Millions of people in the UK are lucky enough to be covered by a private medical insurance (PMI) policy provided by their employer. These are great, not only for the workforce by having access to some of the best healthcare facilities in the country and being able to beat often long waiting times of the NHS for treatment, but for less obvious reasons for the company too. Over three quarters of British workers believe that their employer should be responsible for their healthcare as it is where they spend the majority of their time, and most businesses both big and small recognise the importance of providing benefits like private medical insurance to their staff. Not only do staff feel more loyal to the company, it also attracts a higher calibre of candidate to any job vacancy in the first instance. Employees are also more likely to return to work in a quicker time should they become ill by being treated in the most convenient place and time to them.


Not everyone is covered by a corporate private insurance policy however. It is an attractive option to most people, and the traditional view that premiums are expensive and unaffordable can put people off enquiring into a quote for private health cover. But more cost effective private health insurance like the cash plan policies provided by Freedom Healthnet have made the peace of mind that comes with PMI available to even the lowest budgets. These can even be highly beneficial to those people who are self employed and are looking to cut costs where they can.

Millions of workers in the UK are taking days off sick because they are unsatisfied with their jobs. Illness is one of the biggest problems for employers and costs huge sums of money every year through loss of productivity and efficiency. But now it seems that it not sickness itself that is causing all of these problems. According to one of the latest surveys published by Bupa, nearly half of the British workforce are annoyed with a lack of career progression and feel generally unfulfilled in their jobs. The “How are you Britain?” report suggests that this can mean people end up taking days off as a result.


There are a number of things that employers can do to help this apathetic attitude of some of their staff and reduce the cost of sick days to their business. Among these suggestions is providing private health insurance for employees which can help to improve the loyalty which they feel towards the company they work for. Not only this, if workers do actually become ill, they will be able to avoid the waiting times of the NHS if they so wish and visit a private hospital which means they are more likely to return to work quicker than they might have done otherwise. It can also cost very little in comparison to the cost of sickness to the workplace, particularly if the company opts for a cash plan private medical insurance policy. Other suggestions that have been made to help staff feel more satisfied at work are providing health food in canteens and encouraging fitness activities.

Large business in the UK are still valuing the benefits of having private medical insurance for their staff but may be considering cutting down their level of cover to keep employees happy. Recession hit workers are having to pay the P11D tax on their benefits and those on lower incomes are finding this difficult. Rather than cancelling their cover altogether, many companies still want to keep their private health insurance because they recognise the importance of looking after their employees and the return in productivity and efficiency that comes about from doing so. So now it seems that employers might be considering to switching to a policy that has a much lower premium, not just to save themselves money but also the amount of tax their staff are having to pay.


One way they can save money is to change from a traditional level of cover to a cash plan policy which are renowned for providing good benefits but at a much lower cost. Other ways of saving money includes altering the excess amount, and even some more unusual methods. Gareth Ashley-Jones at Aon Consulting told employeebenefits.co.uk, "Clients are asking for more creative solutions, with some structuring PMI with different excess levels. Employees who choose a high excess can reduce the premium and therefore the tax. Many employees do not need the 'full monty' plan. It is a big expense for someone on a low salary. Employers can also reduce costs by using options such as six-week plans, where private treatment is paid for only if the NHS cannot carry it out within six weeks."

Back pain sufferers and other patients with musculoskeletal complaints may be persuaded to take out a quote for private health insurance after it was revealed that over half of patients have to wait over six weeks for physiotherapy on the NHS. An investigation carried out by Health Insurance and Protection magazine has found that only forty percent of the 126 out of 152 primary care trusts that were included in the study had waiting times of less than six weeks. That’s despite the fact that patients with back pain have a much higher likelihood of returning to work if they are treated within a four to six week time bracket. Employers may find that they prefer to cover their staff with corporate private health insurance if it means that they can beat the queues and return to work in a shorter period of time. Some sufferers face waits of over eighteen weeks in nine primary care trusts across the UK.


Occupational health treatments are not covered by all private health insurance policies so it is important to check the list of benefits of each provider and level of cover whilst comparing policies. Freedom Healthnet offers physiotherapy on all levels of its private health cover, even the most basic policy, and because they are cash plan policies they can be over half the cost of those from other providers. Back problems are a huge cost to businesses in the UK, causing employees to take nearly five million days off work every year. Physiotherapy won’t be able to help all of these problems, but by providing near-immediate access to this treatment, companies could significantly help to cut the number of days lost to sickness and improve the efficiency of their workforce.

Many companies in the United States are becoming less satisfied with their private health insurance providers, according to one of the latest surveys. PricewaterhouseCoopers have found that the recession has caused many American companies to look again at the private health cover they are offering for their employees. The two main things that bosses said they would like to see improve is better information and more value. One way in which they might decide to improve their private health insurance policy is to consider swapping to another provider or a different type of policy. The easiest way to do this is to get a quick and simple quote on the internet.


