Group health insurance
for UK businesses
One policy. Your whole workforce. Fast access to private medical care for teams of 2 to 1,000+ employees. We compare every major UK insurer so you don't have to.
- Group plans from 2 employees upwards
- One premium, one renewal, one bill
- Compare Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality & WPA
- Defaqto 5 Star rated cover options
Cover your whole workforce under a single policy
Group health insurance gives your whole workforce fast access to private medical care under a single policy. This page explains how a group health insurance plan works, what it costs, and how individual and group health insurance compare. As a whole-of-market broker, we compare cover from Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA so you don't have to.
What is group health insurance?
Group health insurance is a single health insurance policy that covers a group of employees. The company buys the plan and the insurer pays for private medical care when staff need it. That means same-day GP appointments, fast scans, and shorter waits for surgery.
A group health insurance plan covers a whole workforce — or a chosen group within it. Cover usually includes hospital stays, consultations, diagnostic tests and mental health support. You can add wellbeing services, dental cover and family coverage as bolt-ons.
How does a group health insurance plan work?
The company picks the level of cover, the hospital list and the optional extras. The insurer prices the group plan based on the average risk across the team. That risk is spread across the group, which keeps the insurance premium per person lower than buying an individual plan. Once the plan is live, employees access private healthcare directly through the insurer. Most insurers offer a private GP app, claim portal and 24/7 helpline. The company pays one premium, runs one renewal, and gets one bill.
Risk spread across the team
The insurer prices the group on the average risk — not each member. That keeps the premium per head lower than buying individual cover.
Direct access for staff
Employees access private healthcare through a GP app, claim portal and 24/7 helpline. No paperwork to chase you.
One premium, one renewal
The company pays one premium, runs one renewal, gets one bill. Admin sits with the broker, not your finance team.
Who is group health insurance for?
Group health insurance suits any business with two or more employees. It works for a small business with a handful of staff and for large firms with thousands. Many insurers split products between small business health insurance (1–249 staff) and corporate plans for bigger workforces. It is also a strong option for partnerships, charities and group practices. Wherever you have a team you want to protect, group health insurance is usually more cost-effective than buying individual health insurance for each person.
Small businesses (2–249)
Designed for small business health insurance with a handful of staff up to 249 employees. Quick to set up, keenly priced.
Larger firms & corporates
Above 249 employees, plans shift to corporate pricing — bespoke schemes, healthcare trusts and tiered cover by role.
Partnerships & charities
Strong fit for partnerships, charities and group practices — wherever you have a team you want to protect at a lower cost per head.
What does group health insurance cover include?
A core group health insurance plan covers in-patient and day-patient care: hospital stays, scans and surgery. Out-patient cover for consultations, physio and diagnostic tests is usually added on. Cover for cancer and mental health is built in or optional, depending on the health insurance provider. You can shape the health plan around the needs of your workforce. Common add-ons include dental cover, optical, worldwide travel, an employee assistance programme, a cash plan for everyday healthcare costs, and family coverage. Wellbeing services like health checks and digital apps are often bundled in.
In-patient & day-patient
Hospital stays, scans and surgery — the core of every group plan.
Out-patient & cancer
Consultations, physio, diagnostic tests — plus cover for cancer and mental health usually built in.
Dental, optical & travel
Add-ons: dental cover, optical, worldwide travel and a cash plan for everyday healthcare costs.
EAP, family & wellbeing
Employee assistance programme, family coverage and wellbeing services like health checks and digital apps.
How does group health insurance compare to individual health insurance?
An individual health insurance plan is bought by one person. The premium is based on their age and health, and they own the policy. An individual plan offers full control but costs more per person. A group health plan spreads risk across the whole team. That usually means a lower cost per head and easier underwriting. Many insurers let staff move from group to individual cover when they leave, without new exclusions. For most businesses, individual and group health insurance are best compared side by side before you choose.
Individual health insurance
Bought by one person. Full control, higher cost per head.
- ✓Premium based on your age and health
- ✓You own the policy and choose every option
- ✓No employer involvement — portable for life
- ✓Best for one-person companies and contractors
- ✓Costs more per person than equivalent group cover
Group health insurance
One policy across the team. Lower cost per head, easier underwriting.
- ✓Risk spread across the whole team
- ✓Lower cost per head than individual cover
- ✓Easier underwriting — many on moratorium terms
- ✓Leavers can usually move to individual cover with kept terms
- ✓Single policy, single renewal, single bill
How much does group health insurance cost?
The insurance premium depends on the number of employees, their age, where they live, and the level of cover. As a rough guide, group cover for a healthy 30-year-old can start at around £40 a month. Older staff and richer plans cost more.
Premiums are a tax deductible business expense, but each employee is taxed on the cover as a P11D benefit. We can give you an indicative health insurance quote in 24 hours and a full set of options once we have your data.
