Loans for private healthcare from £100 to £2,500

What type of private healthcare treatment might you need to pay for?

The NHS is a fantastic, free resource and we recommend you always try to find a solution through their services before seeking private care to ensure you aren’t paying unnecessary bills. However, we’ve featured some of the types of healthcare treatments you may need below that can cost a significant amount.

Private dental treatment

There’s nothing worse than toothache and if you can’t be seen by an NHS dentist you may now have to foot the bill for a private one. The average cost of a checkup at a private clinic can cost anywhere from £20 to £120. We’ve covered how to pay for dental treatment in this guide.

Physiotherapy

Whether you’ve sustained an injury or need treatment for a long-standing problem, the cost of physio can quickly add up. The average* cost of a session with a private physiotherapist is around £40 – £60. If you need a course of treatment, you’ll likely require 5-7 sessions which can amount to £224 – £420.

Counselling

Counselling can help if you are looking for new ways to cope with a mental health issue. It is a talking therapy, taking place in a calm environment with a trained professional. On average, private counselling sessions can cost anywhere between £10 to £70, according to the NHS. You can get free counselling via the NHS, however many people turn to private services due to length of time you may have to wait for an appointment.

Non-routine tests

If you believe you need a blood test or scan but your GP or consultant at the NHS doesn’t agree, then you can pay privately for these to be carried out. The cost of a private blood test can vary greatly, depending on why you wish to have one done.

How to cover private healthcare costs

Here, we’ve taken a look at your options when it comes to covering the cost of medical expenses if you have opted for private healthcare.

Look into health insurance and claim back the cost

This requires some forward-thinking and may not be a feasible option if you already have a bill to pay but health insurance is an excellent way for managing any new treatments you may need in the future.

Health insurance involves paying an agreed amount each month which can cover you should you need to make a claim for a costly private health bill. If you take additional critical illness cover on top of a standard health insurance policy you can also get further support if you’re too ill to work.  How much you pay is determined by your current health and situation, factors such as pre-existing conditions weight, activity levels, and whether you smoke can play a part in how much your health insurance costs.

Bupa and Vitality are just two examples of health insurance providers that you can consider. Then, if you do need to pay a private healthcare bill, you may be able to claim back the cost later with them.

Use your savings

If you don’t have health insurance to make a claim with, then it’s a good idea to look to your savings first to cover a bill for private healthcare costs. This ensures you don’t take on any additional interest, should you borrow to cover the cost. You can always work to top those savings back up later.

Borrow from friends and family

Speak to your loved ones and ask if they can help cover the cost, you can then arrange to pay them back later and over time. Make sure you agree to any terms with the person you’re borrowing from, such as a date you intend to pay them back or how much they’ll receive if you are paying in instalments.