The findings highlight both the growing reliance on private healthcare amid NHS pressures and a notable increase in claims relating to mental health treatment.
Broadstone’s analysis shows that the proportion of members making a PMI claim increased from 21% in 2021 to 27% in 2024, although recent evidence suggests that the trend may now be stabilising. The consultancy attributes the sustained rise to continued strain on the NHS following the pandemic, with reduced access to primary and secondary care prompting more employees to seek treatment privately through their workplace benefits.
Sharon Harwood-Davis, head of corporate healthcare pricing at Broadstone, said: “The jump in growth of PMI claims since 2021 is a clear indicator of an NHS that is struggling to meet demand.
“Employers recognise the importance of putting in place healthcare provision for their employees and their families to reduce sickness absence costs and help maintain productivity. Since lockdown, we have seen organisations broaden the eligibility criteria within the workplace and workers are increasingly taking advantage of the increased access to the private sector.
“Businesses need to understand, however, that the rise in the frequency of claims is likely to directly drive premium inflation from insurers. Understanding the drivers behind the claims experience is becoming increasingly important. Only through this data-driven approach can sensible mechanisms be put in place to help employers manage the longer-term cost sustainability of funding Private Healthcare benefits.”
The data also shows that spending on cancer-related claims has stabilised following a post-pandemic surge in diagnostic and treatment activity. Musculoskeletal conditions continue to account for the largest share of PMI spend at 39% in 2025 year-to-date, a proportion that has remained relatively consistent over recent years.
However, Broadstone’s analysis highlights a significant shift in the makeup of claims costs, with mental health treatments now representing a growing share of total spend. The proportion of claims attributed to mental health support has risen from 8% in 2022 to 13% in 2025 year-to-date, reflecting both increased awareness and persistent access issues within the public health system.
In contrast, the share of claims costs linked to cancer treatments has fallen from 20% in 2022 to 9% in 2025 year-to-date, suggesting a rebalancing of PMI spend towards mental health and chronic condition management.
Harwood-Davis added: “One of the most striking shifts we are seeing is the sharp increase in demand for mental health support through PMI.
“This reflects both a positive cultural shift, with more employees willing to seek help, and practical pressures, with long NHS waiting lists pushing individuals to use PMI cover to access counselling, CBT and psychiatric care.
“Mental health support is no longer a peripheral add-on; it has become a central feature of workplace healthcare provision and must be planned for accordingly. It is becoming increasingly essential for organisations to review what can be done to not only support ongoing mental health concerns but also to implement robust preventative solutions to support employees and their families before active treatment is required.”
