Business health plans
for small businesses
Health insurance, cash plans and combined healthcare packages for UK firms. Whole-of-market access to Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA — with the right mix shaped around your team.
- Health insurance & cash plans compared side by side
- Cash plans from around £5, full PMI from ~£40 a month
- Compare Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality & WPA
- Most plans go live in 1–2 weeks
Healthcare cover that fits your team, not the other way round
Business health plans give your team fast access to private medical care. This page explains what is on offer, how the plans work, and how to choose the right healthcare package. As a whole-of-market broker, we compare cover from Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality and WPA so you don't have to.
What are business health plans?
Business health plans are insurance products and cash plans that pay for private healthcare for your team. They sit alongside the NHS — not instead of it — to give employees quick access to consultations, scans, surgery and aftercare.
There are two main types: business health insurance and a health cash plan. A health insurance plan pays for big-ticket private medical care like hospital stays. A health cash plan pays back set amounts for everyday healthcare like eye tests and dental check-ups. Many small business owners use both.
What does a business health plan include?
Most levels of cover include in-patient and day-patient care: hospital stays, scans and surgery. You can add out-patient cover for consultations, physio and diagnostic tests. Cancer cover and mental health cover are usually built in. You can shape the plan around the wellbeing of your employees. Common add-ons include dental insurance, optical, worldwide travel, an employee assistance programme and a private GP service. The right cover options depend on the health and wellbeing needs of your team.
In-patient & day-patient
Hospital stays, scans and surgery — the core of every business health plan.
Out-patient & cancer
Consultations, physio, diagnostic tests — plus cancer and mental health cover usually built in.
Dental, optical & travel
Optional add-ons: dental insurance, optical, worldwide travel and a private GP service.
EAP & wellbeing
An employee assistance programme plus health checks, online wellbeing tools and digital health apps.
How does a business health insurance plan work?
The company picks the level of cover, the hospital list and the optional extras. The insurer prices the plan based on the number of employees, their age and where they live. Most insurers offer plans for small businesses with 1–249 employees and corporate plans above that. Once live, employees can access private healthcare directly through the insurer. They book a private GP appointment in the app, get a referral, and start treatment. The company pays one premium and runs one renewal.
You pick the cover
Choose the level of cover, the hospital list and the optional extras. Plans built for small businesses (1–249) and corporates above that.
Direct app access
Employees book a private GP appointment in the app, get a referral and start treatment — no paperwork chasing the company.
One premium, one renewal
The company pays a single premium and runs a single renewal. Admin sits with the broker, not your finance team.
What is the difference between business health insurance and a health cash plan?
A business health insurance plan pays for the big things: surgery, scans and specialist consultations. A health cash plan pays back small set amounts for everyday healthcare like dental, optical, and physio. A cash plan is cheap — often £5–£15 per employee per month — and easy to claim against. Health insurance costs more but covers the bills that really hurt. Many small business customers pair the two for the strongest healthcare package.
Business health insurance
Pays for the big things — surgery, scans and specialist consultations.
- ✓In-patient and day-patient hospital treatment
- ✓Diagnostic tests and scans
- ✓Specialist consultations
- ✓Cancer cover and mental health support
- ✓Private GP access (most plans)
Health cash plan
Pays back small set amounts for everyday healthcare. From £5–£15 per employee per month.
- ✓Dental check-ups, hygiene and treatment
- ✓Eye tests and prescription eyewear
- ✓Routine physio and chiropractic visits
- ✓Prescription and consultation costs
- ✓Easy to claim against, low admin
Are GP services included?
Yes — most modern business health plans include a private GP service through a video app. Employees access a doctor in minutes, often the same day. That is a huge shift from NHS GP wait times. A private GP can refer to specialists, prescribe, and sign sick notes. For everyday health concerns, this alone keeps people out of long NHS queues. It is one of the most-used parts of any small business healthcare plan.
Same-day video GP
Employees access a doctor in minutes through a video app. No more weeks waiting for an NHS GP appointment.
Refer, prescribe, sign off
A private GP can refer to specialists, write prescriptions and sign sick notes — same as an NHS GP, just faster.
Most-used benefit
The private GP service is one of the most-used parts of any small business healthcare plan. Staff feel the value every month.
How do plans support employee health and wellbeing?
Modern business health plans go beyond claims. They support your employees day to day with health checks, online wellbeing tools, mental health support and gym discounts. Cover is built around the health and wellbeing needs of your team. Quick treatment cuts sick days. A team that gets back to full health quickly stays productive. Offering health support and routine healthcare also helps you keep your employees and attract new ones — a strong pull for small business owners competing for talent.
Day-to-day support
Health checks, online wellbeing tools, mental health support and gym discounts — not just claims when things go wrong.