- Premium scales with team age, postcode and team size
- Tax deductible business expense for the company
- P11D benefit on each employee — speak to your accountant
- Indicative quote in 24 hours, full options thereafter
Who are the main group health insurance providers in the UK?
The main UK health insurers are Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality. WPA also runs strong group plans. Each insurance provider has its own hospital list, GP service and Defaqto rating. We compare every health insurance provider and put their group health insurance options in front of you, so you can pick on facts, not marketing.
Wide hospital access
Largest UK hospital network and the most-recognised brand — staff can be seen close to home almost anywhere.
Strong on mental health
Best-in-class mental health and therapy access — including direct routes that skip the GP referral.
Often best value
Frequently the keenest pricing on standard group plans, especially for younger workforces.
Rewards healthy living
Personal health fund, gym discounts and wearable rewards. Premiums fall the more your team engage.
Flexible group plans
Highly modular — pick exactly the components your team needs. Strong on transparent pricing.
How does group health insurance support employee wellbeing?
Modern group plans go beyond hospital claims. They protect the health and wellbeing of your team day to day. That means private GP appointments, mental health support, physio and access to wellbeing services like online tools, health coaching and gym discounts. Quick treatment also cuts sick days. A team with quick access to private healthcare gets back to work faster. That lifts morale and protects output. Group health insurance is one of the strongest parts of an employee benefits package — alongside life insurance and pension.
Day-to-day wellbeing
Private GP appointments, mental health support, physio — plus online tools, health coaching and gym discounts.
Quick treatment cuts sick days
A team with quick access to private healthcare gets back to work faster — lifting morale and protecting output.
A core employee benefit
Group health insurance is one of the strongest parts of an employee benefits package — alongside life insurance and pension.
Is group health insurance right for a small business?
Yes — small business health insurance is one of the fastest-growing parts of the insurance market. Insurance for small businesses is built around groups of 2–249 employees and prices well per head. A small business health insurance scheme can be set up in 1–2 weeks.
For tiny teams, weigh up group cover against an individual plan. Sometimes one or two directors are better off on private health insurance bought personally. We will tell you honestly which way works best for your business health insurance needs.
How do we choose the right group health insurance plan?
Start with the workforce. How many people, how old, where based, what health risks. Then set a budget. Then shop the whole market. As a whole-of-market insurance broker, we get quotes from every major UK health insurance provider and compare premiums, cover and Defaqto ratings.
We do not push one insurer. We line up a single policy that fits your goals — whether that's the lowest insurance premium, the broadest hospital list, the best mental health cover, or the strongest wellbeing offer. The answer is rarely the cheapest one.
The Montgomery group health promise
Whole-of-market quotes
Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA — group plans compared side by side, every time.
Defaqto 5 Star plans
We highlight the highest-rated cover on the market — transparent ratings, no hidden trade-offs.
Set up in 1–2 weeks
Most group schemes go live inside two working weeks. We handle quotes, paperwork and onboarding.
One dedicated adviser
Charles personally handles every group 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 group 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
Group health insurance covers a whole workforce under a single policy.
Premiums per head are usually lower than individual health insurance.
Cover includes consultations, scans, surgery, mental health support and a private GP.
The main UK health insurance providers are Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA.
Plans suit any size of business, from a small business to a large corporate workforce.
Premiums are a tax deductible business expense; staff pay tax on cover as a P11D benefit.
A whole-of-market insurance broker compares premiums, cover and providers on your behalf.
Group health insurance, answered
What is the minimum size for a group plan?
Most UK insurers offer group plans from 2–3 employees. Some accept a single director under a group scheme. We quote across all providers to find the lowest entry size for your needs.
Can family members be added?
Yes. Most group health insurance plans offer family coverage. The company can pay or staff can pay extra to add a partner and children. Costs vary by insurer.
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.
Is group health insurance tax deductible?
The premium is a tax deductible business expense. Each employee is taxed on the cover as a P11D benefit. Always consult your accountant.
What happens when an employee leaves?
Most insurers let leavers switch to an individual plan on continued personal medical exclusions. That keeps their existing cover terms in place.
Can we offer different levels of cover to different staff?
Yes. Many insurers let you split the workforce into tiers — for example, full cover for directors and a lighter plan for the wider team.
How long does it take to set up?
A group health insurance plan can usually go live in 1–2 weeks. We handle the quote, the paperwork and the staff onboarding.
What is the difference between group and corporate cover?
The terms overlap. "Group" usually means any business plan with 2+ staff. "Corporate" usually means larger schemes with bespoke pricing or a healthcare trust.
Ready to compare group cover?
Book a 15-minute no-obligation call with Charles to compare individual and group health insurance options for your business.
Book my 15-minute call →