TL;DR
As an FCA-authorised expert with over 900,000 policies arranged for our clients, WeCovr provides insight into the real cost of private medical insurance in the UK. This guide explores the significant expenses of self-funding treatment and explains how having the right private health cover can safeguard your well-being and your wallet. WeCovr explains the real cost of paying for treatment privately and how PMI can protect your finances The UK is fortunate to have the National Health Service (NHS), a cornerstone of our society providing care to millions.
Key takeaways
- Speed of Access: The ability to see a specialist and receive a diagnosis or treatment in days or weeks, rather than many months.
- Choice and Control: Patients can often choose their consultant, the hospital for their treatment, and schedule procedures at a time that suits them.
- Comfort and Privacy: Private hospitals typically offer private en-suite rooms, more flexible visiting hours, and enhanced menu choices, creating a less stressful environment for recovery.
- Access to Specialist Drugs and Treatments: Some advanced drugs or therapies may not be available on the NHS due to cost constraints but are covered by comprehensive PMI policies.
- Private GP Appointment: While many still use their NHS GP for a referral, a private GP appointment for a faster consultation can cost between £80 and £200.
As an FCA-authorised expert with over 900,000 policies arranged for our clients, WeCovr provides insight into the real cost of private medical insurance in the UK. This guide explores the significant expenses of self-funding treatment and explains how having the right private health cover can safeguard your well-being and your wallet.
WeCovr explains the real cost of paying for treatment privately and how PMI can protect your finances
The UK is fortunate to have the National Health Service (NHS), a cornerstone of our society providing care to millions. However, with growing pressures and lengthening waiting lists, a significant number of people are now considering private healthcare for faster access to specialists and treatment.
While the idea of skipping the queue is appealing, it comes with a crucial question: what is the actual cost? Paying for private treatment out-of-pocket, known as 'self-pay', can be prohibitively expensive. This is where private medical insurance (PMI) becomes a vital financial tool, providing a predictable and manageable way to access the best of private care when you need it most.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down the true costs of self-pay healthcare in the UK and demonstrate how a robust PMI policy can offer peace of mind.
Why Are More Britons Turning to Private Healthcare?
The shift towards private healthcare isn't just about luxury; it's increasingly about necessity and control. According to recent data from NHS England, the number of patients on waiting lists for routine treatments remains at a historic high, with many waiting over 18 weeks, and some significantly longer (NHS England, 2025).
This has created a powerful incentive for individuals to seek alternatives. The primary drivers include:
- Speed of Access: The ability to see a specialist and receive a diagnosis or treatment in days or weeks, rather than many months.
- Choice and Control: Patients can often choose their consultant, the hospital for their treatment, and schedule procedures at a time that suits them.
- Comfort and Privacy: Private hospitals typically offer private en-suite rooms, more flexible visiting hours, and enhanced menu choices, creating a less stressful environment for recovery.
- Access to Specialist Drugs and Treatments: Some advanced drugs or therapies may not be available on the NHS due to cost constraints but are covered by comprehensive PMI policies.
The Self-Pay Minefield: What Does Private Treatment Actually Cost?
When you choose to self-fund your private healthcare, you are responsible for every single cost associated with your treatment journey. These costs can escalate quickly and often include more than just the headline price of the surgery itself.
Let's break down the typical expenses you would face.
Phase 1: Diagnosis - Consultations and Scans
Before any treatment can happen, you need a diagnosis. This initial stage alone can run into thousands of pounds.
- Private GP Appointment: While many still use their NHS GP for a referral, a private GP appointment for a faster consultation can cost between £80 and £200.
- Initial Consultant Appointment: This is your first meeting with a specialist. Depending on the specialism and location, expect to pay £150 to £350.
Following this, your consultant will likely require diagnostic tests to confirm a diagnosis. The costs for these are significant.
| Diagnostic Test | Typical Cost Range (2025) | What It's For |
|---|---|---|
| MRI Scan | £400 – £1,500 | Detailed images of soft tissues, joints, brain, spine |
| CT Scan | £500 – £1,200 | Cross-sectional images for bones, organs, blood vessels |
| Ultrasound | £300 – £700 | Examining internal organs, pregnancy, muscle injuries |
| X-Ray | £100 – £300 | Looking at bones and some internal structures |
| Endoscopy / Colonoscopy | £1,500 – £2,800 | Investigating the digestive tract |
| Comprehensive Blood Tests | £200 – £800+ | Checking for a wide range of markers for health issues |
Source: Analysis of UK private hospital price lists, 2025.
