PMI-funded hospital admissions reached 338,000 in the first half of 2025, a new record that sits 17 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.
The latest PHIN data shows admissions were 290,000 in H1 2019 and rose to 336,000 in H1 2024 before reaching the latest total of 338,000.
Meanwhile, NHS waiting lists rose from 4.24 million in March 2020 to 7.37 million in June 2025. Although the total has hovered around 7.4 million in recent months, progress on reducing the backlog has slowed, with industrial action continuing to affect the recovery plan.
Broadstone head of health & Protection Brett Hill says: “The rapid and sustained growth in PMI-funded admissions since the pandemic is a clear signal of how dramatically healthcare demand has shifted. As the NHS continues to face significant strain, Private Medical Insurance has increasingly stepped in to bridge the gap – ensuring people can access timely diagnoses and treatment that would otherwise be delayed.
“PMI-funded health services are now critical to both the resilience of the nation’s healthcare system and the wellbeing of the workforce. It enables faster treatment of conditions before they become more complex, costly and time-consuming. This is why, alongside its contribution to the wider NHS, PMI represents one of the most valuable investments a business can make to keep their people healthy and productive.
“However, in recent years many employers have seen benefit costs increase, as a surge in claims by employees who cannot access NHS services has driven up premiums at renewal.
“While self-pay admissions have been plateauing for a while, this year’s slowdown in PMI-funded admissions is a welcome sign that claims inflation is beginning to cool. This should help to alleviate some of the upward premium pressure that employers have been feeling, and allow them to refocus on expanding the provision of health benefits across their workforce.”
