Going Private 2025: What the UK’s surprising shift to private healthcare really means

The private healthcare surge is coming

A record 71% of people in the UK would now consider using private healthcare if they needed treatment, a dramatic rise from just 64% two years ago. This isn’t just a trend among the wealthy or the middle-aged; it’s a surge across all regions, ages and social groups. Even among the over-65s – historically the most loyal NHS users – 63% are now open to going private.

So, what’s fuelling this? It’s not just NHS waiting lists (though 46% cite this as their main reason), but a new appetite for flexibility, convenience and a sense of control over their care. The desire for personalised treatment is up sharply, and more people are accessing private care simply because their employer offers insurance.

Workplace healthcare is the new essential benefit

Move over unlimited holiday – there’s a new favourite work perk in town. Perhaps the most profound change is the expectation that healthcare coverage should be a standard workplace benefit.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of people now want all employers to offer private healthcare and 70% of young adults would be more likely to apply for a job if it included private insurance. This could redefine employee benefits in the UK, shifting private healthcare from a luxury to a basic expectation. This move could have huge implications for workforce wellbeing, recruitment and retention.

Almost 60% of people who have used private healthcare did so using insurance, which is up from less than half just two years ago. Among 18-24-year-olds, usage of insurance for private healthcare has nearly doubled since 2023.

The new generation wants private GPs

Young adults are rewriting the rules: Half of 18-24-year-olds who have gone private did so to see a GP, compared to just 13% of over-65s. For older people, private care is more often about operations and specialist procedures. This generational divide signals a fundamental change in how the next wave of patients wants to access primary care: fast, direct and on their own terms.

Attitudes are changing, and fast

Not that long ago, private healthcare was seen as the ‘other’ option. Now, 58% of the public has a positive view of private care (up from 51% in 2023), and among those who’ve actually used it, that figure jumps to 80%.

Perhaps even more telling is that 88% of private patients think the experience was worth the money, whether they paid themselves or through insurance. The sector’s strengths – speed, reliability and fewer cancelled appointments – are now seen as essential, not just ‘nice to have.’

Cost remains a major barrier and source of confusion

 Despite this surge in interest, cost is still the biggest barrier. More than half of those who wouldn’t consider private healthcare say it’s simply unaffordable. Yet only 37% of the public feel familiar with what private care actually costs and their estimates for complex procedures are wildly inaccurate.

This knowledge gap is critical: If private providers want to broaden their reach, greater transparency and education on costs and payment options is essential.

What does this all mean?

The boundaries between public and private healthcare are blurring, and the UK public is more open than ever to new ways of accessing care. The challenge for all involved is to ensure that this shift leads to better, fairer and more transparent healthcare for everyone.