Just to get a diagnosis for persistent knee pain, you could easily face a bill of over £1,000 (£250 for the consultant + £750 for an MRI) before even discussing treatment options.
Phase 2: Treatment - The Cost of Common Surgical Procedures
This is where the costs become truly substantial. Most private hospitals offer 'package prices' for common procedures, which bundle the main costs together. However, these packages can vary in what they include.
Here is a breakdown of estimated self-pay costs for some of the most common private surgical procedures in the UK.
| Surgical Procedure | Average Self-Pay Cost (2025) | Potential Range | What It Typically Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Replacement | £13,500 | £11,000 – £16,000+ | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, prosthesis, hospital stay, initial physio |
| Knee Replacement | £14,000 | £12,000 – £17,000+ | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, prosthesis, hospital stay, initial physio |
| Cataract Surgery (per eye) | £2,800 | £2,200 – £4,000+ | Surgeon fees, lens implant, facility fee, one follow-up |
| Hernia Repair | £4,000 | £3,000 – £5,500+ | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, hospital stay (if needed), mesh |
| Gallbladder Removal | £6,500 | £5,500 – £8,000+ | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, keyhole surgery, hospital stay |
| ACL Reconstruction | £7,500 | £6,000 – £9,500+ | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, implant, initial physio, hospital stay |
| Tonsillectomy | £3,500 | £3,000 – £4,500+ | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, overnight stay, medication |
Source: Data compiled from major UK private hospital groups and health economic reports, 2025.
Phase 3: The Unseen Costs - Cancer Treatment
The costs associated with a cancer diagnosis are the most daunting of all. While the NHS provides excellent cancer care, private treatment can offer access to newer drugs, targeted therapies, or different oncologists. Self-funding this is beyond the reach of all but the very wealthy.
- Chemotherapy: A single cycle can cost between £2,000 and £10,000, and a full course of treatment often involves multiple cycles. Total costs can easily exceed £50,000.
- Radiotherapy (illustrative): A standard course can cost £15,000 to £30,000.
- Targeted Therapies & Immunotherapy (illustrative): These cutting-edge drugs are extremely expensive, often costing £5,000 to £15,000 per month, with total treatment costs potentially running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
These figures illustrate why comprehensive cancer cover is one of the most valuable components of any private medical insurance UK policy.
A Real-Life Scenario: The True Cost of a Sports Injury
Let's imagine a scenario to make these numbers tangible.
Meet Sarah, a 42-year-old marketing manager who enjoys playing netball. During a match, she twists her knee badly.
-
NHS Route: Her GP refers her to an NHS musculoskeletal service. The waiting list for an initial assessment is 12 weeks, and the list for a subsequent MRI is a further 8 weeks. The waiting list for surgery, if needed, is estimated at 40 weeks. Sarah can't afford to be in pain and immobile for nearly a year.
-
Self-Pay Route: Sarah decides to pay for private treatment.
- Illustrative estimate: Initial Consultation with a private orthopaedic surgeon: £280
- Illustrative estimate: MRI Scan to diagnose the injury: £750
- Diagnosis: A complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
- Illustrative estimate: Follow-up Consultation to discuss surgery: £180
- Illustrative estimate: ACL Reconstruction Surgery (package price): £7,800
- Illustrative estimate: Post-Operative Physiotherapy (12 sessions at £70 each): £840
Total Self-Pay Cost for Sarah: £9,850 (illustrative estimate)
This single injury, a common occurrence, results in a bill equivalent to a new car deposit or a family's life savings. With private medical insurance, her outlay would have been limited to her chosen excess—perhaps just £250. (illustrative estimate)
The Solution: Private Medical Insurance (PMI) Explained
Private Medical Insurance is a policy you pay for—usually via a monthly or annual premium—that covers the cost of private medical treatment for acute conditions that arise after you take out the policy.
This is the most critical point to understand about PMI in the UK.
What PMI Covers (and What It Doesn't)
- Acute Conditions (Covered): These are diseases, illnesses, or injuries that are likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. The examples above—a torn ACL, cataracts, a hernia—are all acute conditions.
- Chronic Conditions (Not Covered): These are long-term conditions that cannot be cured, only managed. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Routine management of these conditions remains with the NHS.
