The UK’s private medical insurance (PMI) market is experiencing a surge in claims, particularly for diagnostic tests and scans, as people seek to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists. According to data from Howden, diagnostic tests and scans are the most common reason for claims across all age groups, except for those over 65. This trend is driven by the ongoing NHS waiting list crisis, with 7.31 million people waiting for treatment, including 1.7 million waiting for diagnostic tests.<\/p>\n
The data, which analyzed claims from 2,000 people, found that mental health services are a key concern for younger people, with those aged 18-24 and 45-54 making the most claims for mental health support. Jon Carroll, executive director at Howden, noted that private medical insurance is not just about covering major illnesses, but also about addressing everyday health concerns and promoting overall wellbeing.<\/p>\n
The data also revealed that male policyholders are more likely to make a claim (47%) than women (38%), and that younger people are almost three and a half times more likely to claim on their policy than older people. In fact, 57% of policyholders under 24 made at least one claim in the past five years, compared to just 17% of those aged 65 and over.<\/p>\n
This trend is reflected in the growing number of people taking out private health insurance, with employer-provided coverage reaching a 30-year high of 4.8 million people, according to data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Health Secretary Wes Streeting has acknowledged the pressure on the NHS and has advocated for PMI as a way to help alleviate the burden. However, he has criticized a proposal by Reform UK to offer tax relief on private healthcare policies, which he claims would cost the country \u00a31.7 billion.<\/p>\n
Overall, the data suggests that private medical insurance is becoming an increasingly important option for people seeking to access timely and effective healthcare, particularly for diagnostic tests and mental health services. As the NHS continues to grapple with waiting list pressures, the demand for private healthcare is likely to continue to grow, with significant implications for the healthcare sector and policymakers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The UK’s private medical insurance (PMI) market is experiencing a surge in claims, particularly for diagnostic tests and scans, as people seek to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists. According to data from Howden, diagnostic tests and scans are the most common reason for claims across all age groups, except for those over 65. This trend […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[31,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-222747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-care","category-insurance"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9ibIB-VWH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":222741,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/26\/reform-uks-private-health-insurance-plan-is-expected-to-come-with-a-price-tag-of-1-7-billion-according-to-remarks-to-be-made-by-wes-streeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":222747,"position":0},"title":"Reform UK’s private health insurance plan is expected to come with a price tag of \u00a31.7 billion, according to remarks to be made by Wes Streeting.","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The UK's Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, is set to criticize Reform UK's policy of offering tax relief on private health insurance, estimating that it could cost the country \u00a31.7 billion. Streeting will make the claim at a conference organized by the Fabian Society, a socialist thinktank aligned with the Labour\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222699,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/19\/california-bill-aims-to-rein-in-mental-health-coverage-denials-that-leave-kids-without-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":222747,"position":1},"title":"California bill aims to rein in mental health coverage denials that leave kids without care","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"California is facing a mental health crisis, particularly among its young people. A recent study found that 94% of those surveyed between the ages of 14 and 25 reported struggling with mental health challenges, and one-third rated their mental health as fair or poor. However, accessing mental health care is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222774,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/02\/09\/the-rising-cost-of-health-care-is-a-complex-issue-with-multiple-contributing-factors-some-of-the-key-reasons-includeadvancements-in-medical-technology-new-treatments-medications-and-equipment\/","url_meta":{"origin":222747,"position":2},"title":"The rising cost of health care is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. Some of the key reasons include:\n\n\nAdvancements in Medical Technology: New treatments, medications, and equipment are continually being developed, which can drive up costs. These advancements often come with a high price tag, contributing to increased healthcare expenditures.\n\n\nAging Population: As the population ages, there is a greater demand for health care services. Older adults typically require more medical care due to age-related health issues, leading to higher costs.\n\n\nChronic Diseases: The prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity has increased. Managing these conditions often requires ongoing, costly treatments and medications.\n\n\nAdministrative Costs: The healthcare system involves a significant amount of administrative work, including billing, insurance claims, and regulatory compliance. These tasks are costly and contribute to the overall expense of healthcare.\n\n\nPharmaceutical Prices: The cost of prescription medications has risen significantly. New and innovative drugs, especially those for rare or complex conditions, can be very expensive.\n\n\nDefensive Medicine: To avoid potential lawsuits, healthcare providers may order additional tests or procedures, which can drive up costs without necessarily improving patient outcomes.\n\n\nInsurance and Payment Systems: The way healthcare is financed, including insurance premiums, deductibles, and copays, can make it inaccessible or unaffordable for many people, affecting the overall cost landscape.\n\n\nHospital and Healthcare Facility Costs: The cost of maintaining and operating hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including staff salaries, equipment, and supplies, contributes to the overall expense of healthcare.\n\n\nRegulatory Compliance: Healthcare providers must comply with a myriad of regulations, which can be costly in terms of time, personnel, and resources.\n\n\nLack of Transparency and Competition: In some areas, limited competition among healthcare providers and a lack of price transparency can lead to higher costs, as consumers may not be able to make informed decisions based on price and quality.","author":"Team Small News","date":"February 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The rising cost of health insurance in the United States is a pressing concern, with premiums for employer-sponsored insurance expected to increase by 9% in 2026. Public spending on Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare is also surging. However, this increase is not due to excessive profits among insurers or hospitals, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222763,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/31\/chola-ms\/","url_meta":{"origin":222747,"position":3},"title":"Chola MS","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Medical emergencies can arise at any moment, disrupting life and finances. Modern family health insurance plans have evolved to provide comprehensive coverage that goes beyond just hospital stays. These plans now offer advanced features that cater to the realities of life, providing benefits that matter when time, money, and clear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care"","block_context":{"text":"Care","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/care\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222664,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/14\/aviva-india-has-launched-a-preventive-care-program-aimed-at-supporting-rural-communities-in-uttarakhand-as-reported-by-the-garhwal-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":222747,"position":4},"title":"Aviva India has launched a Preventive Care Program aimed at supporting rural communities in Uttarakhand, as reported by the Garhwal Post.","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Aviva India, a leading insurance company, has launched a Preventive Care Program to support rural communities in Uttarakhand. The program aims to provide healthcare services and promote health awareness among the rural population, particularly in the Garhwal region. The initiative is part of Aviva India's corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Aviva Life Insurance"","block_context":{"text":"Aviva Life Insurance","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/aviva-life-insurance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":222762,"url":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/2026\/01\/31\/chief-ministers-health-insurance-scheme-reveals-that-kidney-and-heart-treatments-are-the-most-common-claims-in-chennai\/","url_meta":{"origin":222747,"position":5},"title":"Chief Minister’s health insurance scheme reveals that kidney and heart treatments are the most common claims in Chennai.","author":"Team Small News","date":"January 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme in Tamil Nadu has reported that treatment for kidney and heart diseases are the most common claims under the scheme. According to data from the Tamil Nadu State Health Systems Project, dialysis is the most opted procedure, followed by angiography-stenting and cardiac bypass surgery.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Insurance"","block_context":{"text":"Insurance","link":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/category\/insurance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222747\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallnews.in\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}