The effects of alcohol abuse are hitting the workplace hard, so much so that a government committee has now made recommendations including introducing a minimum pricing scheme. The advice from the parliamentary health committee, if taken up, would mean that the government would set a minimum price for a unit of alcohol and could cause the cost of many drinks to increase. It’s a controversial idea which will not be met with open arms for the many people who like to have a drink in their own homes and those responsible drinkers will feel like they are being punished for the actions of others. But the fact is that alcohol abuse is now costing businesses £7.3bn every year, the majority of which comes from loss of productivity mainly from days taken off sick due to alcohol.


Despite these figures, alcohol related absences only make up between three to five percent of all absences taken from work, which could alarm some employers when they put into perspective that the eight to 14 million working days lost to alcohol is just a small proportion of the total. Many more working days are lost every year in the UK to other illnesses and one thing which employers can do to help reduce the effect of this to the productivity and efficiency of their own business is to take out a corporate private health insurance policy. This means that staff can avoid the longer waiting times of the NHS should they become ill and return to work in a quicker time than they would normally. There are many other benefits of providing private health cover for employees, which makes the small premiums seem a worthy investment for businesses.

Small businesses in parts of America are having to cut back or cancel their employee health insurance because of rising premiums. Many companies are struggling at the moment anyway because of the recession and are looking to cut costs in every area of their expenditure. Private health insurance for staff is just one area that is not vital for the running of the company has been under debate for businesses not just in America but in the UK as well. Small businesses have been affected more than larger corporate entities because they have less power to be able to negotiate prices with insurers but one thing which they can do is considering swapping their corporate health cover from a traditional style policy to the more cost effective cash plan style health insurance.


Employee private health cover may not be vital for the everyday running of a company, however it can be very important and make a difference when it comes to the performance of that business. It can help to reduce the large amount of money lost each year to staff sickness and therefore improve the efficiency of a workforce. Not only that, staff morale could be boosted as they feel more appreciated by their employers and may be more likely to want to work hard. On top of all these benefits, corporate private medical insurance can also help to attract a higher calibre of employee to an advertised position so that while in the first instance it can seem like an extra cost, in the long term the success and position of the company could be pushed forward.

More than a quarter of companies will be increasing the range of employee health benefits in the next year a survey has revealed. The report, “Bothered Britain”, which was carried out by Simply Health, found that 26 percent of businesses are planning on increasing their budgets for the benefits which include corporate health insurance. This research is positive news for the health insurance industry, as it appears that companies are more than doubling their spend on healthcare benefits than in 2008 despite the recession. It seems that bosses are recognising the importance of offering rewards to their staff – giving many benefits including improved performance and efficiency.


While many companies are struggling through the credit crunch, it may have seemed an attractive option to cut down on expenditures that may not necessarily be a necessity to the everyday running of the business. Private medical insurance and other health benefits may have been among these costs but this latest report shows that attitudes among HR staff have changed. Six in ten of those who took part said that health benefits have are more important now than they were last year, and another four in ten said they are key in the recruitment process. This is just one of the main benefits of taking out a private health insurance policy for employees, as it can attract a higher calibre of candidates. It may be an immediate cost to a company, but in the long term a better performing staff who will have access to top quality healthcare to return them to work as soon as possible should they become ill, could save a lot of money.

Private medical insurance is one way for people to avoid the waiting lists of the NHS and be seen in a place and time that is most convenient to them. Waiting lists is currently one of the main reasons for people to take out a private health insurance policy but with NHS waiting times becoming shorter all the time, some people have begun to question the relevance of having private health cover, especially in a financial environment where people are having to cut costs in every area of their daily expenditures. The Department of Health has recently announced that most people (over 94 percent) now only have to wait eight weeks or less from the time they are referred by their GP to their outpatient slot. This is all down to the increased government spending on the health service which has seen waiting times drop from 18 months in some cases. Despite this, there has been some other factors which have meant that the number of people taking out private health insurance increased again last year.


In clamping down on waiting times, the NHS has classed a number of procedures as non-urgent. These treatments tend to have longer waiting lists as a result, and although they are not life threatening, the procedures such as cataract operations can make a big difference to the condition of a person’s life. This might mean that people would prefer to still have private healthcare to be treated in an even shorter time. These sorts of conditions can also keep people off work for lengthy periods, so employers could still be attracted to health insurance for their staff to help get them back to work as quick as possible, rather than having them wait for NHS care. The future also seems uncertain for some people as the increased government spending on the NHS is likely to take big cuts in the coming years. Private health insurance is a good guarantee that a patient will be treated in the shortest possible time span.

