How to pay for private healthcare in the UK: every option explained

More people than ever are paying for private treatment themselves, often because NHS waits have become too long to put up with. If you've decided to go private, the next question is usually how to pay for it. This guide sets out every option available in the UK, what each one really costs and what to check first, so you can work out what suits you.

Your options at a glance

There are seven main ways people pay for private healthcare in the UK. Most people use one or two of them, and it's common to combine them, for example paying a deposit from savings and spreading the rest.

Paying outright

Most self-pay patients still pay from savings or a debit card. It's the cheapest way because you pay nothing extra, and there's no credit agreement to manage afterwards.

The trade-off is that it can empty the savings you'd rely on for an emergency. If the treatment is a large one-off, some people pay part from savings and spread the rest, which keeps a cushion in place.

If you pay by credit card rather than debit card, and the cost is between £100 and £30,000, you get extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. If the clinic goes bust or doesn't provide what you paid for, the card provider can be held responsible. Paying off the balance in full each month means it costs you nothing extra.

Clinic payment plans

Many smaller clinics, including ADHD, therapy and dental practices, let you split the fee into a few instalments with no interest. These aren't loans. You're simply paying the clinic in stages.

The detail varies a lot, so ask:

• Do instalments need to be finished before the appointment, or can they run after it?
• Is there an admin fee for paying in stages?
• What happens if you need to cancel part way through?
• Can stages of care be paid separately, such as assessment first and follow-ups later?

Paying by stage is often the most flexible option for care that comes in parts, like an ADHD assessment followed by medication reviews. Our guide to private ADHD assessment costs shows how those stages add up.

Patient finance loans

This is the option people are often surprised to learn about. Specialist lenders provide loans specifically for medical, dental and cosmetic treatment, but they don't usually advertise to patients directly. Instead, you apply through the hospital or clinic, which acts as an introducer for the lender.

How it works

You choose your treatment, the clinic gives you a fixed price, and you apply for finance online, often with a decision in minutes. If you're approved, the lender pays the clinic and you repay the lender monthly. It's a regulated credit agreement, so the lender must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

What terms look like in 2026

Terms vary by provider and change often, but published examples include:

Other big groups, including Ramsay and Benenden, also publish finance options. Smaller clinics can offer patient finance too, through broker platforms, but many don't, so it's worth asking.

You can check any lender or clinic that arranges finance on the FCA register in a couple of minutes.

Buy now pay later

Some clinics accept buy now pay later services such as Klarna or Clearpay, which usually split a payment into three or four interest-free instalments.

Since 15 July 2026, these agreements have been regulated by the FCA. That means lenders must check you can afford the repayments, give you clear information upfront, and offer support if you struggle. You can also take complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and you may be able to claim a refund from the lender if the service isn't provided.

It's best suited to smaller amounts you could pay off over a few weeks. Late fees and missed payments can still affect your credit file, and it's easy to lose track if you have several agreements running at once.

Credit cards and personal loans

A 0% purchase credit card can work like an interest-free loan if you clear the balance before the offer ends. After that, standard card rates are often well over 20% APR, so it only works if you have a clear plan to repay.

A personal loan from a bank or building society isn't tied to one clinic, which can be useful if your care involves several providers. Rates depend on your credit history and the amount, and smaller loans often carry higher rates.

Health cash plans and work benefits

A health cash plan is a low-cost monthly policy that pays you back for everyday health costs, up to a yearly limit. Depending on the plan, that can include dental check-ups, eye tests and glasses, physiotherapy, and sometimes part of a specialist consultation or scan. Plans usually pay back a share of the cost rather than the full bill, and many have a waiting period before you can claim.

It's also worth checking what your employer offers before you pay. Many workplaces include cash plans, private GP apps, physio, counselling, or discounted insurance as standard benefits, and people often don't realise they're covered.

Private medical insurance

Private medical insurance (PMI) covers the cost of eligible private treatment for new conditions that start after your policy begins. It's a way to protect yourself in future, rather than a way to pay for treatment you already need.

Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions, and many exclude whole areas of care. ADHD and autism assessments, for example, are excluded by most standard policies. If you already have PMI through work, check your policy wording or call your insurer before booking anything, as you may need a GP referral and pre-authorisation.

Questions to ask before you pay

Whichever way you pay, the biggest surprises tend to come from what isn't included in the headline price.

• Is this a fixed-price package, and exactly what does it include?
• Are follow-up appointments, tests, reports or medication extra?
• What happens to the cost if there are complications?
• What's the cancellation and refund policy?
• If I'm borrowing, what's the total amount repayable and the APR?
• Is the lender or clinic arranging finance on the FCA register?
• Is the practitioner registered with the right body, such as the GMC, NMC or HCPC, and is the clinic registered with the CQC in England?

Sources and further reading

• PHIN: private hospital admissions in 2025
• Which?: top private hospital treatments and how people are paying for them
• FCA: buy now pay later rules
• Circle Health Group: flexible finance
• Cromwell Hospital: flexible payment plans
• Nuffield Health: interest-free finance
• Ramsay Health Care: payment plans
• MoneyHelper: free money guidance

Common questions

Keep reading

This guide is general information about payment options, not financial or medical advice. Rates and terms change often, so check current details with the provider. BookPrivate is a booking platform. It does not lend money, arrange credit or provide clinical care.