New data has highlighted the growing financial burden on older Brits seeking healthcare, with a 2025 YouGov survey revealing that 15% of people over the age of 65 used private healthcare in the past year. What’s more, 71% of these individuals paid for it using disposable income or money from a savings account.
This trend of ‘self-funding’ consultations, diagnostics, and elective procedures is quietly driving the UK’s £1.6 billion self-pay market, as older adults, who are more likely to require interventions, reassess how they plan for later-life care. The Trauma & Orthopedic waiting list is currently the largest single queue in the NHS, with over 860,000 people waiting, and the average patient waiting 15.2 weeks for a procedure.
In response to a generation finding themselves in a state of healthcare limbo, a new product has launched. Lateral, a company specialising in products for people over 60, has introduced the Lateral Health Plan to meet the demand for faster access and greater choice.
Laura Ashforth, Co-founder and CEO of Lateral, said: “We founded Lateral to empower over-60s to navigate their health and wealth with greater confidence and ease.”
The plan aims to provide a more affordable alternative to traditional comprehensive private medical insurance. By focusing on common private care needs and complementing, rather than replacing, NHS services, Lateral claims it can offer more sustainable pricing. The plan, for instance, would cost £150 per month for an eligible 67-year-old.
A core feature of the policy is a nurse-led navigation service. This service, delivered by qualified case-management nurses, supports members in exploring treatment pathways and navigating both NHS and private options to help over-60s make informed choices. It also includes preventative measures, such as an annual health check.
Laura Ashforth added: « The Lateral Health Plan is designed for people who have no intention of stopping and are looking for clarity, support and choice when it comes to their healthcare – alongside the NHS, not instead of it.”
Dr Samantha Field, Chief Medical Officer at Lateral, added: “Prevention plays an important role as people age.
« The Lateral Health Plan is designed to help people take a more proactive approach to their health, with access to services such as an annual health check and support from nutrition and physiotherapy services, to help members better understand their options over time. »
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