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Group Health Insurance in UK
Group Health Insurance offers employees access to private healthcare funded by an insurance provider. This enables them to avoid the extended waiting times of the NHS for eligible medical conditions, facilitating quicker recovery and a swifter return to work compared to waiting for NHS treatment. The employee benefits survey indicates that Health Insurance is the most popular benefit among small and medium-sized businesses, mainly because it helps employees avoid lengthy NHS waiting times.
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What is group private medical insurance?
Group health insurance plans, also referred to as Business Health Insurance, Company Health Insurance, or Corporate Health Insurance, are private health insurance plans purchased by businesses to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for their employees. This insurance arrangement allows multiple employees to be covered under a single policy, offering them easy access to a broad spectrum of medical services and treatments.
One notable advantage is its flexibility, enabling employees to make choices regarding their preferred healthcare providers, hospitals, and appointment dates. This empowers individuals by granting them greater control over their healthcare decisions, often resulting in a faster return to work.
Another significant benefit is the ability to skip public healthcare system waiting lists, ensuring timely care for employees without the limitations of publicly funded healthcare. The scope and cost of these plans can vary depending on the size of the business and its budget.
At Premier PMI, our expert advisors are dedicated to guiding clients through the process to discover the most optimal insurance coverage and deals available in the market.
What are the benefits of group health insurance?
Some advantages of group private medical insurance in the UK are outlined below. It offers a multitude of benefits for both employers and employees.
For Employers:
For Employees:
How does group health insurance work?
Employers offer insurance to staff, covering services like hospital stays and surgeries. Premium group health insurance costs are split, with employers contributing a larger share. Employees are typically enrolled automatically, with no medical assessments required.
Coverage levels can vary based on job roles; senior employees might have more comprehensive plans, while junior staff may receive basic coverage. Networks of healthcare providers are often involved, encouraging the use of in-network services for full benefits. Pre-existing conditions might be covered after a waiting period, and employees can usually add family members for an extra fee.
Both employers and employees enjoy tax benefits on premiums. Even after leaving a job, employees may continue coverage with full premium responsibility. This insurance complements the NHS, offering different coverage tiers to meet diverse employee needs while promoting well-being.
What is the difference between group and individual health insurance?
Company health insurance and individual health insurance in the UK differ in several key aspects.
Company Health Insurance:
- Eligibility– Typically offered by employers to their employees as part of their benefits package, covering a group of employees and sometimes their immediate family members.
- Premium– Premiums are often lower than individual plans because they may be paid in full by employers or shared with employees.
- Coverage– Provides coverage for a wide range of medical treatments, including outpatient and inpatient care, diagnostic tests, and ongoing support.
- Pre-existing Conditions– Group health insurance in UK may offer coverage for pre-existing conditions without exclusions or waiting periods under medical history disregarded underwriting terms.
- Tax Efficiency– Payments for SME insurance are often tax-deductible for businesses.
- Mental Health– This may include better mental health and well-being services.
Individual Health Insurance:
- Personal Choice- Purchased by individuals for themselves and their families.
- Premium- Premiums are solely the responsibility of the individual and are usually higher than group plans.
- Coverage- Offers personalised coverage based on the individual’s needs and preferences.
- Pre-existing Conditions- These may come with exclusions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.
PMI is a cost-effective and tax-efficient way for businesses to provide healthcare benefits to employees and their families. Individual health insurance offers more personalised coverage but at a potentially higher cost. Both types may cover a wide range of medical treatments, including outpatient and inpatient care, diagnostic tests, and support for chronic and critical illnesses. The choice between the two depends on the needs of the employer or individual and their financial considerations.
Our expert says…
“Private Medical Insurance is becoming increasingly more popular due to the longer waiting times through the NHS and most people assume PMI will not be affordable given the increased cost of living over the past 12 months. However, as an independent broker with access to the leading UK insurers such as Aviva, AXA and Bupa to name a few, there are hundreds of variations available at any one given time and therefore policies can be tailor-made to meet their requirements and budget.“
– Stuart Hendy, PMI expert
What does group health insurance cover?
