Over 11% of the UK population now has private medical insurance (PMI) in place, according to the lat...
Over 11% of the UK population now has private medical insurance (PMI) in place, according to the latest figures from the Association of British insurers (ABI).
At the end of 2002, over 6.7 million people had PMI cover, either as an individual policy or through their employer. However, it is the corporate sector that is seeing the most growth, showing a 27% increase in sales over the last five years.
'Employers are becoming increasingly aware of the advantages of offering PMI as an employee benefit. It is a valuable perk to attract and retain high quality staff in an environment that has seen skills shortages in many areas,' said Richard Walsh, head of health at the ABI.
Walsh said it was significant that despite the Government putting record sums into the NHS to improve services, UK businesses are continuing to make extra healthcare provision for staff. 'By increasing those people covered by PMI, the pressure on the over-stretched NHS is reduced. If PMI did not exist this would mean an extra quarter of a million people on NHS waiting lists,' he said.
