The latest data from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) shows that once again record levels of people are turning to the independent sector for their healthcare. In Quarter 1 (January to March) 2024 there were more private hospital admissions (238,000) than in any previous quarter on record. An unprecedented number of these were paid for using private medical insurance, rather than being funded directly by the patient (known as self-pay).

An increased number of patients in every age group (except 70-79 year-olds) used insurance to pay for their procedure, compared to the same quarter in 2023. However, the biggest increases came in the 20-29 and 30-39 year-old age groups which were both up by 13%.

Richard Wells, Director of Healthcare Informatics at PHIN, said: “Traditionally, the biggest users of private healthcare are those in the 50-59 age group and that hasn’t changed. However, these latest figures suggest that younger generations are also giving more thought to their health and taking out private medical insurance to fund the elective procedures they might require.

“This may because of an increase in the number of employers offering insurance as an incentive, insurers marketing their products in different ways or due to worries about NHS waiting lists and how long it may take to be seen.”

There was a slightly bigger increase in male patients (7%) using insurance than female one (6%) in Q1 2024 (compared to Q1 2023), but women continue to be the primary users of private healthcare and insurance.

Richard added: “It’s quite a small difference between the sexes, but it would be good to think that men are also considering their health and the plans they need to make, as often men’s health can be something of an afterthought. Our website contains information to help inform patients of their healthcare choices.”

Self-pay admissions have been largely static over the past two years, and continue to be well above (41%) pre-pandemic levels.

More information on the use of the private healthcare sector in the UK is available at: www.phin.org.uk