"With a third of UK adults uncertain about how quickly or easily they would be able to access care, this suggests that many people are considering their options."
- Dawn Prescott - The Exeter
New data from The Exeter's Consumer Health and Finance Tracker has revealed that a third, or 33%, of UK adults are unsure if the NHS could fully meet their needs if they became ill.
This comes as the NHS continues to be met with significant demand, as waiting lists rose to 7.22 million in April of this year.
The Exeter found that adults aged between 45 and 54 are the least confident, with 44% reporting that they are uncertain about whether they would be able to access sufficient care through the NHS.
The data also shows that 43% of UK adults accessed at least one private healthcare service in the last six months, with 49% expecting waiting times to increase over the next six months.
Dental services accounted for the largest share of private healthcare use at 20%, followed by mental health support and private GP consultations, both at 10%.
While 24% of private healthcare users were able to use an insurance product to fund their treatment, almost one in five, or 19%, turned to credit cards or personal loans. Of these, 23% were men and 15% were women.
The Tracker also found that 46% of men have used private healthcare in the last six months, compared to 40% of women, despite 72% of men feeling assured that the NHS would meet their needs if they fell ill, while just 62% of women felt the same.
In terms of age, younger adults are far more likely to have used private healthcare in the last six months, with 60% of 18-to-34-year-olds using private healthcare compared to just 25% of those aged 55 and over. Mental health services in particular show a generational divide, with 17% of 25-to-34-year-olds accessing support compared to just 3% of those aged 55 and over.
READ MORE: Financial confidence drops across all age groups in 2026: The Exeter
"These findings highlight that many people are thinking carefully about how they would access care if needed, particularly within a system managing high levels of demand," Dawn Prescott, head of healthcare proposition at The Exeter, said.
"With a third of UK adults uncertain about how quickly or easily they would be able to access care, this suggests that many people are considering their options.
"The fact that nearly one in five are funding private treatment through credit or a loan suggests that for many, that concern is already translating into action without the right financial foundation in place.
"Raising awareness of what healthcare insurance policies can provide can help people take a more planned approach. As views on NHS provision remain mixed, helping ensure people have access to appropriate cover before a health need arises can support better preparation for the future."
Sean Kennedy, director at Usay Compare, added: "These findings strongly reflect what we see at Usay Compare every day. Many customers come to us after experiencing delays in accessing NHS care, and often after they’ve already started paying for treatment themselves.
"What frequently surprises them is that private medical insurance can be more affordable than they expected, particularly when compared with the cost of self-funding care.
"One of the most common things we hear is 'I wish I’d looked into this sooner.' Having cover in place before a health issue arises not only provides peace of mind but helps people avoid difficult financial decisions when they need care most."
