We’ve looked into the latest health insurance statistics in the UK, such as how health insurance costs have increased over time, how they fare compared to the most popular insurances and why health insurance might be worth looking further into.
Health insurance statistics UK: Highlights
An estimated 22% of UK adults had health insurance at the end of 2022, around 11.7 million people. This is an 83% increase from 2021, when only around 6.4 million people (12%) had health insurance.
A typical health insurance premium for a family of 2 adults and 2 children is between £700 and £1,800 per year.
Nearly 3 in 5 (57%) people chose private healthcare so they could be seen more quickly.
A quarter (25%) of people accessing private healthcare do so through a healthcare scheme at work.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of people paying for private healthcare dip into their savings to do so.
Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) of people who access private healthcare borrow money to cover the costs.
How many people have health insurance?
An estimated 11.7 million people (22%) have health insurance in the UK in 2022, an 83% increase from 2021, when only 6.4 million people (12%) had health insurance. This increase may be due to the strain on the NHS following the coronavirus pandemic.
A typical health insurance premium for a family of 2 adults and 2 children is between £700 and £1,800 per year.
A 2023 poll of UK adults who chose private healthcare found that nearly 3 in 5 (57%) did this so they could be seen more quickly. A further 19% indicated that private healthcare provided a better service than the NHS. For around 1 in 10 people (11%), private healthcare was the only option available.
Nearly half (48%) of people who chose private healthcare used it for non-emergency appointments. Around 1 in 5 people (20%) use private healthcare for routine appointments, whilst 17% of people use private healthcare for a minor illness or injury.
Interestingly, only 1 in 10 (10%) of those who use private healthcare do so for emergency appointments.
Around 29% of people pay for private healthcare using their disposable income, whilst almost a quarter (24%) use their savings. Meanwhile, a quarter (25%) of people accessing private healthcare do so through a healthcare scheme at work. Nearly 1 in 6 (14%) people pay for private health insurance for themselves.
Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) of people who access private healthcare borrow money to cover the costs, with some asking family or friends for money (6%), whilst others take out a loan (2%).
Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio
Danny's expertise
Danny has written 347 Finder guides across topics including:
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We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
