This depends on your stance.
Obviously, we’re very fortunate in the UK to have the NHS for our healthcare needs, which is free at the point of use. This ‘cradle to grave’ health service means that you never have to pay out of pocket for healthcare in the UK if you don’t want to.
However, the NHS has come under increasing strain in recent years thanks to an older, sicker population. As the population ages and faces other health problems, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, you may find your care under the NHS is slower than you’d prefer.
You can face waits of weeks for outpatient consultant appointments before you even get near to having inpatient surgical treatment.
Private Health Insurance, while it won’t replace the NHS entirely in areas such as cover for emergencies and chronic conditions, is designed to supplement the NHS and speed up your care for eligible acute conditions.
Whether this is worth it or not depends on whether you value faster, more efficient care and can afford to pay the premiums to skip the NHS waiting lists.