Younger Britons Are Driving a New Private Healthcare Boom

The face of private healthcare in the UK is changing, with younger adults increasingly turning to private medical cover and treatment as concerns about NHS waiting times continue to grow.

For many years, private healthcare was often associated with older, wealthier patients seeking elective procedures. 

However, new research suggests a significant generational shift is underway, with younger adults now playing a major role in the growth of the private healthcare sector.

A recent survey by Benenden Health found that 51% of people aged between 18 and 34 consider private health cover appealing. Half of those surveyed said they would consider using private healthcare if NHS waiting times were too long, while 32% said they would actively prefer private healthcare for their medical needs.

By comparison, only 14% of people aged over 55 expressed the same preference.

The findings suggest that younger generations are increasingly motivated by access to care rather than major medical procedures. Fast appointments, quicker diagnoses and shorter treatment times are becoming key factors in healthcare decisions.

The trend is also reflected in industry figures. Data from the Association of British Insurers shows that 6.5 million people held private health insurance in 2024, representing a 4% increase on the previous year and marking the second consecutive record high in more than three decades of reporting.

Of those covered, 4.8 million received insurance through workplace schemes, highlighting the growing role employers are playing in supporting staff wellbeing and healthcare access.

At the same time, insurers processed a record £4 billion worth of private medical insurance claims during 2024, an increase of 13% year-on-year.

The private healthcare sector has continued to expand throughout 2025 and 2026. According to the Private Healthcare Information Network, there were 242,500 private hospital admissions during the first quarter of 2026, making it the second-busiest quarter ever recorded.

Interestingly, insured admissions increased while self-funded admissions declined, suggesting more patients are relying on health insurance rather than paying directly for treatment.

Healthcare marketing specialists at MediWorks Digital believe this trend has important implications for private clinics. Younger patients are more likely to research providers online, compare reviews and examine websites before making contact.

Meanwhile, NHS pressures remain significant. England's elective treatment waiting list stood at approximately 7.1 million in spring 2026, well above pre-pandemic levels.

As healthcare expectations evolve, younger generations appear increasingly willing to explore private options in pursuit of faster access to care, signalling a major shift in the UK's healthcare landscape.

https://mediworksdigital.co.uk

Private Medical Insurance covers all stages of Ovarian Cancer, say health insurance quote providers ActiveQuote.com

March is Ovarian Cancer Month, raising awareness about this often misunderstood disease. Whilst 6,700 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK, many are unaware of whether private medical insurance will fully cover all stages of the condition, from diagnosis through to recovery.

Cancer of the ovary is the fifth most common cancer among women, and can affect women of any age. As the symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague- pain in the pelvis, persistent bloating and difficulty eating- it has traditionally been known as the ‘silent killer’.

Advanced ovarian cancer may not be treatable, but early detection of ovarian cancer offers a 90% cure rate. All private medical insurance policies offer cover for diagnostic tests and scans, although budget policies may have an annual limit on the amount you can claim. For women without symptoms who are simply looking for peace of mind, Spire Healthcare offers ovarian cancer screening on a one-off fee basis.

Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will usually need surgery followed by a course of chemotherapy. If specialist cancer treatment is important to you, compare health insurance quotes with full cancer cover. Full cancer cover will cover the cost of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with no monetary or time limits.

Some insurers also cover the costs of drugs not available on the NHS. Avastin has recently been licensed as the first targeted drug for women with advanced ovarian cancer after surgery, but will not be reviewed for use on the NHS until 2013. Aviva, AXA PPP and Bupa have all recently removed limits on their cancer cover and will meet the cost of licensed cancer drugs, including Avastin.

All cancer drugs, including Avastin, are tested in clinical trials prior to being licensed for use. Participants in clinical trials are often among the first to benefit from experimental drugs before they are brought to market. If you want to be covered for taking part in a trial for ovarian cancer treatment, compare health insurance policies with cover for experimental drugs. Aviva will cover experiment treatment in full if there is enough medical information to support its use.

Whilst women with advanced ovarian cancer are now living longer and fuller lives, sometimes palliative care is needed when the cancer is no longer treatable. Chloe Hibbert of health insurance comparison website http://www.activequote.com said: "Private medical insurers differ in their stance on palliative care, so it is important to compare health insurance policies online to make sure you know at what stage your cover will cease. Aviva, Bupa and Exeter Family Friendly cover the cost of palliative care, even if the cancer is incurable."

