Self pay private healthcare admissions reached a record 77,000 in the first quarter of 2026, while insured admissions fell slightly from last year's peak, according to PHIN data.

Interest in 'private health insurance' rose by 120%, and searches about costs went up by 1,100%, The Exeter reports.

Healthcode processed 3.2 million invoices for private healthcare providers in Q2 2026.

33% of UK adults are not confident that the NHS could provide them with sufficient care, and 43% accessed private healthcare in the last six months, The Exeter...

The latest figures mark the fifth consecutive year of growth for PMI-funded admission levels as NHS waiting lists fall by 137,000.

There were 953,000 private health admissions in 2025, according to the Private Healthcare Information Network.

Healthcode claims that Q1 2026 was one of the busiest in its history, with over 50,000 PMI invoice volumes per day.

Bupa’s Healthy Workforce, Healthy Economy paper found that private medical insurance (PMI) is estimated to save the NHS £4.2bn. 

Healthcare benefits are becoming an increasingly integral part of benefits packages as pressure on the NHS continues to rise.

Diagnostic tests and scans are the top reason for Private Medical Insurance (PMI) claims, while mental health remains a concern for younger people.