COVER editor, John Brazier, speaks to vice chair of the Association of Medical Insurers & Intermediaries (amii) about the role of private medical insurance (PMI) in the future of the public healthcare system and the fears around a more formalised two-tier health system in the UK.
As more people are accessing private healthcare due to poor access to care, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, more people are questioning how far PMI will go. In 2022, research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank found 31% of UK adults struggled to access the care they needed during the pandemic, with 54% believe it is harder to speak to a GP now compared to before Covid-19.
Despite more people than ever accessing private healthcare options, there is still an unbalance. What is the potential direction of travel for the future of healthcare? Will PMI grow and work in tandem with NHS? Is this a desirable outcome for consumers, insurers, and providers?
This content was originally broadcast as part of the COVER Health & Wellbeing 360 event on 29 February. You can read all the write-ups from the broadcast here.