It is not only companies in the United States that are looking to save money across all their everyday costs. Businesses in the UK have also been hit by the recession, and many of them may have considered cash plan private medical insurance as an alternative to the traditional policy that they may already provide for their staff. Cancelling cover altogether will undoubtedly save the most money but the benefits of having corporate private health insurance could be worth the expense in the long term. The businesses who took part in the PricewaterhouseCooper study felt that there was a lot of waste in their private health cover. Cash plan insurance is a more cost effective policy and could give employees a similar access to private health care facilities but at a fraction of the cost.

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.

As the government looks increasingly likely to get rid of the default retirement age for workers in the UK, it’s not only the ageing population that are beginning to worry about the implications. It is thought that four in ten will have to work six years longer than they originally hoped to because of an increasing pension deficit across the country. That’s according to research carried out by Aon Consulting and means that the average retiring age is likely to rise to 70. The costs for employers of providing benefits to an ever ageing workforce could go up significantly –some experts say it could be up to 20 percent.


There are a wide range of employee benefits, one of which is private health insurance. If the cost of premiums increases some companies may be forced to cancel their policy or look for a cheaper option. Cash plan private medical insurance is a much cheaper way for companies of providing private health cover for their staff and switching to this type of policy could make the savings that a business is looking for. Cancelling altogether may not be the best option for a company that has already reaped the benefits of private health cover and could end up costing them more money in the long term from staff sick days, less efficiency and productivity. It could also mean staff become less loyal and motivated to work hard if it seems to appear that their interests are not as at heart as they are used to.

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.

Private medical insurance had a significant impact in helping employers attract new recruits last year. In a survey conducted in 2008 of 211 employers with a workforce of 675,000 people 68% of employers have highlighted private health insurance to be a useful in recruitment. Furthermore 63% agreed it improved employee motivation.

With a cost to employers of over £1 billion each year, four in ten companies now provide their whole workforce with private healthcare policies.

80% of employers believe the schemes have helped their employees returning to work more quickly after absence. Two thirds of these employers said the schemes improved performance of their staff who were suffering from a disease, illness or injury.

Corporate private medical insurance costs on average £506 per person per year (based on 2008 prices.) However, 61% of employers provide limited benefits to permanent employees and line managers and extend greater cover to directors and senior managers.

Source: Personnel Today
Medical Insurance helps new recruits

Almost three times the amount of companies are now offering their employees a permanent form of private medical insurance than this time last year. That is according to some of the latest research from Hewitt Associates who found that over two thirds (67 percent) of companies now offer private health cover as part of a flexible benefits scheme for their staff compared to just 23 percent in 2008. The annual flexible benefits survey found that health screenings was the top employee benefit, followed by dental care. These results show that despite the recession, employers are still recognising the importance of looking after the health of their staff as a long term investment rather than a short term cost. Just some of the advantages to a company of providing health benefits like private health insurance are attracting a higher calibre of staff and reducing the cost of days lost to sickness each year.


Some people do not realise that there are many types of private medical insurance, as well as different levels of policy on offer. Cash plan private health cover pays out a cash lump sum to the patient to put towards the cost of private healthcare, or if they wish to be treated on the NHS they can use the money to cover other costs like travel expenses. But why decide to opt for cash plan private health insurance for your employees? Firstly, it is the most cost effective form of health cover so a company can still provide their staff with this highly regarded and appreciated benefit but at a low premium. Secondly, there are no hospital lists which means that if your employees commute in to work from further afield they will have an even wider choice as to whether they would rather be treated nearer to home or work. By making this more convenient choice they may be able to recover in a quicker time in a more comfortable environment to them.

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.

The number of people claiming on private medical insurance policies has increased. The latest figures have been released in a report by employee benefits consultants Mercer. They found that 3 percent more people made a claim compared to 2007. They compared results from 250 of the largest companies in the UK to come up with the data. It’s thought that the increase came partly as a result of a rise in medical inflation. Not only this, but people are believed to have been taking advantage of their existing private medical cover as part of their job while they still had it, either because they feared losing their job or just their employee benefits.


Private medical insurance is available at a very low monthly premium, especially with cash plan private health cover. Freedom Healthnet offers a good basic policy costing as little as £10.44 per month so even if people are expecting to lose their health insurance as part of their job there is no need for them to lose the peace of mind that comes alongside it. A company may also want to consider switching their current corporate health insurance policy to cash plan private medical cover to save themselves much needed funds in this economic climate rather than cancelling the policy altogether. Employee health insurance is a good way to attract top quality staff to a vacancy, which could improve performance and efficiency. A better general state of health for a workforce also means that less money should be lost due to staff sickness, which is a major cost to most businesses.

