Overview

In comparative studies of health care, the United Kingdom’s health care system continues to be categorized as public (‎in terms of both financing and provision)‎. Nevertheless, over 11% of the United Kingdom population has private medical insurance, which is an important contributor to the country’s health economy (‎the market being worth almost £3 billion a year)‎. This study provides an introductory overview of an often-ignored and significantly under-researched area.

The study by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies is structured according to the three key dimensions of the market for private medical insurance: the product, demand and supply. It also includes a short appendix on the market for health cash plans – an alternative form of private cover for medical expenses with relatively broad take-up. The introduction provides a classification of forms of voluntary health insurance and places private medical insurance within the wider United Kingdom health care system.