Since the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, there have been many changes and new innovations within healthcare and health insurance in the UK.
We're exploring some of the key trends and changes we’ve seen within healthcare services over the past five years and what support is available to help us prioritise our health.
Over the past five years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people utilising health insurance and putting their health first.
A survey revealed the number of people in the UK who have private health insurance has risen by 900,000 in the past four years.
More people are taking it upon themselves to protect their health following the covid pandemic. 7.6 million people had health insurance in 2024, up from 6.7 million in 2020.
More people are turning to health insurance or are choosing private healthcare due to the struggles within the NHS and long waiting lists.
It’s no secret that the NHS has faced increasing pressures in recent years, resulting in more people questioning, what they would do if they needed to access healthcare services?
Some of the key reasons more people are utilising health insurance includes:
Over recent years we’ve seen a big increase in the use of digital GPs. Digital GPs are qualified doctors usually on 24/7 access for a phone or video consultation. This service is offered within most health insurance policies.
They typically work by downloading an app from your insurer. You'll then have the option to book a slot that best suits you to have your consultation. It can be a huge benefit to eliminate the need to travel to a surgery.
The doctor will usually discuss your symptoms, medical history and offer advice or treatment options - the same as you’d get with an in-person visit.
These can be a beneficial alternative due to flexibility. You can join your appointment from anywhere and at any time that works for you. This also means quicker access to next steps or putting your mind at ease.
They can be particularly beneficial when you have a busy lifestyle and need quick access. The current average waiting time for a routine GP appointment is around 10 days. Some digital GPs can provide much quicker access, for example, with Aviva digital GP you may get an appointment within 30 minutes.
More than ever, there is a strong focus on our mental wellbeing. Around a third of adults and young people reported their mental health getting worse since covid in a 2021 survey.
More people want to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing. Private health insurance can play an essential role in getting that cover and support.
Most health insurance policies offer some mental health support and benefits as standard. This can include:
NHS data has revealed that people are eight times more likely to wait over 18 months for mental health treatment than physical health treatment.
The use of digital apps and wellness rewards continue to grow, in an attempt to improve our health and wellbeing.
With health insurance policies there are many schemes available, some of the most common include:
Aviva's My Health Counts: Aviva's scheme helps customers to understand more about their health and lifestyle choices. Answering their online questionnaire about your health and wellbeing can be rewarded with 15% off your next renewal premium.
Vitality Rewards: There are various ways you can earn rewards with Vitality's scheme, these include:
The points you earn go towards rewards including: fitness trackers, food and drink discounts, cinema tickets and gym memberships.
These are some useful innovations helping us to put our health first, and we’re sure there will be more to follow in the coming years. Health insurance plays an important role in supporting people to utilise these innovations.
When it comes to obtaining health insurance, it can be difficult to know where to start in finding the right policy for you.
At Usay Compare, our expert advisers help our customers to compare policies from leading insurers and find the right one for their needs. It’s a free of charge service, with the benefit knowing you have the best cover at the best price.
You’ll also understand the full ins and outs of your policy and know exactly what you're covered for.
We can also provide support when it comes to switching your health insurance policy. It may be that you want to know if you're still getting the best deal, or your circumstances may have changed and you want to look for something different. We take the hard work out of comparing policies.
You can fill out our form below and await a call from our team, or get started now and give us a call on 01285 864670.