The Competition Commission looks set to weaken the UK insurance networks by allowing individuals with private medical insurance (PMI) to use any willing private provider. Patients wanting total choice would be able to a pay a small top-up fee if their preferred provider is not part of their insurer’s existing network. Meanwhile, earlier in June, the top five private hospital groups - BMI, Spire, Nuffield, Ramsay and HCA - bowed to pressure and published prices for self-pay patients.The UK private healthcare market is being liberalised.