How Much Does Private Health Care Cost?

What makes up private medical treatment costs?

Many people are surprised when they find out the cost of private treatment, especially if they’re used to using the NHS. The NHS pay a similar amount for the services they provide, but we’re less exposed to this cost as this information doesn’t get shared with the patient. So, why does health care cost as much as it does? Here are some of the contributing factors to the price:

Hospital facilities and premises upkeep
Offering effective medicine
Staffing highly trained health care professionals
Medical equipment that supports diagnosis and treatment
Medical software to secure store and handle patients medical records
Sometimes they’re ‘for-profit’ businesses, which means they need to charge a markup on their services in order to operate.

In short, medical care isn’t cheap; It requires highly equipped facilities, well-trained staff and a multitude of operations that support the level of care available. If the cost were to drop, so may the standard of treatment, and nobody wants that!

Private health care costs

There are such a vast amount of medical treatments and variances within them that it’s not feasible to list them all per provider. If there is a specific treatment you’re looking for, you should be able to find this information readily available online.

Where to find information on the cost of private health care

If you already know which provider will be administering your treatment, or you have a preference, you should check the cost with that provider, or ask a health insurance broker to give you a hand. This information is often available to the public, sometimes listed within ‘self-pay prices’. Here are links to the leading providers we work with and their cost sheets.

Please be aware that the following prices are as a guide only. Your final price will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any diagnostic tests.

Below are some of the most commonly searched for private health care treatments in the UK as an example of what you can expect when comparing prices. Commonly, prices will vary between providers as each operates from their own facilities, offer variances in treatment, staff, medication etc. For this reason, we highly recommend that you go through a comparison process before making any private medical purchase.

‍

Private cataract surgery cost*

The average cost for cataract surgery on one eye, based on a variety of treatment options offered by each provider.

Ramsay Health Care - £2,495

BMI - £2,625

Nuffield - £2,570

New Victoria - £2,331

Average cost based on four providers: £2,505.25

Keyhole knee surgery private cost*

The average cost for keyhole knee surgery on one knee, based on a variety of treatment options offered by each provider:

Ramsay Health Care - £2,775

BMI - £3,944

Nuffield - £3,335

New Victoria - £2,950

Average cost based on four providers: £3,251

Private gallbladder removal cost*

The average cost of gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy), based on a variety of treatment options offered by each provider:

Ramsay Health Care - £5,640

BMI - £6,207

Nuffield - £5,625

New Victoria - £5,445

Average cost based on four providers: £5,729.25

Private fistula surgery cost*

The average cost of private fistula surgery, based on a variety of treatment options offered by each provider

Ramsay Health Care - £1,730

BMI - £2,492

Nuffield - £2,165

New Victoria - £2,200

Average cost based on four providers: £2,146.75

Cost of private hip replacement*

The average cost of hip replacement surgery, based on a variety of treatment options offered by each provider:

Ramsay Health Care - £11,165

BMI - £11,676

Nuffield - £11,110

New Victoria - £12,450

Average cost based on four providers: £11,600.25

*The figures provided are taken from a variety of sources, and the averages have been given purely as indicative costs to the treatments listed. The figures provided are correct as of 19/6/2019. References: Ramsay, BMI, Nuffield, New Victoria.

Paying for your private health treatments

With these costs in mind, accessing private treatment isn’t realistic for everyone's budget. However, there are several payment options that you can utilise to access private medical care.

Self pay private health care

Most private health care treatments are available to purchase by paying for the full treatment cost, usually through a private hospital or a private health care provider. If you can afford to pay for the treatment in-full, this can be a great option to access private treatment. However, if you need multiple private treatments over time, this can quickly become an expensive payment choice.

Medical loan

Some private health care providers will offer their customers a medical loan or a repayment plan. This means that patients can split the cost of treatment over time, making it more accessible and affordable. Bear in mind that your medical loan may be offered through a third party provider and could incur interest fees.

Private medical insurance

Another option for accessing and paying for private treatment is to purchase a health insurance policy. In short, a private health insurance policy will cover you for a range of treatments throughout the policy for a monthly or annual premium. There are a few other considerations to bear in mind about health insurance, so check out our post what is private health insurance if you’d like to learn the ins and outs of health insurance, and you can learn more about the health insurance providers we work with here.

Health insurance or self pay?

If you’re considering paying for private treatment, we recommend that you read our blog Is private health insurance worth it? We’ve provided information on what you stand to gain and the key benefits to help you make the right decision for your circumstance.

What makes up private medical treatment costs?

Private health care costs