About private
healthcare
Understand how private healthcare works, how it differs from NHS treatment and how to access and pay for it, including through private medical insurance.
The basics
What is private healthcare?
Private healthcare is any medical service you receive outside the National Health Service (NHS). It includes consultations with specialists, tests and scans, and treatment in private hospitals and clinics. It also includes services such as physiotherapy, dental and optical care, and counselling.
NHS treatment is free at the point of use. Private healthcare involves a charge, and the patient is responsible for it, however the treatment is funded.
You can pay the costs yourself, which is known as self-pay. Some or all of the costs may instead be met by private medical insurance, or by another arrangement. Even with insurance, you may still have some costs to pay yourself.
Some NHS hospitals also have a private wing or clinic, where you can be treated as a private patient.
Your choice
Why people choose private healthcare
People choose private healthcare for different reasons. Many people also receive excellent care on the NHS, and choosing private healthcare is a personal decision.
- Being seen soonerPrivate treatment may be available sooner than through an NHS waiting list, depending on the treatment and the provider.
- Choosing when to be treatedMore flexibility over when treatment takes place, subject to availability.
- Choosing your specialistA choice of consultant or specialist, subject to availability and any insurance requirements.
- Treatments not always available on the NHSSome treatments may be available privately that are not offered on the NHS.
- A private roomFor hospital stays, a private room may be available, often with an en suite bathroom and a choice of meals.
Getting started
Accessing private healthcare
For most private treatment, you start with your GP. Your GP can refer you to a specialist for tests and a diagnosis.
Some services, such as physiotherapy, dental care and optical care, can often be booked directly, without a referral.
Finding a private specialist
Your GP may recommend a specialist, or you can research one yourself. Some private hospitals focus on particular conditions, such as heart conditions or cancer, and work with specialists in those areas.
Hospital websites usually describe their specialists, including their areas of expertise, qualifications and experience. Every doctor, private or NHS, must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). You can check a doctor on the General Medical Council register.
Once you have chosen a specialist, contact the hospital to book a consultation. You should feel comfortable discussing your concerns with your specialist and asking questions about your care.
Your hospital
Choosing a private hospital
Types of private hospital in the UK
- Large hospital groupsSuch as Circle Health Group, Nuffield Health, Ramsay Health Care and Spire Healthcare.
- Small independent hospitals
- Charitable hospitals
- Private patient wingsRun by NHS trust hospitals.
- Private patient units in NHS hospitalsRun by private companies.
Comparing the cost
Treatment costs vary between hospitals, so compare prices and what each includes. Some hospitals offer an inclusive surgery package. This usually covers your stay, the procedure, and the specialist's fees for the procedure and follow-up.
Always check exactly what a package includes before you decide. Ask whether the price changes if complications mean you need more treatment.
What to check
- Price. Ask for a written quotation that clearly sets out what is included.
- Specialists. Check the hospital website and the General Medical Council register.
- Infection rates. An infection after surgery can slow your recovery. Ask the hospital about its rates.
- Reviews. What other patients say about the hospital and its facilities.
- Emergency and intensive care. Not every private hospital has emergency or intensive care facilities. Many transfer patients to the NHS in an emergency, so ask what the hospital does.
- Rooms and visiting. The facilities you will have, and visiting hours for family and friends.
- Location. How easy the hospital is to reach, for you and your visitors.
Checking hospital standards
Each nation of the UK has its own regulator, which inspects NHS and private hospitals and publishes its reports.
- England. Care Quality Commission
- Scotland. Healthcare Improvement Scotland
- Wales. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
- Northern Ireland. Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
The Private Healthcare Information Network
You can find independent information about the quality and the cost of private treatment available from doctors and hospitals from the Private Healthcare Information Network.
Paying for treatment
Paying for private healthcare
There are several ways to pay for private healthcare.
- Paying yourselfKnown as self-pay. You pay the hospital, clinic or specialist directly. It is worth comparing prices first.
- Private medical insuranceA policy that can help meet some or all of the cost of eligible private treatment, subject to its terms and limits.
- Other arrangementsOther funding arrangements may help with treatment costs, for example through an employer.
