Private healthcare provider announces doubled year-on-year membership growth

Healthcare provider Benenden Health has doubled its year-on-year membership growth for its core private healthcare product in 2023 and experienced a 36 per cent increase in service usage including its 24/7 GP helpline, mental health services, diagnostics, and treatment.

In 2023, over 101,420 new members joined the healthcare provider, a 50 per cent increase year-on-year. Yorkshire headquartered Benenden Health’s core services have also seen a surge in requests from its membership.

Its 24/7 GP Helpline service, which allows members to book a phone or video call with a GP, was used over 51,000 times in 2023, an increase of 12.5 per cent year-on-year. Likewise, its diagnostic services were requested 89,548 times in 2023, seeing an increase of 61 per cent year-on-year.

Research from Benenden Health has shown a major shift towards private healthcare in the UK. It found that 28 per cent of those surveyed have in the last 12 months either purchased, or investigated purchasing, a subscription-based private health product for the first time.

The research also highlighted that 24 per cent have increased their spending on their existing private health products and services in the last 12 months. Considering the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the UK, only 4 per cent of those surveyed have decreased their spending on private health in the last 12 months.

Reflecting on the organisation’s significant growth in 2023, Chief Executive Officer Bob Andrews commented: “2023 has been a significant year not only for Benenden Health, but for the entire private health industry.

“I am confident the increase in our membership can be linked to the quality of service and reassurance that private healthcare offers, coupled with our affordability as a low-cost private health product, in a time where we are seeing NHS wait lists under pressure. We received 24 calls to our 24/7 GP service every working hour of 2023.

“This, by no means, positions Benenden Health as a competitor to the NHS. There is a positive conversation that can be had about the role of private healthcare alongside a public-funded system.

“We consider our services complementary to the services it does best and if the NHS can consult, diagnose, and treat someone quickly, that remains our ideal. We are steadfast in supporting our members, and the NHS, in 2024 and the years to come.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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