Scientists do not yet know what causes ovarian cancer, but with a better awareness of symptoms and improved drugs the diagnosis does not have to mean the worst. If you carefully compare health insurance policies you will be able to choose the best treatment the UK has to offer, and gain peace of mind about your future health.

FACTFILE:
ActiveQuote Health Ltd is a health insurance broker, fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) number 501109 as a health insurance intermediary.

ActiveQuote offer free advice on private medical cover in the UK.

NHS Postcode Lottery is Restricting Access to Drugs like Avastin and Abiraterone on the Cancer Drugs Fund

The government Cancer Drugs Fund enables cancer sufferers without private medical cover to benefit from treatment not available on the NHS. However, with a postcode lottery dictating the availability of this service, and with the initiative due to end in 2014, Brits may soon need to look for alternative ways of accessing lifesaving cancer drugs like Avastin, Abiraterone and Yervoy.

The Cancer Drugs Fund was set up in 2010 to give patients without private medical cover the chance to be treated with drugs deemed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as too expensive for the NHS. Patients can apply through their doctors for the funds which are then administered by health authorities across England.

Avastin is one of these drugs available through the Cancer Drugs Fund, licensed for use on breast cancers, colon cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, kidney cancers, lung cancers, ovarian cancer and rectal cancer. Although Avastin is licensed and can be prescribed in the UK, it has not been approved for use on the NHS because it is not considered cost-effective. Consequently, the drug is only available through the Cancer Drugs Fund or through private medical insurance. Self-pay patients would be set back around £21,000 for a course of Avastin.

Abiraterone is another drug available through the Fund. Abiraterone is a hormone based therapy drug which blocks the generation of testosterone in the tumours of men with late-stage prostate cancer. Trials of abiraterone found that it extended a patient’s life by an average of 4 months. Although it was licenced for use in the UK, NICE has decided that the drug is too expensive for use in the NHS in England. Abiraterone is now only available through the Cancer Drugs Fund or private medical insurance. Self-pay patients pay around £3,000 a month for treatment with Abiraterone.

Skin cancer drug Yervoy has also been turned down by NICE for use on the NHS. Yervoy is the first medicine proven to extend the lives of patients with advanced melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. But the four necessary injections of Yervoy cost almost £80,000 per person in total. NICE has concluded that funding the drug would not be a cost effective use of NHS resources. Now, the only way people can be treated with Yervoy is through the Cancer Drugs Fund or through private medical insurance.

Whilst the Cancer Drugs Fund has helped thousands of patients get access to expensive cancer treatment, recent figures show that a postcode lottery is limiting the availability of drugs in certain parts of the country. Each health authority in England is awarded a budget to spend on cancer drugs from the Fund, ranging from around £9million to £30million depending on population size. But the Rarer Cancers Foundation has revealed that in some areas of the country less than one fifth of the money has been spent. In underspent regions, cancer patients are being turned away.

Richard Theo, of health insurance comparison website ActiveQuote.com said: “Rather than relying on the Cancer Drugs Fund for access to drugs like Avastin, Yervoy and Abiraterone you could compare health insurance policies online in order to find a policy that would fund these drugs if required. Private medical insurance complements the service provided by the National Health Service, and would guarantee you treatment with licensed drugs even if they are not approved by NICE.”

And with the Cancer Drugs Fund due to end in 2014, private medical insurance will give you peace of mind about you and your family’s healthcare for years to come.

http://www.activequote.com is the only true health insurance comparison website in the UK.

Confused.com partners with medical insurance comparison website ActiveQuote

Confused.com is pleased to announce the launch of its latest partnership with private medical insurance comparison website ActiveQuote which will power the Confused.com private medical insurance service.

Confused.com recognises that consumers want the best experience when comparing products online. The new partnership with ActiveQuote will strengthen customer’s choice on private health insurance for both themselves and their families.

Private medical insurance has always been seen as a complicated issue; however Confused.com wanted to make this experience for customers as simple as possible, as well as providing them with the best benefits.

Price is not the most important factor with private medical insurance. Low cost policies often exclude important benefits. ActiveQuote's unique online comparison tool allows customers to refine their search with immediate updates to the price instantly shown on the comparison page. Consumers can specify exactly what they want in a policy and the site will remove unsuitable quotes. Every variable can be tailored online, including excess, choosing a different hospital list or adding an option such as dental cover.

