Small business health insurance

The cost of small business health insurance for your company will depend on a number of different factors, including the cover options you choose, the number of employees you want to cover on your plan, as well as their ages and your location. To give you an idea of how much small business health insurance could cost, we have put together some example plans here.

Get an indicative online quote for an SME business health insurance policy in minutes.

Here’s some information you’ll need:

• Details such as your name, email address and business postcode
• The number of employees you’ll be covering
• The age of your employees (a rough estimate is fine for the indicative quote)
• An idea of the cover options you would like to include (we will provide descriptions of each)

Once you have your indicative quote, one of our company healthcare plan experts will call you to discuss your cover needs, provide a full quote and explain how we cover existing medical conditions. 

We've put together a dedicated page to explain how small business health insurance affects tax. You can read it here.

If you'd like to buy small business health insurance, you can get a quote online or call our small business experts on 0808 303 1123.

As with most healthcare cover, there are some elements your plan won't cover. The exclusions will depend on the options you choose but some of the most significant exclusions include:

• Treatment of medical conditions your employees had, or had symptoms of, before they joined, unless you've chosen a 'continuing medical exclusions' or 'medical history disregarded' policy (available to businesses with 15+ employees)
• Routine pregnancy and childbirth
• Treatment of long-term, on-going or recurrent conditions (chronic) like diabetes or asthma
• Cosmetic treatment

We'll run through the key exclusions when you talk to us about the plan you'd like. Full details of our cover and any exclusions or limitations will be provided when you join.

This is how the claims process usually works:

• Step 1: If your GP recommends you see a specialist, tell them that you want to go private and ask for an open referral - this is when your GP states that treatment is necessary and which type of specialist you require treatment from, but they do not specify a specialist's name (don't forget, members also have access to our online GP service who can also refer on to specialists).
• Step 2: Call us so we can check your cover. You'll need an Outpatient option or our Diagnostics Only option for the consultation to be covered. We may also ask you to provide more information, for example from your GP.
• Step 3: Our specialist appointment booking service can book an appointment for you or give you a choice of up to three specialists to get in touch with when you're ready. Using this service means that you won't end up paying for treatment that you're not covered for.

It's easy to add employee family members to the plan at any point during your policy. The group decision maker can call us on the phone number listed in the handbook (phone lines are open 9am-5pm Monday - Friday). Depending on the underwriting option chosen, the amendment to your policy can often be authorised over the phone. Once the amendment has been actioned, the family member will be added to your plan and can start receiving the benefits of your small business health insurance plan. 

• Improved employee retention. Private healthcare cover is often ranked as one of the most valued benefits by employees. The Association of British Insurers commissioned a survey of 2,005 people in 2023 and found 57% saw health insurance as a key part of an employee benefits package. Offering private healthcare cover to your team can help to show that you’re investing in their health and wellbeing and that their dedication to the company is recognised.
  
• Beneficial for recruitment. As well as being beneficial for employee retention, private healthcare cover can also be a great incentive to help attract high quality new recruits to your business.
• Greater flexibility with medical appointments. Small business healthcare cover can provide you and your team with access to more flexible medical appointments. This means that you can choose an appointment at a time and location that’s most convenient for you.
  
  

At AXA Health, our small business health insurance also comes with additional benefits, including:

• Muscle, bone and joint support. Our small business health insurance comes with our muscle, bone and joint service as standard. You and your team can speak to a physiotherapist over the phone or online, without the need for a GP referral. They’ll assess the symptoms, talk about what they could mean and help to plan next steps. Available to members aged 18 years or over.
• Health information phone line. You and your team have access to our 24/7 health support line. Nurses and counsellors are available 24/7. Pharmacists and midwives are available 8am–8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm Saturdays and 8am-12pm Sundays.
• Online private GP service. With our online GP service, you and your team can get a video or phone appointment with a GP or Advanced Clinical Practitioner at a time and place that suits you. Whether that’s after work or at the weekend, you'll have plenty of time to talk through your health concerns. Appointments are subject to availability. Advanced Clinical Practitioners are available 8am-10pm. 
• Access to health and wellbeing offers such as discounted gym memberships. Offers are subject to change and do not form part of insured benefits.