As costs of having a private medical insurance policy have risen across the majority of health insurance providers, new research has found that a third of companies who currently offer private medical cover for their staff are looking at reviewing their policies. Aon Consultancy, who carried out the study, found that 16 percent of those were considering cash plan private medical insurance as an alternative to their current policies. Cash plan policies are a much more cost effective way of providing health insurance for staff, and is considered one of the top employee benefits available.


Companies are still deciding to take out private medical insurance policies, despite the price increase which Aon Consultancy believe to be up to 9 percent in some cases. This is evidence of the importance that providing good employee benefits are to the running of a company, either big or small, through improving general staff morale for one. The main reasons that the study found for continuing to provide corporate private medical insurance throughout the recession were to make sure that employees returned to work quickly following a bout of illness (53 percent), to provide employee wellbeing as part of their corporate responsibilities (56 percent) and over two thirds of the 653 employers that took part in the study offered PMI as part of a competitive benefits package. As well as this, private medical insurance is one way of attracting a higher calibre of staff so overall productivity could increase and save costs for businesses in the long term.

Employees across the UK have a lot to look forward to in the next year despite the apparent doom and gloom surrounding businesses during the recession. Over one in five employers have said they plan to increase the healthcare benefits available to their workforce during the coming year according to an annual survey carried out by Employee Benefits magazine. Costs are being cut in all areas of businesses at the moment but it seems that private health insurance is one area that is still considered a priority by managers and company owners. The health of a company’s workforce may not be immediately considered to be essential to success but it can ultimately affect efficiency and the importance of this has evidently been recognised by these 22 percent of businesses who took part in the survey.


There are many advantages to having a corporate private medical insurance policy and the cost can prove to be very well spent over the long term. Sick days are a major cost to companies and are especially noticeable in smaller businesses. These can be reduced through private health cover by getting staff treated in a much quicker time than they would have on the NHS. Also, by offering good benefits to staff, higher calibre applicants will be attracted to any vacancy that may come up and the overall performance of the business could improve. Finally, private health insurance is a good way for employers to show their staff that they really care about their wellbeing and make it a better place to work in generally. If employees feel good about their job, they are more likely to work harder and less likely to leave the company, reducing time and hassle in finding a replacement.

Increasing numbers of businesses are turning to corporate cash plan health insurance policies in order to save money, as the costs of traditional private medical insurance become too expensive for many in times of recession. Nearly one in four businesses has said that the main reason for not using traditional private health insurance policies is that the rising costs of healthcare is pushing up the cost of premiums. According to a survey by HSA, this means that more and more companies are looking at cheaper options, like cash plan private medical cover. 

“It is hardly surprising that companies are increasingly choosing budget health plans for their workforce, and health cash plans are a simple and affordable option,” HSA’s Abby Bowman told Health Insurance and Protection Magazine.

Despite their growing popularity, some confusion seems to be arising among employees surrounding the health benefits provided by their employers, and it’s all because they simply aren’t giving them enough information. The success of a corporate health insurance policy depends on the level of communication between the private medical insurance provider and the employer, in order for the employer to pass on the information to their workforce. 

Freedom Healthnet provides easy to read information about all its policies, helping the third of employees who are currently unsatisfied with the amount of advice they are given about their health to feel happier and more at ease. Corporate cash plan health insurance is also an important way for companies, “to cover their duty of care and health and safety obligations,” said sales and marketing director Russ Piper, when also speaking to Health Insurance and Protection Magazine.

Money has become tight for many people in the UK over the past six months, with increasing food, gas and electricity bills causing problems for some. Experts are giving advice here, there and everywhere on how to decrease spending, whether through buying supermarket own brand products, or using energy-saving light bulbs. Now it seems that there are ways that you can save on your private medical insurance too, by being part of a corporate health insurance policy.

If your company already offers private health cover as a benefit to its employees, you should be able to get a much more competitive quote as an individual. The bigger your company is, the better, as the overall cost is dependant upon how many people are covered by the policy. It is worth researching into a company before you commit to working for them as a job is not always just about the wage packet.