Richard Theo, Managing Director of ActiveQuote commented: "We are really excited about the launch of our private medical insurance comparison on Confused.com which is the one of the best known insurance comparison brands in the UK. It is a real endorsement of the quality of user experience and customer service that we have strived to achieve here at ActiveQuote."

Matthew Lloyd, Head of life insurance at Confused.com continues: "We are delighted at the appointment of ActiveQuote as our new partner. For specialist products such as private medical insurance, consumers are looking for an excellent online comparison coupled with excellent off-line advice and we believe that ActiveQuote have proven their leadership in both of these areas."

FACTFILE:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the UK’s biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, car insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Specialist comparisons can be made on products such as over 60 life insurance and classic car insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Compare Health Insurance Online with ActiveQuote.com

With experts warning that the London 2012 Olympics could be a hotbed for diseases from around the world, private medical cover will ensure that you receive the highest level of healthcare if the NHS is put under unmanageable pressure.

A series of reports in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal have recently warned that events like the Olympics have major health impacts for the host nation and for visitors when they return to their own countries.

Mass events have historically proved perfect breeding ground for diseases. The 2008 influenza outbreak during World Youth Day in Australia highlights how viruses like swine flu can quickly spread through crowds of people.

Stampedes are also a risk for the London 2012 Olympics. In 2010, 21 people died and 500 people were injured at the Love Parade in Germany after emergency workers struggled to get through the crowds to treat those crushed in the chaos.

With the threat of infectious diseases, crowd stampedes, food poisoning and heat stroke, the NHS will need to advise foreign visitors on how our health service works to prevent delays in Accident and Emergency departments.

Richard Theo, of health insurance comparison website ActiveQuote, said: “A large public health campaign is being prepared by the Health Protection Agency to help prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases at the London Olympics.

“An advanced surveillance system will be used to collect data from hospitals and the internet to track unusual conditions in real-time.

“But with over 5 million people expected to visit the capital during the Games, it is inevitable that all parts of the NHS will be under increased pressure, including NHS Direct, drop-in clinics, A&E departments and hospital wards.

“We are recommending that all our customers review their private medical cover. New entrants to the world of medical insurance should compare health insurance quotes online as soon as possible, and they might be positively surprised at how little it will cost to protect themselves and their families from these risks.”

Over busy periods the NHS sometimes has to cancel outpatient appointments and elective operations to free up beds. Private medical cover ensures that scheduled operations will not be cancelled over the busy Olympic period. In addition, patients with private medical cover will be treated in a private hospital of their choice, with a lower risk of catching superbugs.

With visitors from 200 separate countries expected to converge on London this summer, compare health insurance online now to make sure you can enjoy the Games with complete peace of mind.

www.activequote.com is a health insurance comparison website and specialist private medical insurance intermediary based in Cardiff, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Confused.com medical insurance comparison now powered by ActiveQuote

Private medical insurance comparison website ActiveQuote is pleased to announce the launch of its latest partnership with Confused.com.

Launched in 2002, Confused.com was the first website in the UK to compare car insurance online. Now, Confused.com is one of the biggest and most popular price comparison services in the UK and generates over one million quotes per month for a wide range of insurance products.

Confused.com recognises that consumers want the best experience when comparing products online. That is why from December 2011 the Confused.com private medical insurance service will be provided by ActiveQuote, the only true medical insurance comparison website in the UK.

ActiveQuote’s technology will power the medical insurance price comparison on Confused.com. This “white label” partnership means that consumers use the ActiveQuote comparison technology on the Confused.com website, with any advice provided by ActiveQuote’s specialist medical insurance consultants.

Matthew Lloyd, of Confused.com said of the new partnership: “We are delighted at the appointment of ActiveQuote as our new partner. For specialist products such as private medical insurance, consumers are looking for an excellent online comparison coupled with excellent off-line advice and we believe that ActiveQuote have proven their leadership in both of these areas.”

Before ActiveQuote launched three years ago it was thought that private medical insurance was too complicated to be compared online. Many aggregators avoid PMI altogether, and the few websites that claim to compare policies do so on a rudimentary level, focusing only on price.

