Pensioners have been advised to consider making a key change to prevent an unexpected bill running into thousands of pounds. Managing your routine expenses can prove challenging, especially when you have limited opportunities to boost your income as a pensioner.

One concern that can suddenly increase your costs is requiring medical care. If you are facing prolonged waiting times for NHS assistance, you might look at going private to get the treatment you need. Analysis from private health insurance provider Howden Life & Health suggests that expenses can be substantially higher if you lack coverage and must pay for medical care yourself.

The company's research found that for those over 65, the typical cost for obtaining treatment privately is £3,324 if you don't have cover. The state pension age currently stands at 66, making it worthwhile to factor in the possibility of a hefty medical bill as you begin receiving your state pension or plan your retirement finances.

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Data from Howden indicates full private medical insurance generally costs between £167 and £333 monthly for individuals and between £226 and £532 for couples. Alternatively, you can opt for a diagnostics-only plan, with prices beginning at £65 monthly for individuals and £110 monthly for couples.

Grace Dowling, head of marketing at Howden, explained: "Planning ahead is crucial because private healthcare is significantly easier, cheaper and far less stressful to access when you already have cover in place. When people suddenly face a health scare and realise they can't get timely NHS treatment, they're often forced into making rushed decisions about private care - usually at the worst possible moment, emotionally and financially."

She warned that without cover, you can frequently be required to pay "large sums upfront" for scans, consultations or surgery, and you typically won't know the full cost until you receive your bill. It's also advisable to secure a policy earlier rather than later.

Ms Dowling explained: "Private medical insurance also works best when taken out earlier, before health issues arise. Once symptoms or conditions are present, insurers may exclude them, meaning people who delay can find themselves unprotected precisely when they need help most."

The group's research found that people spend nearly £6,000 on average to self-fund private care, with one in seven facing bills exceeding £15,000.

Howden research indicates the most frequent reasons for claims amongst over-65s are:

• Optical treatments


• Physiotherapy


• Diagnostic tests and scans


• Musculoskeletal conditions


• Gastrointestinal issues.

Ms Dowling said: "These are also areas where NHS waiting lists are often longest. As a result, many over-65s initially turn to the NHS, but prolonged delays - more than one in five patients currently waiting longer than the NHS six-week target - force them to go private to avoid months or even years of pain, reduced mobility or uncertainty.

"Private medical insurance enables faster diagnosis and earlier intervention, which can make a significant difference to outcomes and independence later in life."

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