As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr is a leading expert in the UK private medical insurance market. This guide explores the rising interest in private surgery, providing estimated costs for common procedures and explaining how private health cover can offer a vital financial safety net.
WeCovr's guide to the average costs of common private procedures
Navigating healthcare choices can be daunting. With NHS waiting lists reaching record highs, many people in the UK are now looking at private healthcare as a way to get treated faster. But what does it actually cost?
This guide is designed to give you a clear, honest, and realistic overview of private surgery prices in the UK. We'll break down the factors that influence the cost, provide estimated price ranges for common operations, and explain how private medical insurance (PMI) can make this level of care affordable and accessible.
Why are UK residents considering private surgery?
The primary driver behind the surge in people choosing private healthcare is the strain on the National Health Service. While the NHS provides exceptional care, it is currently facing unprecedented demand.
According to the latest data from NHS England, the waiting list for routine consultant-led hospital treatment stands at over 7 million people. For many, waiting months or even years for a procedure like a hip replacement or cataract surgery can mean a significant decline in their quality of life, affecting their ability to work, socialise, and stay active.
Choosing private surgery offers several key advantages:
- Speed: The most significant benefit is bypassing long waiting lists. Diagnosis and treatment can often happen within weeks, not months or years.
- Choice: You can choose your specialist consultant and the hospital where you receive your treatment.
- Convenience: Appointments and surgery dates can be scheduled to fit around your life and work commitments.
- Comfort: Private hospitals often offer private en-suite rooms, more flexible visiting hours, and other amenities that can make your stay more comfortable.
For many, these benefits provide not just physical relief but also invaluable peace of mind.
How much does private surgery cost in the UK? Understanding the variables
There isn't a simple, fixed "price list" for private surgery in the UK. The final bill is a package deal, and the cost can vary dramatically based on a combination of factors. Understanding these variables is the first step to managing your expectations.
Here are the key elements that determine the final cost:
- The Procedure: A complex heart operation will naturally cost far more than a routine cataract removal. The surgeon's time, the equipment needed, and the complexity of the surgery are the biggest cost factors.
- The Hospital: Where you have your surgery matters. Hospitals in Central London and the South East are generally more expensive than those in the North of England, Scotland, or Wales. Renowned, specialist hospitals also command higher prices.
- The Consultant: A leading surgeon with decades of experience and a world-class reputation will charge higher fees than a less experienced consultant.
- Anaesthetist's Fees: This is a separate charge from the surgeon's fee and can vary depending on the length and type of anaesthesia required.
- Diagnostics and Tests: Any pre-operative tests, such as MRI scans, CT scans, X-rays, or blood tests, will be added to your bill.
- Hospital Stay: The cost per night in a private hospital can be several hundred pounds. The longer your recovery requires you to stay, the higher the cost.
- Medication and Consumables: The cost of drugs, dressings, and any implants (like an artificial hip joint or a lens for your eye) are included in the total.
- Post-Operative Care: Follow-up consultations and essential rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy after a knee replacement, also contribute to the final price.
A reputable private hospital will provide you with a "package price" or a detailed estimate upfront, which bundles most of these costs together. However, it's crucial to check what is and isn't included.
UK Private Surgery Price List 2026: An Overview of Common Procedures
To help you understand the potential costs, we've compiled a list of common private procedures with estimated price ranges for 2026.
Important Disclaimer: These figures are estimates based on 2024/2025 market data and projected medical inflation. Prices vary significantly by location and provider. These are "pay-as-you-go" or "self-pay" prices, which you would pay without insurance.
| Procedure | Average Cost (Low End) | Average Cost (High End) | Notes / Typically Includes |
|---|
| Orthopaedics | | | |
| Hip Replacement | £12,500 | £18,000 | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, hospital stay, implant, initial physio. |
| Knee Replacement | £13,000 | £19,500 | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, hospital stay, implant, initial physio. |
| ACL Reconstruction | £6,500 | £10,000 | Day-case or one-night stay, surgeon fees, follow-up care. |
| Carpal Tunnel Release | £1,800 | £3,000 | Outpatient procedure, local anaesthetic, surgeon fees. |
| Ophthalmology | | | |
| Cataract Surgery (per eye) | £2,500 | £4,500 | Surgeon fees, lens implant, follow-up appointment. Premium lenses cost more. |
| General Surgery | | | |
| Hernia Repair (Inguinal) | £3,000 | £5,000 | Day-case procedure, surgeon/anaesthetist fees. |
| Gallbladder Removal | £6,000 | £9,000 | Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, one or two-night stay. |
| Gynaecology | | | |
| Hysterectomy | £7,500 | £12,000 | Cost depends on type (e.g., abdominal vs. laparoscopic), hospital stay. |
| ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) | | | |
| Tonsillectomy (Adult) | £3,500 | £5,500 | Surgeon/anaesthetist fees, typically a one-night stay. |
| Diagnostics | | | |
| MRI Scan (one part) | £400 | £900 | Price varies by location and complexity (e.g., with contrast dye). |
| CT Scan (one part) | £500 | £1,000 | Price varies by location and complexity. |
| Endoscopy / Gastroscopy | £1,500 | £2,500 | Outpatient procedure, includes sedation and consultant fees. |
As you can see, even a relatively minor procedure can cost thousands of pounds. A more serious, unexpected condition requiring major surgery could easily run into tens of thousands, a sum most UK households would struggle to find at short notice.
