The number of private health admissions funded through medical insurance continues to rise, with significant increases in mental health and cancer claims.
The latest PHIN data, analysed by consultants Broadstone shows private health treatments funded PMI are now at 109 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. This follows a record quarter four in 2023, with 161,000 PMI-funded admissions to private hospitals, taking the annual total to an all-time high of 620,00.
Separate analysis of Broadstone’s corporate clients’ healthcare claims demonstrate how the volume and severity of claims has also surged over the past year. It found the volume of mental health claims rose by 33 per cent, with the value of these claims increasing by 68 per cent. Meanwhile the number of cancer claims grew by a fifth (20 per cent) while the value of claims paid surged by 131 per cent over the same period.
Broadstone head of health and protection Brett Hill says: “It is important that the private sector is able to step in to support the health of the UK workforce and the economic growth that depends upon it – without it we would have seen significantly higher economic inactivity and staff shortages.
“The additional benefit of this growth in corporate healthcare provision is its contribution to reducing pressure in the public health system. If these treatments were not being funded and provided by the private sector then there would be yet more people on the NHS waiting list and, inevitably, yet more people out of work due to ill health.
“Promoting greater provision of employer-funded healthcare benefits could make a significant contribution towards reducing not just NHS waiting lists, but also the record levels of economic inactivity currently being caused by ill health.”
