Pensioners have been urged to consider taking out private medical cover before health issues arise, as new research shows that self-funding treatment could cost thousands of pounds. Analysis by private health insurance provider Howden Life & Health found that for those over 65, the typical cost of obtaining private treatment without cover is £3,324.
The warning comes as the state pension age stands at 66, meaning many retirees may face unexpected medical expenses just as they begin drawing their pension. Howden suggests that full private medical insurance typically costs between £167 and £333 per month for individuals, and between £226 and £532 for couples. Alternatively, diagnostic-only plans start from £65 a month for individuals and £110 for couples.
Grace Dowling, head of marketing at Howden, said: "Planning ahead is crucial because private healthcare is significantly easier, cheaper and far less stressful to access when you already have cover in place. When people suddenly face a health scare and realise they can't get timely NHS treatment, they're often forced into making rushed decisions about private care - usually at the worst possible moment, emotionally and financially."
The research found that people spend nearly £6,000 on average to self-fund private care, with one in seven facing bills exceeding £15,000. Ms Dowling warned that without cover, patients can be required to pay "large sums upfront" for scans, consultations or surgery, and may not know the full cost until the bill arrives.
She also stressed that policies work best when taken out before symptoms appear. "Once symptoms or conditions are present, insurers may exclude them, meaning people who delay can find themselves unprotected precisely when they need help most," she added. With NHS waiting lists often longest for the same conditions that affect older people, more than one in five patients currently wait longer than the six-week target, prompting some to go private to avoid prolonged pain and uncertainty.
