What is a chronic medical condition?
A chronic condition is a medical condition that continues for a long period of time, recurs and is likely to need ongoing monitoring and treatment to help control the symptoms it causes. Chronic conditions can include illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure. These are all conditions that may need routine check-ups as well as medication or a special diet to control. 12.8 million people in the UK, of working age, have a long-term health condition.1
How do chronic conditions impact individuals and businesses?
Chronic conditions can seriously impact individuals, both physically and mentally, in fact, NHS England advise that people living with a long-term condition are twice as likely to experience poor mental health.2
Chronic conditions can also have an impact on businesses including long-term absence. An estimated 185.6 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2022. Those with long-term health conditions were one of the groups with the highest rates of sickness absence3. With labour shortages throughout the UK4 and around 12.8 million people of working age living with a long-term health condition1, it is becoming increasingly important to prioritise the health and wellbeing of employees.
Does health insurance cover chronic conditions?
Health insurance is designed to cover unexpected conditions that respond quickly to treatment. However, at AXA Health, we aim to provide support for chronic illness through our business healthcare plans. We provide cover for the initial investigations to diagnose a condition and will support your employee with the beginning of their treatment journey, subject to the cover options selected. If treatment for a chronic condition is needed on a long-term or ongoing basis, we will no longer cover it. We will always contact your employee before this point, to give them the opportunity to discuss future treatment options with their specialist, either transferring to the NHS or self-funding private treatment.
Does AXA Health provide any other support for chronic conditions?
Regardless of the cover options chosen, your employees will benefit from our supportive health information line, with nurses and counsellors available 24/7 to answer questions about chronic conditions and pharmacists available during selected daytime hours to help with any uncertainty about how they should be taking their medication. They'll also have access to our 24/7 online GP service AXA Doctor at Hand, so they can consult with a GP at a time or place convenient for them. Advanced Nurse Practitioners are also available from 8am to 10pm. (Subject to appointment availability).
If an employee aged 18 or over is experiencing chronic pain that can be eased with physiotherapy, they'll also be able to self-refer to our muscles, bones and joints service, where they can have a remote assessment and receive an online physiotherapy programme that they can complete from the comfort of their own home.
How much does AXA Health business health insurance cost?
Our small business health insurance is designed to ensure you get value for money by allowing you to choose the options that suit your business needs. This means that you only need to pay for the options that you want, helping you control how much you pay. Businesses covering 1 - 2 lives must purchase either a Treatment option or the Diagnostics Only option. Adding an excess can also help reduce the cost of a healthcare plan, which means your employees would pay an excess once per plan year if they do require treatment. We also provide the option of paying for your healthcare plan annually, which would give you a 5% saving. The cost of your business health insurance will depend on a few factors, including the number of people you are covering, and the cover options you select. As an example, a Business Health plan with the Extended Cover option for 6 employees, with a £100 excess would be £594.79 paying annually, or £52.18 a month6.
An AXA Health business plan can provide excellent support for your business and employees. Regardless of which cover options you select; we'll be here to help. Whether your employee needs health information, remote physiotherapy support or GP advice. This allows your employees to take control of their health so they can focus on helping your business grow. Find out more about our cover options and build the plan that's right for you.
Find out more about our business health insurance, including what we do and don't cover and get a quote today
Sources and References
1 Health matters: health and work - GOV.UK (2019)
2 I have a long term health condition affecting my mood | DPT
3 Sickness absence in the UK labour market - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) (2023)
4 Labour shortages in the UK in 2023 - Which industries are affected? (datumrpo.com) (2023)
5 Specified conditions include; angina, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart valve problems, high blood pressure, glaucoma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems and ulcerative colitis
6 Prices reflect a business based in Guildford made up of 6 employees on single cover, aged 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 & 50 with moratorium underwriting and an excess of £100
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