Another way to make your quote for private medical insurance cheaper is by taking it out when you are young and more healthy. This way, you are not only less likely to have to make a claim but with access to top quality healthcare and check-ups you may be less prone to serious illness as you get older. Cash plan private health insurance can also save you money, as well as giving you the option to choose where and when you undertake your treatment, choosing a time and place that is convenient to you.

Four in ten workers in the UK think their employers should provide them with private healthcare through a corporate health insurance policy. These figures come from the latest study by BUPA, which found private health cover came second only to pensions, in a list of employee concerns regarding their job.  Having a comfortable retirement fund was a top priority for just marginally more people at forty nine per cent, halving the difference between the two benefits from the previous year. Health is clearly becoming increasingly important for employees, with gym membership and wellness assessments also resulting high in the research. As well as this, businesses are now being encouraged by the Government to provide support for their staff as advised in the Department for Work and Pensions’ 'Review of the Health of the Working Population.' It seems that there is not a better time to get a quote for corporate medical insurance.

For three in four of all employees who would like to see private medical insurance among their job benefits, cleanliness of hospitals is the main worry. This is closely followed by wanting to avoid waiting lists, in particular for specialist treatment. Bupa’s Ann Greenwood told The Fair Investment Company, "The rising popularity of workplace health benefits, particularly PMI, reflects changing attitudes to personal healthcare. People are now keen to have more control of their healthcare options rather than leaving them to chance." 

Freedom Healthnet’s corporate health insurance policies offer such a degree of control. Employees can receive treatment in a time and place convenient to them, whether it be closer to work or home. They can be cared for in a top quality private clinic, visit their local NHS hospital or travel abroad if they wish. It’s not only workers that will benefit from a better state of health, but companies could save a significant amount of money by losing fewer days each year to sickness. In 2005, British companies lost £13 billion simply as a result of sickness. 

Three new flu strains are on their way to the UK this winter, and companies are being warned to offer vaccinations for the virus to their staff to avoid major disruptions. The new strains - A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and B/Florida/4/2006-like virus can effectively be prevented with a simple inoculation that employers can access through their corporate health insurance. Flu is often compared to the common cold, but the illness can cause major upsets in the workplace with most people taking a week off. Even when they return, the virus leaves people very weak and production will undoubtedly be reduced. Businesses in the UK already lose millions of pounds each year due to sickness and these new strains of flu will only add to this, but the vaccination, which is effective in an estimated 70 to 90 per cent of adults, could significantly improve this.

Peter Mace is the assistant medical director at BUPA Wellness. He told Easier Finance, “Flu is one of the major reasons for short-term sickness among UK workers, and we recommend that even individuals who have received flu vaccinations previously should still be given the new vaccine to ensure they are protected from the three new strains. Any previous vaccines will not be effective in protecting against the new strains." By taking out a corporate private medical insurance policy, not only will employees have access to the new vaccine, but they will also be able to receive health care at a time and place convenient to them, should they become ill and return to work as soon as possible.

Corporate health insurance has many benefits for both the employer and employee, the most important of which must be losing less days to sickness each year through a generally healthier workforce. There are, however, many misconceptions about group health insurance policies that may put bosses off from investing in something that can be very worthwhile for their businesses.
One of the most common mistakes is that managers believe all health insurance policies cost the same. In fact, cost varies according to many factors, such as the general age and size of the workforce as well as the type of health cover. Cash plan medical insurance policies, like those offered by Freedom Healthnet, can work out to be more cost effective than traditional plans, and give more choice to the employee as to where they would like to receive their treatment. Many people also believe that they will have to go through the hassle of getting a referral, but in fact most health insurance companies are based on an open access system and require no referral at all.

Some business owners are led to think that they will have to use a broker in order to get the best deal for them, but this can be expensive and unnecessary. Quotes for private medical insurance are easily available online, as well as all the information a company will need to help them decide if that particular level of cover is well suited to their needs. If advice is needed, however, independent brokers are available to help for little or no cost. On the other hand, some corporations think they know everything that there is to know about private medical insurance when in fact they are missing out on vital knowledge that could save them a lot of money. The industry is constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up with the latest information, as well as running a business. It is worthwhile enquiring into latest issues and quotes regularly and taking advice from independent brokers to ensure that your company’s group health cover is both cost efficient and gives the most relevant benefits.

Corporate health insurance has many benefits to both the employer and employee, most importantly losing less days to sickness each year through a generally healthier workforce. There are however many misconceptions about group health insurance policies that may put bosses off from investing in something that can be very worthwhile for their businesses.

