A recent study has indicated that the number of private medical health insurance policies, being taken out during the recession has risen.

Certain factors could be seen to be what was pushing individuals towards taking out a private medical policy. Recently the NHS stated that it had met its 18-week waiting time target.

However, a Bupa survey has shown that more than eight in 10 Britons, feel this is still too long to wait for treatment and be left in pain, worrying about their health and watching their condition deteriorate further.

In relation to this finding, Fiona Harris, the director of Bupa UK Health Insurance, said: "In today's instant access society, where you can order your shopping online with same day delivery, waiting 18 weeks - or almost four-and-a-half months - for treatment is just too long.

"That's why, despite today's economic climate, our customers put PMI at the top of the list of things most difficult to cut back on to save money - more so than holidays (20 per cent), eating out (10 per cent), pensions and other long-term savings (19 per cent). Two-thirds (66 per cent) of them say that having PMI is very important, or vital to them."

Bupa research also shows that more people are buying PMI because of fears about superbugs, such as MRSA and C. difficile and general hospital cleanliness.

PMI is also high on the corporate agenda with employers being encouraged to take more responsibility for their employees' health and wellbeing needs. It comes second only to a pension as a desirable employee benefit, according to Bupa research.

Fiona also said: "We look after the health and wellbeing of 80 per cent of FTSE 100 companies. Investing in corporate healthcare offers a triple win: better health for the individual; better productivity for the employer; and increased profitability for UK plc.

Fiona added that: "The current tax treatment of workplace health benefits is an obstacle which, if removed, would allow more companies to play their part in keeping Britain healthy. Our own research of corporate clients shows that nine out of ten employers want to see support from the Government. Half would invest more in employee health and wellbeing if there were financial incentives to do so."

Recent figures from the Association of British Insurers, (ABI) show that the number of people who were covered by PMI policies continued to rise in 2008 despite the UK economy going into recession, towards the end of the year.

In 2008, more than six million people were covered by either personal or corporate PMI, with a further one million being covered through Healthcare Trust arrangements. A total of 7.3 million, people now have some form of private health cover in the UK, an increase of 2.7 per cent on 2007.

Nick Starling, ABI's Director of General Insurance and Health, said: "The continued rise in the number of people covered by PMI is good news. PMI gives people the peace of mind that they are able to get access to the treatment they need, at the time they need it, where they need it.

PMI is good for companies and the economy because it enables employees to get back to work after illness or injury as quickly as possible. This is why there has been a continued rise in the number of people covered by corporate policies.