Why Offer Health Insurance to Employees?
Healthier, Happier Employees
Group private healthcare allows your employees to access fast, high-quality medical treatment, reducing delays caused by NHS waiting times. With early diagnosis and treatment, employees can return to work quicker and avoid prolonged health issues. Many plans also include preventative care, such as health screenings and annual check-ups.
A Competitive Edge in Recruitment and Retention
Private medical insurance is a highly valued employee benefit. Including it in your offering helps attract top candidates and encourages loyalty among existing staff. In a competitive job market, benefits like health insurance can be the deciding factor for candidates choosing between roles.
Mental Health Support as Standard
Mental wellbeing is a crucial part of modern workplace health. Many private health insurance providers include access to counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and other mental health services—helping your team manage stress, anxiety, and depression with professional support.
Quick Access to Treatment
With group PMI, your employees can bypass long NHS queues and see specialists, undergo diagnostics, and receive treatment at private hospitals—often within days. This minimises time off work and ensures health issues are addressed before they worsen.
Chronic Condition and Ongoing Care
Depending on the provider and policy level, some group health plans offer cover for chronic and pre-existing conditions. This means employees managing long-term illnesses can receive consistent, timely care—resulting in better health outcomes and fewer sick days.
Boosted Morale and Employee Loyalty
Providing private health insurance sends a clear message: you care about your team. That level of support creates a positive workplace culture, increases engagement, and encourages staff to stay with your company long term.
Reduced Pressure on the NHS
By giving employees access to private healthcare, your business helps alleviate pressure on public services—while ensuring your team receives the care they need, when they need it.
If you’re asking, “How do I offer health insurance to employees?”—good news, the process is straightforward. Here’s how to get started:
Set a Budget
Health insurance costs will vary based on the number of employees, type of cover, and level of benefits. Decide what your business can afford—some employers cover 100% of the premium, while others offer a contribution model.
Choose a Health Insurance Provider
Look for insurers with a strong network of private hospitals, flexible options for SMEs, and inclusive mental health support. It’s worth comparing quotes to find the best value plan with the most relevant features for your team.
Select the Right Cover Level
You’ll typically choose between:
Core/Basic Cover – Access to essential treatments, GP services, and diagnostics.
Comprehensive Cover – Includes inpatient care, surgery, mental health, specialist treatment, and outpatient services.
SME Health Insurance Plans – Tailored for smaller businesses, often with flexible options for growing teams.
Decide on Employee Contributions
You can fully fund the policy or share the cost with employees. Many providers also allow staff to add family members to their plan for an additional fee.
Communicate Clearly with Your Employees
Make sure your team understands the value of the benefit and how to use it. Provide onboarding materials, FAQs, and ongoing support so they can make the most of their cover.
Key Benefits of Offering Health Insurance to Employees
Still wondering if it’s worth it? Here’s a snapshot of the advantages:
Faster treatment for employees, reducing time off work.
Improved recruitment – stand out to candidates with meaningful benefits.
Better retention – employees are more likely to stay when they feel valued.
Mental health support – improve resilience and reduce burnout.
Family cover options – offer peace of mind beyond the workplace.
Business tax efficiency – premiums are often tax-deductible.
A healthier workforce – fewer absences, higher productivity.
Absolutely. While it does involve a cost, group health insurance is an investment in your people—and your business. It helps you build a more resilient workforce, reduce the impact of long-term illness, and position your company as an employer of choice.
The Long-Term Value
Reduced absenteeism, improved morale, and a stronger employer brand all contribute to better business performance. With increasing pressure on the NHS, private health cover offers employees peace of mind and quicker support when they need it most.
Conclusion: Make Group Health Insurance Work for Your Business
If you’re exploring group private medical insurance for your business, Pineapple Insurance Services is here to help. We work with leading UK health insurers to find the right policy for your team—tailored to your needs and budget.
Let’s chat today and build a healthier, happier workplace.
