The Benefits of Private Medical Insurance 

The NHS is under ever-increasing pressure. August 2024 figures showed that the total waiting list for NHS treatments is now 7.64 million people¹. Only 58.3% of patients had been waiting less than the NHS’s 18-week constitutional target for non-urgent treatment (i.e. the length of time that you will typically wait to see a consultant).

It’s not just hospital treatments that are taking longer. NHS GPs are now responsible for increasing numbers of patients and that could mean it takes more time to get an appointment if you have a health worry. In September 2024, a record-high of 63.57 million patients² were registered with GP practices in England. A full-time equivalent NHS GP is now responsible for an average of 2,273 patients, an increase of over 17% since 2015.

Seeing a doctor promptly may be the difference between resolving a medical problem quickly and risking more complex conditions, longer-term treatment or worse outcomes. For example, Cancer Research estimates³ that almost everyone diagnosed with Stage 1 (the earliest stage) of breast cancer will survive after five years. Someone who is diagnosed at Stage 4 (the most advanced stage) only has around a 30% chance of survival after five years. Getting answers quickly may give you greater peace of mind and may help you reduce your health worries sooner. 

Some PMI policies let you see a GP at short notice, often with the choice of in-person, phone-based or virtual/video call appointments to suit you and your lifestyle.

You might even be able to manage your healthcare from a different starting point. For example, some policies give you access to a specialist straight away, depending on your condition or symptoms, rather than having to wait for a GP referral. 

It’s your healthcare, so it should be your choice when and where you receive treatment. Rather than being allocated a fixed date for a non-urgent procedure or hospital visit, private healthcare through a PMI policy gives you greater control over when your care happens. That means if you want to plan an operation around holidays or family events, you’re free to do so without dropping to the back of the list or out of the system completely. 

You may even be able to choose the hospital you want for treatment, and sometimes the consultant you want to see. 

If you have to go into hospital – either overnight, as a day case or as an outpatient – a PMI policy will usually give you access to a private hospital. 

You’ll get your own room to give you the space you need to recover. You might get food menu choices designed specifically to support your health condition, which may help you to get your appetite back and return to health more quickly. 

Without the pressure of NHS targets⁴, GPs and doctors may be able to spend more time with you. They can explain what’s happening during your treatment or set your mind at rest if you have any concerns about your health or hospital stay. 

More flexible visiting hours may make it easier for loved ones to visit.  Sometimes partners might even be able to stay overnight, giving both of you the comfort of a familiar face and as much time together as possible. 

Private health providers can choose what type and range of treatments they offer⁵, rather than being restricted to drugs approved for use in the NHS by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. That means you could have access to cutting-edge practices such as genetic testing, experience technology including newer, more accurate scanners⁶, or be treated with new therapies. This may result in faster diagnosis, more personalised treatments and getting you back to full health. 

Everyone has their own set of health priorities, so everyone will want something different from their PMI policy. For example, you might want other family members to experience the same quality and flexibility of care that you enjoy. Or, depending on your needs, you might choose to change the excess you pay, reconfigure the range of conditions that your policy covers, or add in options such as an NHS treatment window for certain conditions.

There is a PMI policy to suit everyone. At Mercer Marsh Benefits, we can help you find the cover that suits you, giving you the best possible experience at times when you need it most. 

Contact us now to speak to one of the team who will be happy to help you on 0800 031 8152, or email us at Personalhealthcare@mercermarshbenefits.com.  

Footnotes

1.https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/10/pressure-on-ae-continues-with-1-2-million-extra-attendances-so-far-this-year/

2.https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/pressures-in-general-practice-data-analysis

3.https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/spot-cancer-early/why-is-early-diagnosis-important

4.https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/private-practice/setting-up-in-private-practice/setting-up-as-a-private-gp

5.https://www.nice.org.uk/about/nice-communities/nice-and-the-public/making-decisions-about-your-care/information-for-the-public-on-medicines

6.https://www.laingbuissonnews.com/healthcare-markets-content/news-healthcare-markets-content/nuffield-among-first-to-offer-new-scanning-technology/