Half of 35-44yrs expecting to use private healthcare in the coming year, new research shows

Private healthcare is increasingly being seen as “essential” for younger working-age people, new research has found, with half of 35–44 year olds expecting to pay for treatment in the coming year.

The Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN)’s new “Going Private 2025” report has found that while previously those under 30 have been most likely to consider using private healthcare, this openness to paying for treatment is now spreading to older groups. The 35-44 year old cohort are now the most likely to say they will use private healthcare, with 49% of this group saying they are expecting to use private healthcare within the next 12 months – a jump of ten percentage points in just the last year. This compares to 4 in 10 of 18-24 year olds who are expecting to use private health in the coming year and one third of 45-64 year olds.

Overall the report – which takes a comprehensive look at public attitudes and behaviours around private healthcare – has found that “going private” is becoming increasingly normalised across all parts of society with over 7 in 10 people (71%) of the population now saying they would consider using private healthcare, a jump of almost 10% in two years.

This openness spans across all regions – from 64% of the population of Yorkshire and Humberside to 76% of those living in the West Midlands saying they would consider paying for treatment. Moreover, the research – conducted by polling agency Public First – shows growing willingness to use private healthcare across all socio-economic groups. Seven in 10 people working in skilled manual occupations (“C2 grade”) and six in ten unskilled manual workers (“DE” Grades) would consider private healthcare – a jump of 6% and 10% respectively in the last two years.

While the challenges in accessing NHS appointments continues to be a key motivator for going private (cited by almost half of people who have paid for treatment), one in four people now say they went private because they have Private Medical Insurance with the same proportion stating it was to get more personalised care – suggesting flexibility and convenience offered by private healthcare providers is becoming just as important as the fast access they provide.

IHPN’s research also found people are increasingly looking to their employers for access to private healthcare – almost two thirds (62%) of people believe that all workplaces should offer private healthcare as part of their employee benefits package. This is a sentiment felt particularly strongly amongst young people with almost seven in ten 18-24 year olds saying they would be more likely to apply for a new job if it offered private health insurance.

Overall, patient satisfaction with going private remains very high with almost nine in ten people who have accessed private healthcare – whether through insurance or having paid for it themselves – saying it was value for money.

David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said:

“Now in its third year, our latest “Going Private” survey continues to show a growing openness amongst all parts of society to using private healthcare, with working aged adults viewing it as particularly vital in accessing the speedy and high-quality care they need.

“Whilst a decade or two ago it may have been seen as the preserve of the “rich”, it’s now clear that private healthcare is becoming ever more relevant to people’s everyday lives, with the increasing numbers of employers who are providing private medical insurance to their staff proving a particular driver in encouraging more people to “go private”.

“It’s of course hugely welcome to see the overwhelming majority of people who use private healthcare saying it represented value for money, and with a significant majority of people saying that all workplaces should offer private healthcare as part of their employee benefits package, there is an ever clearer role that employers could play in making it easier for people to access the healthcare they need.”

Patrick Parkin, Head of Health, Care and Life Sciences at Burges Salmon, who supported the research said:

“This year’s Going Private report paints a positive picture for the sector, providing clear evidence that people of all ages are more likely than ever to choose private healthcare for a variety of reasons, including accessibility, personalisation, and value.

“However, there is an ongoing need to help people in the UK understand how they can easily access private healthcare. The sector will need to communicate this clearly, so that in years to come individuals will, by default, consider the full range of service options that are available to them.”