Everything You Need to Know About Business Health Insurance in the UK
Writing your own business plan? Getting ready to buy business health insurance in the UK? You’ve come to the right place. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Business Health Insurance in the UK, from the different types of plans available to the best providers of health insurance for businesses in the UK, as well as what to consider when choosing what plan is right for you and your employees.
We also give you an overview of the costs associated with buying and maintaining business health insurance in the UK so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not it makes sense for your business.
Understanding Business Health Insurance
There are many reasons for business owners, or would-be business owners, to invest in health insurance for their staff. Obviously, if you’re setting up a company and want everyone working there covered by an insurance policy from day one, it’s best to ensure that you get it sorted at an early stage.
If your company is already well established but you haven’t thought about what cover is needed before now, it may be wise to review your policy immediately and make sure that any holes are filled.
There are different policies available depending on what level of cover you want (and can afford) so it’s important that you know exactly how they work before taking out anything. This guide will give you all of the information you need to understand business health insurance in more detail.
What are the levels of cover offered by my business health insurer?
The level of cover you need depends on your business. For instance, if you’re a sole trader or a limited company, how much cover do you really need? There are three levels of cover offered by businesses health insurers: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Simply put, bronze covers 60% of your costs; silver covers 70% and gold offers 80%.
As such, if you have low turnover (i.e., low costs) and don’t expect to have any major claims during a given year – then a bronze policy will suffice. On average – say you earn £100k gross profit per annum; that translates into around £60k net profit after taking off expenses – therefore your premiums would be based on that figure.
If you earned less than £60k – then it wouldn’t make sense for you to pay for higher cover because your premium would be more than what you’d get back. However, if your turnover is higher than £60k and/or there’s a chance of high-cost claims occurring over time – then it may make sense for you to go for a silver or gold policy.
Chosen A Business Health Insurer
There are dozens of options available, and it can be difficult knowing where to start. Broadly speaking, there are two main types of policy you can choose from. First-party business health insurance will cover you for any illnesses or injuries your employees may experience (provided their condition is covered by their individual policy).
You’ll also need a second-party business health insurance policy if you wish to make private healthcare arrangements for your employees – one that covers both you and them at a reduced cost.
What does my business health insurance cover?
This depends on what type of policy you opt for. Some policies offer comprehensive coverage across all areas of medicine, while others focus on specific treatments such as dentistry or cosmetic surgery. If you want to keep costs down, then opting for a more limited plan might be best – but only if you have a good idea about what sort of care your employees might require in future.
Tailor A Perfect Plan.
Looking for business health insurance? Then it’s vital that you know how much cover you need and what exactly is covered. Look out for one that offers maximum flexibility so that you can tailor your plan specifically to suit your business. If a claim is made, ensure you understand which parts of it are covered by your policy and which aren’t so there aren’t any nasty surprises when you come to make a claim.
And if something goes wrong, take action – businesses have a legal right to compensation under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if they paid via credit card and under Section 77 if they paid via debit card or another non-cash method.
What Benefits Does My Business Health Insurer Provide In The UK?
Most business health insurance policies include some form of dependents coverage, which means you’ll have access to health benefits for your spouse and/or children. So, say your employee gets sick at home—if they are on your plan, then they can take advantage of these benefits; it’s another reason why having dependents on your company plan makes a lot of sense from a financial perspective.
For example, if an employee has a child who is under 18 and covered by their policy, that child is eligible for a wide range of pediatric services at no additional cost. This might be a huge benefit for families with young children as there may be quite a few medical expenses incurred before kids turn 18 years old. There are also many plans that cover adult family members (such as parents) so long as they live with you or your employee is over 65 years old.
The exact details vary depending on what type of plan you purchase but most will cover certain forms of routine care (such as doctor visits), urgent care, diagnostic testing and hospitalization costs. Depending on what level of coverage you choose, there may also be mental health or substance abuse treatment options available too.
How much will it cost me and how do I pay for it?
Some people don’t like to talk about money, so it can be a little hard to determine how much business health insurance is going to cost. To find out for sure, you have to call an insurance broker and ask lots of questions.
The most important thing is that you make sure that you’re comparing apples with apples when making your comparisons; some insurers will only cover certain treatments, but others will cover everything – just be sure that you know what is covered by any policy before agreeing to anything. You might also want to take a look at what competitors are paying for their policies so that you can get a rough idea of where your costs are likely going to land.
Are there any exclusions?
As you know, most health insurance plans have exclusions. Some of these are general (e.g., drug addiction), while others are specific to your business (e.g., injuries sustained during work). Most providers will list out any exclusions that apply; be sure to check whether they apply to your business or not.
An injury sustained while working may not be covered by your health insurance plan if it is a result of horseplay during lunchtime, for example—so it’s important that you take time to read over all exclusions so you understand what may or may not be covered under your policy!
Do I need to choose a dentist within my network?
Not necessarily. Your dental plan might stipulate that you can choose a dentist outside of your network, but you’ll probably pay more. Why? Because in-network dentists accept negotiated fees and discounted reimbursement rates from insurance companies, which means that you won’t have to foot as much of a bill for services.
If you go outside of your network, your insurance company may not have negotiated a contract with that particular practice or specialist. If there’s no contract, then prices aren’t set and reimbursement is often set at whatever price is deemed appropriate by your insurance company (the patient isn’t involved). This works out better for dentists than it does for patients because most plans require some kind of deductible before coverage kicks in.
What extra benefits can I purchase with my business medical insurance plan?
There are many different business medical insurance plans available, and it is important to know what benefits are included. Find out more about some of these added benefits with our guide. For example, a number of small businesses can take advantage of additional dental or vision coverage.
With dental insurance, many individuals see a dramatic reduction in their out-of-pocket expenses for oral care; for example, many companies pay 75% of your portion when you visit a dentist. Visiting an eye doctor can also save you money as well since business vision insurance often covers up to 100% of your exam and eye care costs.
When should I review or renew my policy?
Your business insurance policy should be reviewed at least once a year, or as soon as you make any significant changes to your business or its operations. Some policies automatically renew themselves every year on their anniversary date, but others require you to manually choose to renew them.
There may also be different limits on your coverage that take effect after a certain period of time. If your policy is about to expire, it’s best practice to check if there are changes you want or need in order for it continue working well for your business.
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