Over-65s dip into savings to pay for private healthcare amid NHS waiting times

Over-65s dip into savings to pay for private healthcare amid NHS waiting timesOlder Brits are dipping into their savings in order to pay for private healthcare and get treated soonerCommentsNewsIan Edmondson16:26, 07 Apr 2026View 3 Images15% of over-65s accessed private healthcare in the last year(Image: Getty Images)New data has highlighted the mounting financial pressure on older Britons seeking medical care, with a 2025 YouGov poll showing that 15% of over-65s accessed private healthcare within the last year. Significantly, 71% of these individuals paid for it using disposable income or money from a savings account.‌This trend of 'self-funding' consultations, diagnostics, and elective procedures is quietly driving the UK's £1.6 billion self-pay market, as older adults, who are more likely to require interventions, reassess how they plan for later-life care. The Trauma & Orthopaedic waiting list is currently the largest single queue in the NHS, with over 860,000 people waiting, and the average patient waiting 15.2 weeks for a procedure.‌View 3 Images15% of over-65s accessed private healthcare in the last year(Image: Getty Images)‌In response this generation finding themselves in a state of healthcare limbo, a new product has launched. Lateral, a company specialising in products for people over 60, has introduced the Lateral Health Plan to meet the demand for faster access and greater choice.Laura Ashforth, Co-founder and CEO of Lateral, said: "We founded Lateral to empower over-60s to navigate their health and wealth with greater confidence and ease."The plan aims to provide a more affordable alternative to traditional comprehensive private medical insurance.‌View 3 ImagesLateral founders Laura Ashforth and Steven Mendel(Image: Supplied)By focusing on common private care needs and complementing, rather than replacing, NHS services, Lateral claims it can offer more sustainable pricing. The plan, for instance, would cost £150 per month f...