20 Jul 2021
Now, more than ever, we need to be putting focus on our health. I think we can all agree that we are very lucky to have the NHS who we can rely on for free healthcare when we need it. However, there are certain healthcare elements which we don’t have free access to, dental treatment and eyecare being two examples.
For many people the pandemic has meant that the purse strings are understandably a little tighter at the moment, so there is a risk that people are putting off these essential healthcare needs due to costs.
Many of the employee benefits in our industry can only be claimed against if somebody falls ill, gets injured, or worse. A Health Cash Plan is a great benefit for employers to provide to their staff, as it allows you to claim back money towards the cost of essential healthcare and it can be used by everyone. Yes, Dental and Optical benefits tend to be the most utilised however, there a number of excellent benefits included within a Health Cash Plan. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but you can expect to see cover for the following:
- Consultations and diagnostics tests
- Physiotherapy
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic
- Homeopathy
- Reflexology
- Chiropody
- Prescriptions
- Health assessments
Each benefit has an annual monetary allowance which can be claimed, and different levels of cover are available depending on the requirements of an employer. Insured employees can add family members to their plans and cover for children is often provided for free.
Claiming under these plans is very simple. You pay for the treatment yourself, provide the insurer with a copy of your receipt, usually uploaded via a mobile app, and you then get reimbursed with the funds hitting your bank account in around 3-5 working days.
As well as the ‘core’ benefits, many Health Cash Plan providers provide a range of extra benefits at no additional cost. These can include:
- Retail discounts
- Virtual GP access
- Gym discounts
- 24/7 health and stress helpline
- Second medical opinion service
Health Cash Plan really are an excellent addition to an employer’s employee benefits package, and health and wellbeing strategy. Everyone can make use of the benefits available and with costs starting from around £1 per employee per week, they offer great value for money.
If you’d like to discuss the benefits of implementing a Health Cash Plan for your staff please do get in touch.
