Fears over superbugs drive demand for private medical insurance

Fears over superbugs, such as MRSA and C.difficile, and general hospital cleanliness are driving demand for private medical insurance (PMI), according to new research from Bupa.

In its 2008 Health of the Nation survey, Bupa found that hospital cleanliness still tops the list of concerns with almost three quarters (73 percent) of those surveyed citing clean hospitals as a key reason for buying PMI - up eight percent on 2007. Faster access to specialists is also high on the list of reasons with 62 percent, and no waiting lists with 61 percent.

These results come at a time when research from independent market analyst Laing & Buisson shows that demand for PMI has grown for the second successive year, while in April 2008 the Association of British Insurers revealed that more than seven million people now have some form of private health cover.

Alongside the increased demand for PMI, the survey highlights that over a third (36 percent) of respondents said if they needed an operation in future, they would consider paying for it in a private hospital. Additionally, over three quarters (79 percent) of all PMI holders interviewed would recommend it to family and friends.

Stephen Flanagan, commercial director of Bupa UK membership, says: "It's good to see that more people are seeing the benefits that PMI offers, with access to drugs and treatments not widely available on the NHS becoming increasingly important."