The following information is applicable to patients living in England, and being treated in England. No information provided should be taken as formal legal or medical advice.

Self-paying for private healthcare is when you pay for the cost of treatment, rather than receiving treatment through your private health insurer. For patients without private health insurance, self-paying is the only way to access private treatment. While private healthcare can mean shorter waiting times and better facilities, this is at a cost, with procedures often costing thousands of pounds. Almost all private healthcare providers allow you to self-pay for treatment.

Key considerations

• How quickly could you be seen on the NHS? - if you are able to be seen quickly on the NHS, it may not be worth self-paying for private healthcare. Current NHS waiting times can be found using our search services.
• How much would it cost? - private services vary greatly in cost depending on what service you require and where/by who you are being seen.
• What services are near you? - most places in the UK have private facilities nearby, but the quality of these facilities can vary significantly. The UK’s regulatory body for healthcare, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regularly inspects services, with their findings published on their website.

Funding options

If you are self-paying for treatment, you have two main options: paying upfront using savings or paying using a personal medical loan. A personal medical loan allows you to spread out the cost of treatment over time, but will mean you pay a much greater amount overall - just like any other type of loan. Therefore, if you have sufficient savings to pay upfront, this may be the best option.

Healthcare providers often offer medical loans themselves as part of a treatment agreement, or you can take out a medical loan yourself. It is important to properly consider the financial implications of taking out a loan, and compare different offers, before taking out any amount.

How does it work?

1. Find the best service for you by searching for providers online.
2. Book an appointment by contacting the provider.
3. Present payment when there - when you arrive for your appointment you will be asked to provide a credit or debit card with which you will be billed. If you have already agreed an instalment plan with the provider this may not be necessary.
4. Receive treatment - attend your appointment and receive treatment.