Insurance
How private medical insurance works
Private medical insurance is one way to meet the cost of private healthcare. In return for a premium, a policy can pay some or all of the cost of eligible treatment, subject to its terms and limits.
It is designed for acute conditions. An acute condition is an illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Before any treatment, you usually contact your insurer to confirm what is covered. This helps avoid unexpected costs.
What a policy usually covers
- Specialist consultations and tests to find the cause of new symptoms
- Treatment in hospital, as an inpatient or a daypatient
- Some outpatient treatment, depending on the cover chosen
- Treatment of cancer, depending on the policy
What a policy usually does not cover
- Pre-existing conditions: ones you had before your cover started
- Ongoing treatment of chronic conditions, which are long-lasting and cannot usually be cured
- Accident and emergency treatment
- Cosmetic treatment
Cover, limits and exclusions differ between policies. You may also pay an excess, which is the amount you pay towards a claim before the policy pays. Read about pre-existing conditions and chronic conditions.
Two ways to be covered
A policy of your own
You can buy a policy for yourself, and usually add an eligible partner and children. You pay the premium, monthly or once a year.
Premiums depend on factors such as your age and the cover chosen. Premiums are reviewed at renewal and may increase over time, so it is important to consider the ongoing affordability of your policy.
Through your employer
Many employers offer health insurance through a company scheme. Your employer chooses the cover and pays the premium, and you may be able to add your family.
Freedom Health Insurance
How Freedom Health Insurance can help
Freedom Health Insurance offers private medical insurance. We offer three products, each with its own benefits, eligibility criteria and policy terms. You can find details on the product pages and in the policy documents.
- Freedom ElitePrivate medical insurance for treatment in the UK, as an individual policy or a group scheme.
- Freedom EssentialsAn individual policy that pays a fixed cash benefit towards eligible inpatient and daypatient treatment.
- Freedom WorldwideInternational private medical insurance, as an individual policy or a group scheme.
Freedom Elite · Freedom Essentials · Freedom Worldwide
How to arrange cover
All our policies, individual and group, are arranged through an intermediary who holds a Terms of Business Agreement with Freedom Health Insurance. Some intermediaries provide advice, while others offer a non-advised service. Check which service your intermediary provides.
If you have a question about our policies, call us on 01202 756 350, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, or contact us online.
Questions
Private healthcare FAQs
Private healthcare is any medical service you receive outside the NHS, such as specialist consultations, tests, hospital treatment, physiotherapy, dental care and counselling. NHS treatment is free at the point of use. Private healthcare involves a charge, and the patient is responsible for it, however the treatment is funded.
For most treatment, you start with your GP, who can refer you to a private specialist. Some services, such as physiotherapy, can often be booked directly. You then arrange your consultation or treatment with the hospital or clinic.
Prices vary between hospitals and treatments, and private treatment costs can be substantial. It is worth asking for a written price and comparing options. You can pay yourself, or private medical insurance can help meet some or all of the cost of eligible treatment.
Every doctor must be registered with the General Medical Council, and you can check its register online. Each nation of the UK has its own regulator, which inspects hospitals and publishes its reports. These are the Care Quality Commission in England, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland.
Private medical insurance is one way to pay for private healthcare. It can pay some or all of the cost of eligible treatment. It is generally designed to cover eligible treatment for acute conditions, subject to the policy's terms, limits and underwriting. An acute condition is an illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment.
Most policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, ongoing treatment of chronic conditions, accident and emergency treatment, or cosmetic treatment. A pre-existing condition is one you had symptoms of, or treatment or advice for, before your cover started. Exclusions differ between policies, so check the policy documents.
Some private medical insurance policies include mental health cover, some offer it as an optional benefit and some do not cover it. The treatment covered, limits and exclusions depend on the policy.
Next steps
Explore our private medical insurance products
Find out what each product covers and how it works. If you have a question about our policies, contact our team. A broker or adviser who provides advice can help you assess which cover is suitable for your needs.
This page contains general information about private healthcare and private medical insurance, including information about Freedom Health Insurance products. It does not constitute a personal recommendation or advice about the suitability of any particular policy. Calls may be recorded and monitored for training and quality purposes.