Half of people aged between 35 and 44 expect to pay for healthcare treatment in the coming year – 10 percentage points higher than 12 months ago.
Furthermore, using private healthcare has become increasingly common across much of society with more than two thirds saying they would consider doing so.
Research from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) found 49% of this 35-44-year-olds expected to use private healthcare within the next 12 months.
Notably four in 10 young adults aged 18-24 also expected to use private healthcare in the coming year while only one third of 45-64 year olds did.
Going private now normalised
Overall the Going Private 2025 report found going private is becoming increasingly normalised across all parts of society with more than seven in 10 people (71%) saying they would consider using private healthcare, a jump of almost 10% in two years.
This appetite is spread across all regions – from 64% of the population of Yorkshire and Humberside to 76% of those living in the West Midlands saying they would consider paying for treatment.
Moreover, the survey of 2,011 people conducted by polling agency Public First, showed growing willingness to use private healthcare across all socio-economic groups.
Seven in 10 people working in skilled manual occupations and six in ten unskilled manual workers would consider private healthcare – a jump of 6% and 10% respectively in the last two years.
Key drivers
While challenges in accessing NHS appointments continue to be a key motivator for going private, cited by almost half of people who have paid for treatment, one in four people said they went private because they had private medical insurance with the same proportion stating it was to get more personalised care.
IHPN’s research also found people are increasingly looking to their employers for access to private healthcare.
Almost two thirds (62%) of people believe that all workplaces should offer private healthcare as part of their employee benefits package.
This sentiment was felt particularly strongly among young people with almost seven in ten 18-24 year olds saying they would be more likely to apply for a new job if it offered private health insurance.
Overall, patient satisfaction with going private remained very high with almost nine in 10 people who had accessed private healthcare – whether through insurance or having paid for it themselves – saying it was value for money.
Growing openness
David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) (pictured), said: “Now in its third year, our latest Going Private survey continues to show a growing openness among all parts of society to using private healthcare, with working aged adults viewing it as particularly vital in accessing the speedy and high-quality care they need.
“While a decade or two ago it may have been seen as the preserve of the rich, it’s now clear that private healthcare is becoming ever more relevant to people’s everyday lives, with the increasing numbers of employers who are providing private medical insurance to their staff proving a particular driver in encouraging more people to go private.
“It’s of course hugely welcome to see the overwhelming majority of people who use private healthcare saying it represented value for money, and with a significant majority of people saying that all workplaces should offer private healthcare as part of their employee benefits package, there is an ever clearer role that employers could play in making it easier for people to access the healthcare they need.”
Patrick Parkin, head of health, care and life sciences at Burges Salmon, who supported the research said: “This year’s Going Private report paints a positive picture for the sector, providing clear evidence that people of all ages are more likely than ever to choose private healthcare for a variety of reasons, including accessibility, personalisation, and value.
“However, there is an ongoing need to help people in the UK understand how they can easily access private healthcare.
“The sector will need to communicate this clearly, so that in years to come individuals will, by default, consider the full range of service options that are available to them.”