procedures. It also doesn’t cover everything.

This is why many choose private health insurance or self-funded treatment. With the right plan, UK residents can skip these waiting lists and access care at private hospitals or with private practitioners.

However, private health insurance can be complex, and some people may end up paying for unnecessary extras or benefits they’re unlikely to use. Choosing the right cover is essential to ensure it meets your needs and offers good value for money.

For more details, try our free search and quote service. We’ll connect you with an impartial insurance broker who can help you compare leading UK insurers, understand the key factors to consider, and find a policy that suits your needs.

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What does a PMI policy cover?

Private medical insurance (PMI) is typically designed to cover treatment for short-term, or acute, illnesses, diseases or injuries. Though the cover you get from PMI depends upon the policy that you buy. Learn more about treatments and plans for private health insurance. Basic cover will usually pick up the cost for most in-patient treatments (tests and surgery) and day-care surgery. Some policies will extend to cover out-patient treatments (such as specialists and consultants).

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If I become sick, can I avoid waiting in NHS queues?

With a PMI policy in-place you'll have access to a wider range of expert private 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 private medical help.

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

A PMI policy, like all insurance, is designed to protect your future. That’s why it is beneficial to take out cover while you’re feeling fit and well. Many policies won’t initially cover conditions you’ve experienced in the past five years, but exclusions may be reviewed after two symptom-free years. By taking out cover now, you’re protecting your current state of good health and starting the countdown toward broader cover – including potential future eligibility for pre-existing conditions.

Pressures on the NHS continue to grow. In 2025, the waiting list reached 7.42 million—up from 4.6 million before the pandemic, according to the British Medical Association. In February, nearly 29 times more patients waited over 12 hours for emergency admission than in the same month in 2020. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimates that delays in emergency care contribute to 300 to 500 deaths each week. With waiting times rising and treatment delays becoming more common, more UK families are turning to private healthcare for peace of mind and faster access to care when it matters most.

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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.

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