One of the most common mistakes is that managers believe all health insurance policies cost the same. This of course varies according to many factors, such as the general age and size of the workforce as well as the type of health cover. Cash plan medical insurance policies, like those offered by Freedom Healthnet, can work out more cost effective than traditional plans and give more choice to the employee as to where they would like to receive their treatment. Many people also believe that they will have to go through the hassle of getting a referral, but in fact most health insurance companies are based on an open access system and require no referral at all.

Some business owners are led to think that they will have to use a broker in order to get the best deal for them, but this can be expensive and unnecessary. Quotes for private medical insurance are easily available online as well as all the information a company will need to help them decide if that particular level of cover is well suited to their needs. If advice is needed, independent brokers are available to help for little or no cost. On the other hand, some corporations think they know everything that there is to know about private medical insurance when in fact they are missing out on vital knowledge that could save them a lot of money. The industry is constantly changing and it is hard to keep up with the latest information with a busy business to run. It is worthwhile enquiring into a new quote regularly and taking advice from independent brokers to ensure that the company’s group health cover is both cost efficient and gives the most relevant benefits.

Freedom Healthnet was delighted to attend the Employee Benefits Exhibition 2007 in London. With our focus on employee medical benefits, we found it a very productive and exciting show and one we will definitely attend again next year. The quality of attendees and other exhibitors were second to none and we would highly recommend this to anyone within the Employee Benefits arena.
"Our first attendance at the Employee Benefits Exhibition 2007 was a huge success for Freedom Healthnet Ltd. In two days we were visited by over 250 people which included broker enquiries to sign agency agreements through to direct enquiries from Human Resource Personnel." said Business Partnerships Manager, Paul Oswick.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the bottle of Champagne raffled at the Employee Benefits Exhibition is Karen Potter of The Hood Group, Essex. Karen visited Rob and Paul on the stand at the show, where they were chatting with people about the health insurance benefits provided by Freedom Healthnet's Company Medical Insurance - including the possibility of being treated abroad, if they prefered!

Karen is being sent a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin in a cheeky little Veuve jacket forthwith! Congratulations Karen - it was lovely to meet you!

We are reliably informed that a bottle of champagne is due to be raffled and presented to one company employee at the Employee Benefit Exhibition on the Freedom Healthnet Stand. So make sure that you stop by and visit if you are interested in getting your medical and health needs covered through your company or if you want to offer this vital insurance to your staff!

With the focus on Employee Medical Insurance, the Freedom booth houses excellent information resources in the guise of Rob and Paul, two very experienced insurance consultants, who are there to give you information about employee health cover and answer your questions:

What can I expect from Company Medical Insurance?
How long will I have to wait for authorisation for treatment?
How soon will the money be 'in the bank' ready to pay for my treatment?
Where can I have my treatment?
What hospitals abroad have your clients used?
How much can I save by having my treatment abroad?
Do I get to keep the savings?
Can my family be covered too?
How little can I get an company health insurance policy for?
What happens if I move company? Can I switch?
Can your medical insurance be rebranded after my company?
... and many more.

The Employee Benefit Exhibition & Conference kicked off today at the Business Design Centre in London. This growing 2-day exhibition (and the largest employee benefits event in Europe), is designed for workers to learn more about benefits available to them from their employers.

Freedom Healthnet provides employee medical insurance for companies, often 'white labelling' their health insurance for individual corporates. For example, a group of accountants has called their employee health insurance after their company: e.g. (ABC) Accountants Medical Insurance via the Freedom affinity scheme. Various benefit management companies also rebrand the Freedom Company Medical Insurance as their own to enable a seamless, branded offering to their clients.

At the exhibition and conference, PMI experts Rob Smith and Paul Oswick will be advising companies and employees about the excellent benefits offered by Freedom Health Insurance. Company Medical Insurance, including the fact that you can choose the hospital group and the particular you want to be treated in: BMI, Bupa, Nuffield, for instance, as the employee has the cash amount given to them to pay for in-patient treatment.*

The conference will hear from large companies, such as Next and B & Q about how they use benefits as incentives to motivate their employees. With workers increasingly dispondent about the NHS and the potential delays for treatment and increasing numbers of companies wanting to reduce the amount of time their employees have off sick, employee private medical insurance is an increasing necessity within both the public and private sectors.

With company medical insurance from Freedom, employees can also cover their families so that they can benefit from private health cover, too.

* subject to approval of inpatient claim.