But with private medical insurance, price is not the most important factor. Low cost policies often exclude important benefits. So rather than showing the cheapest policies first, ActiveQuote presents the product closest to the consumer’s budget or renewal premium, with cheaper and more expensive options arranged to the left and right.

ActiveQuote’s unique online comparison tool allows customers to refine their search online, with immediate updates to the price instantly shown on the comparison page. Consumers can specify exactly what they want in a policy and the site will remove unsuitable quotes. Every variable can be tailored online, including excess, choosing a different hospital list or adding an option such as dental cover.

Dr. Richard Theo, Managing Director of ActiveQuote commented: “We are really excited about the launch of our private medical insurance comparison on Confused.com which is the one of the best known insurance comparison brands in the UK. It is a real endorsement of the quality of user experience and customer service that we have strived to achieve here at ActiveQuote.”

ActiveQuote Health Ltd is a specialist private medical insurance intermediary based in Cardiff, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
 
www.activequote.com

Bupa International launches new health insurance video

Bupa International has announced the launch of a new video detailing its international private medical insurance (IPMI) product.

Bupa International, a global health insurance provider which gives its members access to over 7,500 medical facilities around the world, has released the video to show how customers can use its flexible Worldwide Health Options insurance to create a healthcare plan that suits their unique situation and needs. Rather than produce a text-heavy brochure, the company decided to launch a video giving an overview of what the product can offer.

The video gives examples of people who have moved abroad following retirement, individuals who travel around the world for work and families who have relocated to another country. By using characters based on real-life stories, the video conveys the flexibility that the product offers and shows customers how they can tailor their international health insurance to fit their own unique situation.

Customers who purchase Bupa's IPMI can choose as many Worldwide Health Options to add to their cover as they wish, or they can simply stick with the core cover. Options include cover for doctor consultations, medicines, screenings, evacuation and treatment in the United States. Additionally, customers can also apply for cover for pre-existing conditions.

Bupa Worldwide Health Options allows customers to combine modules to create the best solution for each individual or family.

Medical tourism is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the NHS, but figures show that private health insurance may be a cheaper and safer option for UK patients

2.65 million Britons have recently been or are planning to go abroad for medical treatment. The most common elective surgery procedures for such patients include hip replacements, knee replacements and cataract removal.

Most medical tourists go abroad to avoid paying for treatment not available on the NHS. However, if they previously had private medical cover they could have had these procedures done at no extra cost in the UK.

Without medical insurance, paying for a hip replacement privately in the UK can cost as much as £10,000.

Abroad, the procedure itself will cost patients upwards of £3,000. However, the costs of having surgery abroad can add thousands onto this price should any complications arise.

The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding or developing deep vein thrombosis, chances of which are greatly increased by long-haul flights.

Specific complications of hip replacement can include infection, joint dislocation, hip fracture, unstable joints and nerve damage.

Last year, five patients died in NHS hospitals from NDM-1, a new superbug which is thought to have been imported by British health tourists who had surgery in India and in Pakistan.

In addition, on return to the UK, the NHS would not treat minor problems or long term problems related to the surgery.

An alternative option to medical tourism is to compare health insurance quotes. The average health insurance premium for a 30 year old is around £30 a month, a total of  only £360 a year.

An average health insurance premium for a 65 year old is around £70 a month, totalling £840 a year, perhaps lower with a discount scheme.

People with private medical insurance would receive a hip replacement operatio,  without extra cost, in a private hospital of their choice, with a consultant of their choice, also.

Any complications would be fully covered, and they will be treated in a private room with excellent facilities. That £840 could also pay for cancer drugs too expensive for use on the NHS.

Dr Richard Theo, of health insurance comparison site ActiveQuote.com, said: “India, one of the most popular destinations for medical tourists, has 6 physicians, 13 nurses, and 9 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients.

“In contrast, the UK has 27 physicians, 103 nurses and 34 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients. Health conscious patients should compare medical insurance quotes and take advantage of our excellent private healthcare system”.

FACTFILE:

ActiveQuote Health Ltd is a health insurance broker, fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) number 501109 as a health insurance intermediary.

ActiveQuote offer free advice on private medical cover in the UK.

enquiry@health.activequote.com
Tel: 0800 862 0373

Health Insurance Quote Providers ActiveQuote.com Welcome News That Private Health Sector Saves NHS Over £2 Billion

Last year the private medical insurance industry saved the National Health Service an estimated £2.4 billion, new figures have indicated.

