Online broker ActiveQuote has seen sales private health insurance jump 44 per cent since Covid-19, with 90 per cent of sales being first-time buyers.
The health and protection comparison site says average premiums have meanwhile fallen by 4 per cent year on year, the UK health and protection comparison website has found, as insurers look to offer products tailored to a new generation of customer.
ActiveQuote also found the average age of policy holders investing in health insurance through its platform is now 43, with more women taking out policies than men for the first time in February 2021.
Rod Jones, head of partnerships at ActiveQuote, said: “While it has been well documented the knock-on effect Covid-19 will have on the NHS and wait times for routine procedures, increasing consumer demand for private health insurance really has never been stronger.
“There can be no doubting the Covid pandemic has changed the consumer landscape, with customers who may have previously been without cover taking out personal health insurance as their employment situation has changed.
“While access to NHS lead healthcare has been restricted due to lockdown, consumers have increasingly turned to the private sector, which has in turn lead the way with virtual GP services in response.
“The feedback we are seeing is that traditionally females have always been happy to book an appointment and visit their local GP, but Covid has removed that accessibility for many.
“This is just one of the many reasons why 2021 looks like being a big year for the private health insurance market in general, with healthcare continuing to increase in priority for people across the UK.”