Corporate health insurance is a type of healthcare coverage typically provided by employers to their employees as part of their benefits package. When you buy group health insurance, it offers coverage to a group of individuals and provides access to various medical services and treatments.
Health insurance is typically divided into two main categories for covering medical treatments:
Inpatient
- Inpatient Cover
This is when a patient needs to spend a night in the hospital, such as during recovery after surgery. It also includes coverage for day-patient treatments, where a patient requires a hospital bed for a day, and this aspect is usually a standard feature in all plans.
- Outpatient Cover
Access to outpatient treatment, such as doctor’s visits, specialist consultations, and medical procedures that do not require hospitalisation. Outpatient cover is typically an optional component when configuring a policy. However, relying solely on NHS outpatient care may carry the risk of postponing private inpatient treatment.
Cancer coverage and digital GP services are typically included as standard features by most insurance providers
- Cancer Cover
Access to outpatient treatment, such as doctor’s visits, specialist consultations, and medical procedures that do not require hospitalisation. Outpatient cover is typically an optional component when configuring a policy. However, relying solely on NHS outpatient care may carry the risk of postponing private inpatient treatment.
- Digital GP
Access to outpatient treatment, such as doctor’s visits, specialist consultations, and medical procedures that do not require hospitalisation. Outpatient cover is typically an optional component when configuring a policy. However, relying solely on NHS outpatient care may carry the risk of postponing private inpatient treatment.
Level of Cover
Private medical insurance offers three levels of coverage to choose from, each with its scope of benefits and costs. Companies have the option to select one of these three levels of coverage to provide for their employees. Each level offers distinct benefits and cost considerations:
Basic Cover
- No outpatient
- Limited specialists list
- Full Outpatient
- Full Cancer Cover
- Digital GP
Mid-Range Cover
- Standard outpatient
- Wide Specialists List
- Full Outpatient
- Full Cancer Cover
- Digital GP
Comprehensive Cover
- Full Outpatient
- All hospitals & London HCA
- Full Outpatient
- Full Cancer Cover
- Digital GP
Basic coverage lacks outpatient benefits, leaving employees dependent on NHS waiting lists for diagnostic tests. To avoid delays in diagnostic tests, employers can choose limited outpatient coverage up to £750 as the standard option, or they can opt for full outpatient coverage. This choice can expedite services, prevent sick leave by bypassing NHS waiting lists, and ensure employees receive prompt treatment, facilitating their timely return to work.
Optional Add-ons:
You can enhance your employees’ insurance coverage by selecting from a range of valuable add-ons:
Dental and Optical Coverage
Provides support for dental and optical care expenses, including routine check-ups, eyeglasses, and dental treatments, ensuring comprehensive oral and vision health.
Mental Health Support
Offers vital assistance for employees facing mental health challenges, including access to therapy, counselling, and psychiatric care.
Physiotherapies
Covers physiotherapy services, aiding in the rehabilitation and recovery of employees dealing with physical injuries or conditions.
Worldwide Travel Assistance
Providing coverage for international travel emergencies ensures employees receive medical care and support while abroad, promoting their safety and well-being when traveling for work or leisure.
Private GP
It provides employees with a private GP service, granting them convenient access to private healthcare, ensuring prompt appointments, and providing personalized consultations for their healthcare needs.
Exclusions
Medical conditions fall into two categories:
- Acute conditions are usually temporary and can be resolved with time or treatment, like joint pain that may require joint replacement.
- Chronic conditions, on the other hand, are long-term and persist despite treatment, including conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
Insurance policies typically cover acute conditions, while chronic conditions like heart disease or arthritis are managed by the NHS.
Other exclusions:
- Cosmetic or elective procedures.