Can Private Medical Insurance (PMI) cover these costs?
Yes, this is precisely what private medical insurance is for. Instead of facing a daunting bill for a single treatment, you pay a manageable monthly or annual premium to an insurer. In return, if you develop an eligible medical condition after your policy begins, the insurer covers the costs of your private diagnosis and treatment, up to the limits of your policy.
However, it is absolutely essential to understand what standard UK private health cover is designed for.
The Golden Rule: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
Private medical insurance in the UK is designed to cover acute conditions.
- An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include a hernia, cataracts, a broken bone, or appendicitis. Most of the surgical procedures in our price list fall into this category.
PMI is not designed to cover chronic conditions or pre-existing conditions.
- A chronic condition is a disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it needs ongoing or long-term monitoring, requires palliative care, has no known "cure," or is likely to come back. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis. While PMI won't cover the long-term management of these conditions, it may cover acute flare-ups depending on your policy.
- A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury you have had symptoms of, or received advice or treatment for, in the years before you took out the policy (typically the last 5 years). Standard PMI policies exclude these.
This distinction is the single most important concept to grasp when considering private health cover. It’s a safety net for new, curable conditions that arise after you join.
How WeCovr helps you find the right private health cover
The UK PMI market is complex, with dozens of providers and hundreds of policy combinations. Trying to navigate it alone can be overwhelming. That’s where an independent broker like WeCovr comes in.
As an FCA-authorised broker, we are not tied to any single insurer. Our loyalty is to you, the client. Our job is to understand your needs and budget, and then search the market to find the best PMI provider and policy for you.
Here’s how we help:
- Expert, Unbiased Advice: We explain the jargon and help you understand the crucial differences between policies, such as hospital lists, outpatient limits, and underwriting options.
- Whole-of-Market Access: We work with a wide panel of the UK’s leading insurers, giving you a comprehensive view of your options.
- Personalised Comparison: We don't just find the cheapest plan; we find the one with the right value and benefits for your specific circumstances.
- No Cost to You: Our service is completely free for you to use. We receive a commission from the insurer if you decide to proceed with a policy, but this doesn’t affect the premium you pay.
Our expert advisors are here to provide clarity and confidence, ensuring you get the cover that truly protects you.
Factors that affect your private medical insurance premium
The cost of a PMI policy is tailored to you. Insurers calculate your premium based on the level of risk, which depends on several key factors:
- Age: This is the most significant factor. The older you are, the higher the likelihood of needing medical treatment, so premiums increase with age.
- Location: As with surgery costs, insurance premiums are higher if you live in London and the South East, where hospital costs are greater.
- Level of Cover: A comprehensive plan with unlimited outpatient diagnostics and therapies will cost more than a basic plan that only covers surgery and in-patient care.
- Hospital List: Insurers offer different tiers of hospital networks. Choosing a plan with a more limited list of local hospitals, and excluding expensive Central London facilities, can significantly reduce your premium.
- Excess: This is a fixed amount you agree to pay towards the first claim you make in a policy year. Choosing a higher excess (e.g., £250 or £500) will lower your monthly premium.
- Underwriting Type:
- Moratorium Underwriting: This is the most common type. The policy automatically excludes any condition you've had in the 5 years before joining. However, if you remain symptom-free and need no treatment or advice for that condition for 2 continuous years after your policy starts, it may become eligible for cover.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You provide a full medical history when you apply. The insurer assesses it and may place permanent exclusions on specific conditions. This provides certainty from day one but can be more complex to set up.
- Lifestyle: Some insurers offer lower premiums for non-smokers.
