What price would you put on faster access to treatment?

 The NHS Is Fighting Back, But the Wait Is Still Real

The NHS has just had its best year on record for elective care, with waiting lists at a 3.5-year low and the number of year-long waiters almost halved. But the median wait to start treatment still sits at 11.9 weeks. Well above the pre-pandemic norm of 7.2 weeks. Around 100,000 people are still waiting more than a year for the treatment they need. That gap is exactly why more people than ever are turning to private medical insurance. Not to abandon the NHS, but to buy themselves certainty, choice, and speed when it matters.

So, What Does It Actually Cost?

Here’s the number most people get wrong: private medical insurance for a single adult on a comprehensive plan averages just £79.59 a month in 2026—less than most phone contracts. Couples pay around £145.77, and a family of four sits at £166.52. Young, healthy non-smokers can find entry-level cover from as little as £28 a month. Want it cheaper still? Bump up your excess, and you could cut your premium by 20% or more, without sacrificing the cover that matters.

Why Premiums Keep Climbing (and How to Outsmart It)

No sugar-coating this one: UK medical insurance premiums have been rising faster than general inflation, with private medical cost inflation running at 8–12% a year. Expect 6–12% increases in renewal rates in 2026 and 2027 if you do nothing.

The fix? Don’t just nod along and pay your renewal. Reviewing your policy every two to three years, and genuinely comparing the market, can claw back a real chunk of that drift. Just one rule: talk to an adviser before you switch, because changing insurer can affect how pre-existing conditions are treated on a new policy.

What’s In and What’s Out

PMI is built for acute conditions: the things that come on suddenly and respond well to treatment, like a hernia, cataracts, or a new injury. Expect cover for private consultations, diagnostics, surgery and inpatient stays.

What it won’t touch: chronic, ongoing conditions like diabetes or asthma, anything pre-existing, or A&E emergencies. That’s still the NHS’s job. Want mental health, dental or optical thrown in? Most insurers offer it as an add-on, typically for an additional 10–15% of your premium.

Paying more than you should? Or not sure if PMI is even worth it for you? We’ll compare the whole market for you, for free, and find cover that fits your life and your budget. Get in touch today. It costs nothing to find out.

Sources:

• The NHS Is Fighting Back — But the Wait Is Still Real: NHS England, May 2026; BMA NHS Backlog Data Analysis
• So, What Does It Actually Cost? myTribe Insurance Experts, 2026 Pricing Research
• Why Premiums Keep Climbing (and How to Outsmart It): Simple Protection, Average Cost of Private Health Insurance UK 2026
• What’s In — and What’s Out: WeCovr, Average Cost of Private Health Insurance in the UK 2026