Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing has partnered with low cost health insurer Equipsme.
Howden says this partnership will enable it to offer new options to employers who want to extend health benefits to more of their workforce.
Standard cover on an Equipsme plan includes private physiotherapy appointments, in addition to a remote GP service, private prescription delivery and access to online health check and AXA PPP healthcare’s nurse helpline for £7 per person per month.
All plan holders receive a health check and have options to upgrade their cover to include stress support, or cover for family.
There are options to pay for this top-up cover separately via a direct debt, avoiding a benefit in kind tax. Pricing is level for all employees aged 16 to 69.
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen individuals and businesses place an increased value on their health. The reports of record waiting times for NHS treatment have prompted many to consider private healthcare options as an alternative.
Research carried out by Equipsme reveals that interest in private health insurance and treatment has doubled since coronavirus hit. A total of 58 per cent of employees consider health insurance to be a valuable benefit, compared with 36 per cent who value a company phone and 25 per cent who value gym membership.
Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing executive director Cheryl Brennan says: “The Covid-19 crisis has shone the spotlight on our national health and wellbeing. Employers and employees alike recognise the value of healthcare benefits. Being able to have quick and cost-effective access to diagnosis and treatment has risen up many businesses’ agenda.
‘’We have seen clients that previously limited private healthcare cover to senior management or key employees within their organisation want to extend it more widely across their workforce. For some employers, cost has previously been the main barrier to making this benefit widely available, but our partnership with Equipsme means that they now have a cost-effective option.’’
Equipsme founder, Matthew Reed adds: “Businesses are emerging from lockdown and asking what they can offer – sustainably – to reward and support their staff with maximum impact. We are delighted that Howden sees the opportunity to help more businesses around the country to deliver a valued benefit to all their team.”
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