- Fertility treatments, including IVF.
- Kidney dialysis and organ transplants.
- HIV/AIDS care.
- Alcohol or substance abuse treatment.
- Routine pregnancy and childbirth (unless complications arise).
- Preventive check-ups and vaccinations (policy-dependent)
Critical Illness
Health insurance does not typically cover critical illnesses as a part of its standard coverage. Critical illness coverage is usually offered as a separate insurance policy or as a rider/add-on to a health insurance plan. This specific coverage provides financial protection in the event the policyholder is diagnosed with a critical illness like cancer, heart disease, or stroke, often paying out a lump sum to assist with medical expenses and other financial burdens during such critical health situations.
How to choose a group health insurance plan
When choosing group health plans for your company, follow these expert steps:
Discover hassle-free quotes with Premier PMI. Being a well-known private health insurance broker in the UK, our expert team simplifies the process, providing you with tailored options to meet your company’s needs and budget. Let Premier PMI take care of the details, so you can focus on what matters most—ensuring your employees have the best coverage available with group private medical insurance in UK.
Group Health Insurance Quotes
The group health insurance cost is mainly determined by these factors:
- Location: The geographic area where your company is based affects healthcare costs and, consequently, the policy’s price.
- Age of Each Employee: Younger employees typically result in lower costs.
- Level of Cover: The level of Inpatient, outpatient, and optional add-ons like dental and mental health, directly impacts the policy’s cost.
- Underwriting Method: underwriting types like moratorium and Full medical underwriting are cheaper than the Medical history disregarded option.
- Company Size: The size of your company, or how many employees are covered under the policy, can lead to volume discounts, which may reduce the per-person premium.
Our experts have conducted calculations to estimate the average expense of providing insurance coverage per employee across companies of different sizes. These calculations take into account certain conditions:
- a £750 maximum limit for outpatient care
- a £100 deductible applied to the policy
- mid-range hospital coverage
- Prices include insurance premium tax
| Number of Employees | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 2-9 | £51.09 |
| 10-49 | £36.17 |
| 49-99 | £26.66 |
Which offer is the most affordable?
Which offer is the most affordable? Please be aware that the premiums presented here are for illustration purposes only. The real cost per employee can fluctuate significantly due to numerous influencing factors. If you’re interested in comparing quotes from reputable UK insurers to identify the most cost-effective option, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 02045250884 or send an email to contact@premierpmi.co.uk. We’re eager to assist you in discovering the insurance solutions that best suit your needs.
How to get group health insurance
When it comes to choosing a policy for your employees, you have two main paths to choose from:
Directly Dealing with the Insurance Provider
While this route seems straightforward, it can be risky. When you engage directly with an insurance provider, their sales representatives may prioritise deals that serve their own interests. This could lead to unpleasant surprises later on. For instance, you might discover that the coverage isn’t as comprehensive as you initially thought, or the claims process is more complicated, causing stress and consuming time for your HR team. Unfortunately, many businesses and HR professionals have faced these challenges.
Use of an Independent Insurance Broker
Opting for an independent insurance broker often proves to be a more advantageous approach. A truly independent consultant or broker works with your best interests in mind. They work for you, not the insurance provider, making your needs their top priority. Independent brokers maintain relationships with multiple insurance providers, offering insights into available deals and potential negotiation opportunities. Their expertise often leads to competitive pricing and access to exclusive offers not available to the general public. It’s worth noting that not all brokers are truly independent; some have close ties with specific providers, which can limit the range of deals they can offer.
Here are some additional benefits of using the independent insurance broker:
| Options | Independent Advice | Market review, negotiation, comparison | Regulated by FCA to give advice | Go through the pros and cons of all insurers | Personal ongoing services | Prices |
| Direct | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Comparison Website | Price only | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| PMI Broker | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
The choice between these options hinges on your specific needs and your desire for independence and expertise when obtaining a cover.
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