Private Healthcare Market to be investigated

Posted 04/04/2012

The Office of Fair Trading had been asked by the Competition Commission to review the UK’s ?5.5bn private healthcare market. Views that suspected competition is being restricted will be investigated and addressed and as a result could lead to better availability of healthcare to those of all ages.

Historically the cost of private healthcare has been rising to unsustainable levels and this is largely due to the lack of competition. Such a radical shake up could have a considerable impact on the affordability and access of private medical healthcare to individuals other than the wealthy.

The investigation could go further and look at the role of private medical insurers, of which, two insurers hold a market share of more than 70%.

Sharon Allison, a medical injury lawyer at Ashtons Legal says: “If the Competition Committee finds that there is a restriction of the market in this area, and recommends change as a result, we could see a considerable change in the way private healthcare is accessed.

Such changes could mean a greater access to services for all ages which would ultimately ease pressure on the stretched and under-resourced NHS which has to be a good thing”.