- Pre-existing Conditions (Not Covered on Standard Policies): Any illness or injury you have had symptoms of, or received treatment for, in the years before taking out your policy will typically be excluded. Some insurers may offer to review these exclusions after a set period (usually two years) if you remain symptom-free.
A good PMI broker, like WeCovr, can help you navigate these definitions and find a policy with underwriting that best suits your personal medical history.
How Much Does Private Health Cover Cost?
The cost of a PMI policy is far more manageable than a self-pay medical bill. Premiums are tailored to you and depend on several factors:
- Age: Premiums increase as you get older.
- Location: Treatment costs are higher in certain areas, like Central London, so premiums can be higher there.
- Level of Cover: You can choose from basic plans (covering in-patient treatment only) to comprehensive plans that include out-patient diagnostics, therapies, and extensive cancer care.
- Excess (illustrative): This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. A higher excess (e.g., £500) will result in a lower monthly premium.
- Hospital List: Insurers offer different lists of hospitals. A plan with a nationwide list including premium London hospitals will cost more than one with a more restricted local network.
Here’s a table with sample monthly premiums to give you an idea.
| Age Group | Basic Cover (In-patient only, £500 excess) | Mid-Range Cover (Out-patient diagnostics, £250 excess) | Comprehensive Cover (Full out-patient, therapies, £100 excess) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-year-old | £35 - £50 | £55 - £75 | £80 - £110 |
| 40-year-old | £45 - £60 | £70 - £95 | £100 - £140 |
| 50-year-old | £60 - £85 | £90 - £130 | £140 - £200 |
| 60-year-old | £90 - £130 | £140 - £200 | £200 - £300+ |
Disclaimer: These are illustrative estimates for a non-smoker in good health. Your actual quote will vary.
When you compare a monthly premium of, say, £80 to a potential one-off bill of £14,000 for a knee replacement, the value of private medical insurance becomes crystal clear.
Beyond Treatment: The Added Value of Modern PMI
Today's best PMI providers offer far more than just paying for hospital bills. A modern policy is a complete health and wellness partner. The benefits often include:
- Digital GP Services: 24/7 access to a GP via phone or video call, allowing you to get medical advice and prescriptions without leaving your home.
- Mental Health Support: Many policies now include cover for talking therapies, counselling, and access to mental health support lines, recognising the critical link between mental and physical wellbeing.
- Wellness and Prevention: Insurers often provide rewards for healthy living, such as discounted gym memberships, fitness trackers, and health screenings.
- Expert Second Opinions: The ability to get a world-leading expert to review your diagnosis and treatment plan.
At WeCovr, we go a step further. All our PMI and Life Insurance clients receive complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, to help them stay on top of their health goals. Furthermore, clients who purchase PMI or life cover with us are eligible for exclusive discounts on other insurance products, providing even greater value.
How a PMI Broker Like WeCovr Can Help
Navigating the private medical insurance UK market can be complex. With dozens of providers, policies, and options, how do you find the right one? This is where an independent, expert broker is invaluable.
Using a broker like WeCovr offers several key advantages:
- Impartial, Expert Advice: We are not tied to any single insurer. Our loyalty is to you, the client. We compare the whole market to find the policy that genuinely fits your needs and budget.
- No Extra Cost: Our service is completely free for you. We are paid a commission by the insurer you choose, but this does not affect the price you pay. You get expert advice without any added fees.
- Hassle-Free Process: We do the hard work of comparing policies, reading the small print, and explaining the differences in clear, simple terms.
- Claims Support: Should you need to make a claim, we can offer guidance and assistance, helping to make a stressful time a little easier.
With consistently high customer satisfaction ratings, WeCovr is committed to finding you the best possible protection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Does private medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
2. Is cancer treatment covered by private health insurance?
3. What is an 'excess' on a health insurance policy?
4. Can I choose my own hospital and specialist with PMI?
Protect Your Health and Your Finances Today
The costs of paying for private healthcare yourself are immense and unpredictable. A single diagnosis or injury could have a devastating impact on your financial stability.
Private medical insurance offers a smart, affordable, and predictable way to ensure you can access first-class medical care exactly when you need it, without the financial worry.
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our expert advisors will compare the UK's leading insurers to find the perfect cover for you and your family.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics (ONS): Mortality, earnings, and household statistics.
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA): Insurance and consumer protection guidance.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI): Life insurance and protection market publications.
- HMRC: Tax treatment guidance for relevant protection and benefits products.
