As the new year begins and more and more people begin to look inward at their health, we commissioned a new nationwide study, revealing the often overlooked financial and emotional consequences caused by delaying access to private medical insurance (PMI).
The study, which surveyed 1,500 adults aged 45 and over across the UK, show that over a third (36%) of people are waiting too long to take out cover, often only acting after a health scare or extended NHS delays – by which point symptoms have worsened, stress levels have increased, and many have already begun paying for consultations or treatments out-of-pocket.
The research shows that delays aren’t just about procrastination - they’re rooted in misconception. Almost two-thirds are put off getting cover because they believe it’s unaffordable, even though 66% admit they’d happily spend £500 a year on holidays.
The truth? One in three (35%) don’t actually know what PMI costs, and 13% of those who do have cover pay less than £500 annually. It’s a clear disconnect between perception and reality - one that’s costing people far more than money.
Although the NHS remains a vital and trusted service, growing pressures on the system mean many people are waiting longer for treatment. With the average NHS wait from GP referral to treatment now reaching three months, this leads to difficult choices for some. Among those who opted to seek care privately to speed up diagnosis or treatment, 59% spent over £500 out of pocket, often before they had seriously considered PMI as a preventative safeguard.
Sean Kennedy, private medical insurance expert at Usay Compare says,
“The cost of delaying health insurance isn’t just financial – it impacts people’s physical comfort, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life.
We speak to individuals every day who wish they’d acted sooner, often after months of pain or uncertainty. When conducting our survey, we even found that 18% of people said that delaying their cover affected their relationships with friends and family.
Our aim is to help people understand their options early, so they can make informed decisions before a crisis hits.”
One such example is Karen, a 57-year-old from South London, who leaned on her private medical insurance after a routine smear test at her GP showed polyps on her cervix. Knowing an NHS referral could take weeks, she used her private medical insurance and was seen by a consultant the next day.
The consultant spent an hour with her, took a full medical and family history, and immediately recognised a possible genetic link to the bowel cancer in her family - something her GP had previously dismissed. He contacted a colleague straight away, and Karen was booked in for a colonoscopy within days.
The procedure revealed a massive growth that was only weeks away from causing a serious problem. Because she had private medical insurance, she was operated on that same week, with surgery fitted in on a Saturday. The growth was removed along with the polyps on her cervix.
Karen believes that without private medical insurance, she may have ended up with a stoma, or worse. The speed of treatment also protected her mental health - she says everything happened so quickly she “didn’t have time to worry,” though after her appointment at the GP, she had written letters to her sons “just in case.”
After her treatment, Karen is now involved in support groups for Lynch syndrome and Bowel Cancer UK.
Karen says, “Private medical insurance is a must. Your body is something to protect, like your home or your car.” Her advice to anyone delaying private medical insurance:
“You’re playing a dangerous game. It’s a no brainer.”
As part of our Usay Your Story campaign – which shares real health journeys from people across the UK – we're calling for greater awareness around the true cost of waiting.
We're encouraging people in the UK to consider their healthcare options sooner, helping them make informed decisions and ensuring they are in the safest hands.
“Behind every statistic is a real person navigating pain, pressure and long NHS waits,” Sean added.
“Through Usay Your Story, we’re highlighting these experiences and encouraging people to understand what’s available to them long before a crisis hits.”