A top organisation which represents insurance brokers in the UK is advising companies to take out private medical insurance cover for their employees. The British Insurance Broker’s Association (Biba) say that PMI could help keep a business healthy, as well as its staff. With many companies doing their best to keep going in the recession, it’s no wonder that more and more bosses are looking to take moves to benefit their business and a corporate private medical health insurance policy could be just one way of doing so. Peter Staddon, head of technical services at Biba, told ClickAJob: "It is a much better way of maintaining the health of your staff as well as your business and there are some brilliant schemes out there."


Biba say that there are a number of reasons to take out a corporate private medical insurance policy. Firstly, it’s important, especially for smaller businesses to control illness amongst their employees. Secondly, it helps staff to work to the best of their ability, inevitably increasing productivity because it may prevent them from worrying about any medical issues that they may have as much. Private medical insurance is a good way of putting someone’s mind at rest because top quality medical care is always available in a time and place suitable to the patient. Some bosses may see PMI as an added cost initially, but millions of pounds are lost every year by British businesses due to sickness so this could be one way of reducing cost in the long run by encouraging a healthier workforce. Figures released by the Association of British Insurers last month only confirm this, with the number of people taking out a private medical insurance policy in 2008 increasing, despite the UK heading into recession.

Employers are being warned that increasing numbers of workers will have chronic diseases and conditions over the next twenty years. The number of people with diabetes and respiratory conditions are expected to rise by over seven percent by 2030. The figures have been published in a report called ‘Healthy Work’, following research carried out by BUPA alongside the Work Foundation, the Oxford Health Alliance and RAND Europe. It’s bad news for companies as productivity levels could fall so they are being advised to take steps to help themselves. One thing they could do is take out a private medical insurance policy.


The main factors that will cause the problem are obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking. A private medical insurance policy will help a company’s workforce combat these issues firstly by making them aware that they have a problem. A lot of people are conscious about their weight, but many don’t realise that they are actually classed as obese or even morbidly obese. This can be discovered in a general health check that can be received in a private healthcare centre. Similarly, a lot of people do not realise the effect that their drinking can have on their health until it is too late. Advice on changing lifestyle, including help on giving up smoking as well can also be given by the services made available to a company’s staff through corporate private medical insurance. All these health problems can lead to very serious conditions in the long run and will affect businesses in the future, but this can all be prevented if action is taken now.

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.

The cost of private medical insurance has decreased in recent years, meaning that it is now more accessible and affordable to the British public. With increasing numbers of people wishing to take out health insurance policies, and with a wide range of cover available, it can become confusing. Private medical insurance itself goes by many different names, but the terms hospital plan, health plan, health insurance and cash plan all essentially have the same purpose in assisting you with the cost of private healthcare.

Over 3.4 million people in the UK have decided to take out a health insurance policy and this has been for many reasons. Long NHS waiting lists and a lack of choice over when and where someone can receive their treatment are two major causes for concern. A private medical insurance policy gives the freedom and peace of mind in knowing that care is available in the space of a few days if it becomes necessary.

An even higher level of freedom is given if someone decides to take out a cash plan policy, where the insurance provider will pay the customer money towards the cost of treatment rather than paying it directly like regular health insurance. This gives the patient the increased choice of whether to use the money to supplement care from the NHS or whether to use it to pay for private treatment. Cash plans are often a more affordable way of ensuring that the best facilities are available to you in case you need them, but fully comprehensive policies are available which may also cover the cost of alternative treatments such as acupuncture and reflexology, as well as physiotherapy and chiropractic care.

SME Private Medical Insurance is increasingly purchased online, according to the latest news & research from The Insurance Times. Small business owners like the convenience of dealing with insurance online, outside of business hours according to the study.
Health insurance brokers are still being used but increasing numbers of small businesses are going direct to online medical insurance providers for medical quotations for their staff at a time to suit them.
SME's are officially classified as businesses with 10-250 staff and turnover of £1.5 - £37.5 million and this is the market that the insurance study is referring to. Micro Businesses with fewer than 10 members of staff and a turnover of less than £1.5 million are also a key market currently looking online for PMI for their employees, according to a Freedom Healthnet spokesperson.

"More SME's will be looking to use the web for their insurance needs - not just as a pure quotation and buying mechanism, but also as an advisory rsource and to manage their service needs," according to the research. Companies, like individuals, want ease-of-use, and information when they want it. This is a basic requirement and something that health insurance providers are endeavouring to fulfill.

Getting a quotation for company private medical insurance is a matter of filling in some basic company information to start with and then getting an experienced representative to help with the more complex parts of the process. What level of insurance cover do you want? Core? Essential? Fully comprehensive? Would you like to offer the possibility of covering employees' families? Do some of them have a current insurer and want to switch?
Whether getting an initial quotation or looking to switch from a current medical insurance insurer, the Freedom SME medical insurance quotation process is designed to be fluid and straightforward.