In 2010, private health insurers paid out a total £2.8 billion in claims on diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. By their estimate 82% of these claims would otherwise have had to be funded by the NHS.

Furthermore, with the NHS expected to cut £20 billion from its budget in the next four years, the private medical sector could become an even greater financial resource in the future.

Dr Richard Theo of health insurance comparison site ActiveQuote.com commented that the findings demonstrated that the well being of the NHS and that of the PMI industry are not mutually exclusive.

If just 5% more people took out a health insurance policy over the next twelve months, the NHS could save an additional £2.5 billion on last year from its decreasing budget. This extra money could pay for over 2 million hip replacements or 25 million MRI scans.

One NHS sector likely to lose out in the reform is the nursing and midwifery division. The Scottish Government recently projected a 1.7% drop in nursing positions by the end of the financial year, putting nearly 1,000 nurses out of work.

With nursing salaries starting at around £21,000, just 5% more people taking out a health insurance policy could pay the wages of over 118,000 NHS nurses.

The extra £2.5 billion could also be put towards the cost of cancer drugs which the NHS currently cannot afford.

Over 2,000 people die from malignant melanomas each year. Newly licensed drug Yervoy could dramatically increase their life expectancy. But at £75,000 per patient, it may be deemed too expensive for use on the NHS.

Just 5% more people taking out health insurance could save enough to treat 33,000 skin cancer sufferers.

Dr Richard Theo, managing director of ActiveQuote Health, said: “A lot of people are under the misapprehension that the NHS and the private medical insurance industry are working in competition with each other.

“On the contrary, the NHS and the PMI sector increasingly work hand in hand to serve the UK’s health needs. When choosing a health insurance policy you should make sure it complements the service you already receive from the NHS.”

FACTFILE:
ActiveQuote Health Ltd is a health insurance broker, fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) number 501109 as a health insurance intermediary.

ActiveQuote offer free advice on private medical cover in the UK.

enquiry@health.activeqoute.com
 

0800 862 0373

Pruhealth is now Nectar's exclusive healthcare partner

PruHealth customers can now collect up to 200 Nectar points and 10 Vitality points each week when buying £20 worth of healthy foods during the weekly shop at Sainsbury's, under PruHealth's new and exclusive partnership with Nectar, the largest loyalty programme in the UK.

Enhancing PruHealth's existing partnership with Sainsbury's, the innovative insurer that rewards healthy behaviour has become Nectar's exclusive healthcare partner within the programme.

Policyholders with Nectar membership can now receive 10 Nectar points per £1 spent in Sainsbury's on over 1,500 healthy foods. Customers will also be rewarded 1 Vitality point for every £2 spent on healthy foods, which contributes towards discounts with PruHealth's reward partners and cashback on the individual's policy.

Furthermore, Nectar customers wishing to join PruHealth will receive 5,000 Nectar points for taking out a new private medical insurance policy, meaning they could potentially collect up to 15,400 Nectar points in the first year, as well as 520 Vitality points.

Recent findings from PruHealth indicate a third of British adults (33%) want to improve their diets and eat more healthily in 2011, and PruHealth and Nectar are committed to helping their members live a healthy lifestyle.

Dr Katie Tryon at PruHealth commented: "We all know what we should be doing to look after ourselves, but we need encouragement to implement these changes into our lifestyle on an ongoing basis. Incentivising healthy behaviour is our core philosophy and we believe our healthy foods initiative can help drive behavioural change amongst our members. We are extremely excited about the possibilities presented by our new partnership with Nectar and our enhanced relationship with Sainsbury's and look forward to developing further initiatives in the future."

The innovative insurer hopes the rewards offer an attractive incentive for members to eat healthily, while also providing an attractive proposition for new customers as well. One in ten (12%) British adults said receiving discounts for leading a healthy lifestyle would be an incentive to take out private medical insurance.

James Frost, marketing director at Nectar said: "We are really pleased to be part of this innovative partnership. Not only can our collectors now earn points on health insurance through PruHealth but by purchasing the right products at Sainsbury's they can earn points five times faster than usual. We also believe there's a lot more potential to use the Nectar currency to reward other positive lifestyle or behavioural choices in the future."

(EDITOR: Another reason to do your shop at Sainsbury's? An interesting idea, though I personally despise the word incentivise!)