Quick treatment cuts sick days
A team that gets back to full health quickly stays productive. Health insurance pays for itself in fewer lost days.
Keep & attract talent
Health support helps you keep your employees and attract new ones — a strong pull for small business owners competing for talent.
Are health assessments part of the cover?
Yes — many plans include yearly health assessments or health checks. These spot health concerns early, before they grow into bigger problems. Staff get health and lifestyle advice based on their results.
Bupa runs health assessments at its own clinics across the UK, and many insurers fund check-ups at independent providers like Nuffield Health. Others link checks to a digital health app. We can tailor the level of cover so health assessments fit your budget.
Is mental health support included?
Most modern business health plans now include mental health cover. Cover for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression is built in or added on. Some plans give your team direct access to therapy without a GP referral. Many insurers also bundle in an employee assistance programme. An EAP gives 24/7 support for employees facing personal, financial or work stress. Together, mental health cover and an EAP make a strong employee benefit.
Anxiety & depression cover
Cover for mental health conditions is built in or added on with most modern plans — with limits that vary by insurer.
Direct therapy access
Some plans let staff book therapy without a GP referral — faster help when it's needed most.
EAP — 24/7 support
An employee assistance programme gives 24/7 support for personal, financial or work stress — bundled in or sold as an add-on.
How much does a business health plan cost?
Cost depends on the number of employees you want to cover, their age, and the levels of cover you pick. As a rough guide, affordable business health cover for a healthy 30-year-old can start at around £40 a month. Cash plans start much lower — often £5 per employee.
Premiums are a tax deductible business expense, but staff are taxed on cover as a P11D benefit. We can give you a quick indicative quote and a full breakdown of cover for your business across multiple insurers.
- Cash plans: ~£5–£15 per employee per month
- Health insurance: from ~£40 per healthy 30-year-old
- Tax deductible business expense for the company
- P11D benefit on each employee — speak to your accountant
How do we choose the right plan for business?
Start with the team. How many employees, how old, where based, what health risks. Then pick the goals: lowest cost, best cancer cover, full mental health cover, or the broadest hospital list. Then we shop the whole UK market.
We compare every health insurance product and every cash plan to suit your business. The right answer might be a single business health insurance plan, a cash plan, or a combo healthcare package that covers everything your team needs.
The Montgomery business health plan promise
Whole-of-market quotes
Insurance plus cash plans from Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA — compared side by side.
Defaqto 5 Star plans
We highlight the highest-rated cover on the market — transparent ratings, no hidden trade-offs.
Combo healthcare packages
Insurance + cash plan + EAP — we model the right mix and the real cost per head.
One dedicated adviser
Charles personally handles every health plan enquiry. No call-centre handovers.
WhatsApp support
Real-time updates, claim help and quote tweaks — no email tag, no phone trees.
Annual scheme reviews
We re-broke your cover every renewal. If a better plan comes up, you'll be the first to know.
Don't take our word for it
Key takeaways
Business health plans cover private medical care for your team.
Two main types: business health insurance and a health cash plan.
Cover usually includes consultations, scans, surgery, mental health and a private GP.
Plans suit firms with 1–249 employees and beyond.
Add-ons include dental, optical, worldwide travel, an EAP and health assessments.
Premiums are a tax deductible business expense; staff pay tax on cover as a P11D benefit.
A whole-of-market broker compares cost, cover and Defaqto ratings on your behalf.
Business health plans, answered
Are business health plans worth it for small teams?
For most small business owners, yes. The cost of a few sick days per employee usually outweighs the premium. Cover also helps you keep your employees and attract new ones.
Can I cover only the directors?
Yes. Many plans cover one or two key people. This is common for owner-managed firms. You can add other employees later as the business group grows.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
It depends on the underwriting. Moratorium cover excludes pre-existing conditions for two clear years. Medical History Disregarded covers them from day one but costs more.
What is the difference between health insurance and a cash plan?
Health insurance pays for big medical bills like surgery. A cash plan pays back small set amounts for everyday healthcare like dental and eye tests. Many firms use both.
Does cover include cancer treatment?
Yes — cancer cover is usually included as standard. Most insurers cover scans, drugs and specialist consultations for cancer and other serious conditions.
Can family members be added?
Yes. Most plans let you add your employees' partners and children. The company can fund this or staff can pay extra.
Is health insurance tax deductible?
For the company, yes — it is a tax deductible business expense. For each employee, it is a P11D benefit. Always consult your accountant.
How long does it take to set up?
Most plans go live in 1–2 weeks. We handle the quote, the paperwork and the staff onboarding for you.
Ready to compare plans?
Book a 15-minute no-obligation call with Charles to compare business health plans from the UK's top insurers and find the right fit for your team.
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