A WeCovr advisor can walk you through these options, helping you build a policy that balances comprehensive cover with an affordable premium.
Beyond Surgery: The Added Value of Modern PMI Policies
Today’s private medical insurance is about more than just covering surgery. The best PMI providers now include a wealth of additional benefits designed to support your everyday health and wellbeing, often before you even need to see a specialist.
These valuable perks can include:
- Digital GP Services: Get a GP appointment from your sofa, 24/7. These services, accessible via phone or video call, provide incredible convenience for consultations, getting prescriptions, and onward referrals.
- Mental Health Support: Most leading policies now offer dedicated support for mental health, providing access to a set number of counselling or therapy sessions without needing a GP referral.
- Wellness and Lifestyle Rewards: Many insurers actively encourage a healthy lifestyle by offering discounts on gym memberships, fitness trackers, and health screenings.
- Expert Second Opinions: If you are diagnosed with a serious condition, some policies provide access to a world-leading expert to review your diagnosis and treatment plan.
At WeCovr, we go a step further. When you arrange your health insurance through us, you also get:
- Complimentary access to CalorieHero: Our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app to help you manage your diet and health goals.
- Exclusive Discounts: We can offer you discounts on other types of essential cover, such as life insurance or income protection, when you take out a PMI policy with us.
These benefits add huge day-to-day value and transform your policy from a simple safety net into a proactive tool for managing your health.
Self-Pay vs. Private Medical Insurance: A Comparison
Is it better to save up and pay for surgery if you need it, or invest in an insurance policy? Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide.
| Feature | Self-Pay (Pay-as-you-go) | Private Medical Insurance (PMI) |
|---|
| Upfront Cost | Very high. You must have the full amount (£3,000 - £20,000+) available. | Low. You pay a predictable, manageable monthly premium. |
| Financial Risk | High and unpredictable. Complications can lead to unexpected extra costs. | Low and predictable. The insurer covers eligible costs, protecting your savings. |
| Scope of Cover | Covers one specific procedure at a time. | Covers a wide range of eligible new conditions that may arise. |
| Peace of Mind | Limited. You may worry about the cost of future, unknown health issues. | High. Provides a long-term safety net against the financial shock of illness. |
| Value for Money | Can be cost-effective for a single, planned, minor procedure. | Excellent value for comprehensive, long-term protection against the unexpected. |
The Verdict: While self-pay can be a viable option for those who need a specific, relatively low-cost procedure and have the funds readily available, it leaves you exposed to future health problems. Private medical insurance offers a far more robust and sustainable solution for securing long-term peace of mind and access to private healthcare.
What is the difference between an acute and a chronic condition for health insurance?
An acute condition is a medical issue that is short-term and expected to be resolved with treatment, such as a broken bone, appendicitis, or a cataract. Standard UK private medical insurance is designed to cover these. A chronic condition is a long-term illness that has no known cure and requires ongoing management, like diabetes, asthma, or arthritis. The day-to-day management of chronic conditions is not covered by private health insurance.
Does UK private health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally, no. Standard private medical insurance policies in the UK do not cover conditions for which you have experienced symptoms, or sought advice or treatment, in the 5 years before your policy started. This is a fundamental principle of how PMI works. It is designed to cover new, eligible conditions that arise after you take out the policy.
Is it cheaper to pay for private surgery myself or get insurance?
Paying for a single, minor procedure yourself (self-pay) might seem cheaper in the short term if you have the savings. However, private medical insurance provides much greater financial protection and peace of mind. For a manageable monthly premium, it covers you for a wide range of potential new conditions, protecting you from unexpected surgical bills that could cost tens of thousands of pounds. For most people, insurance is the more financially sensible long-term strategy.
How can a PMI broker like WeCovr help me?
An independent PMI broker like WeCovr acts as your expert guide. We are not tied to any one insurer, so our advice is completely unbiased. We use our market knowledge to compare policies from leading UK providers to find the one that best fits your needs and budget. We explain all the options clearly, help you with the application, and our service is completely free for you to use.
Take the next step towards peace of mind
The world of private healthcare can seem expensive and complex, but it doesn't have to be. With the right guidance, you can secure access to fast, high-quality treatment and protect your health and finances.
The expert, friendly advisors at WeCovr are here to help you navigate your options. We'll provide a free, no-obligation comparison of the UK's leading private medical insurance providers to find the perfect cover for you.
Get Your Free, No-Obligation PMI Quote Today and invest in your future health.