Healthwatch England's poll found that 16% of adults in England had used private services such as non-urgent treatment or diagnostic tests in the previous year, compared with 9% in its 2023 survey. Savanta polled 2,593 people aged 18 and over in England from 31 October to 7 November 2025. This measures reported use of private healthcare, not the proportion of people who hold private medical insurance. Healthwatch England's findings and survey details.
The NHS Waiting List Crisis
The NHS waiting list in England peaked at more than 7.5 million cases, compared with 4.4 million in 2019. For someone facing a 12–18-month wait for an orthopaedic consultation, private health insurance may feel less like a luxury and more like a practical option.
PMI Admissions at a Record High
PHIN reported 953,000 admissions to UK private hospitals in 2025, including 670,000 funded by private medical insurance. Both total admissions and insured admissions were records; the total had reached a record for four consecutive years. These are admissions, not a count of people holding insurance. PHIN's 2025 admissions report, published 1 June 2026.
Which Groups Reported More Private-Care Use?
In the same survey, reported private-care use differed by income: 10% of respondents with household income below £20,000 said they had used private care, compared with 35% of those with income of £80,000 or more. These are survey responses about use, not insurance ownership.
Example Premiums by Age
The following figures are averages from sample quotes that LifeSearch analysed using June 2026 prices, as reported by Which? They are not market-wide price bands or personal quotes.
- Age 30: core £32.81/mo; comprehensive £55.92/mo.
- Age 40: core £40.55/mo; comprehensive £71.88/mo.
- Age 50: core £56.26/mo; comprehensive £95.71/mo.
- Age 60: core £80.96/mo; comprehensive £138.52/mo.
- Age 70: core £126.88/mo; comprehensive £214.09/mo.
The sample is for one non-smoking customer in an OX postcode, with a guided hospital list and a standard excess (typically £250). Core cover includes inpatient and day-patient treatment, full cancer cover and virtual GP access. Comprehensive cover adds outpatient consultations and diagnostic tests. Which? reports LifeSearch's quote assumptions and June 2026 analysis.
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Last updated: 4 October 2026. Private-care use figures are from a Savanta poll of adults in England fielded 31 October–7 November 2025; the comparison is with Healthwatch England's 2023 survey. They do not measure PMI ownership.