TL;DR
NHS covers essentially everything you need. Adding private cover for an individual costs £1,500–3,500/year and primarily speeds up elective care. Most UK FIRE planners don't carry private cover.
In short
The US healthcare problem doesn't exist in the UK. Some FIRE planners add private cover for faster access to elective procedures, but it's a lifestyle choice, not a financial necessity. Build a £2-3k/year line item if you want private; otherwise budget nothing extra.
We're working on a full deep-dive for this article — including historical data, charts, and worked examples. In the meantime, you can run a free simulation to explore the underlying numbers yourself.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I get private healthcare during FIRE?
- Lifestyle preference. NHS handles emergencies and serious conditions excellently; private mostly speeds up elective procedures and gives more choice of specialist.
- What about dental and vision?
- NHS dental and vision have access limitations. Budget £500-1,000/year for private dental cover or pay-as-you-go for most FIRE planners.
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