Health insurance for contractors
Being self-employed or freelance can have a number of benefits. You are your own boss which can be incredibly rewarding. You often have much more autonomy compared to when you’re an employee, and you can have greater control over your time and your work. However, being self-employed can also have some drawbacks. You often have to take on all the responsibility of your business, which means that taking time away from work due to ill health can be costly.
At AXA Health, our health insurance for self-employed contractors aims to help you get back to work quickly through prompt access to diagnosis and treatment.
When you’re self-employed or a freelancer, it’s likely that you’ll want to have flexible health insurance that fits your needs and your budget. We think that the best way for you to get the health insurance that is right for you is to let you build your plan yourself. That’s why we offer a range of cover options for you to choose from, so you can build a plan tailored to your needs.
Build a plan that works for you
With our health insurance for self-employed contractors, you can choose from the following cover options:
If you are buying cover for 1-2 people only, you will need to include either the Treatment option or the Diagnostics Only option in your plan.
- Treatment option: Cover for hospital procedures and operations, including surgery, plus radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer when you include Comprehensive Cancer Cover
- Diagnostics Only option: This option helps you or one of your employees find out what's wrong, quickly, if you need to be referred
- Dentist and Optician Cashback option: Look after your teeth and eyesight with cashback towards dentists’ fees, glasses, contact lenses and eye tests
- Therapies option: Cover for referred treatments by an osteopath, physiotherapist, acupuncturist, or chiropractor
- Outpatient option: Helps get you seen quickly with a GP referral by a specialist at a time and place suitable for you
- Mental Health option: Look after more than just your physical health with cover for mental health treatment
- Private GP: This option makes it easy for you to see a private GP in person, promptly, at a time that’s convenient
- Extended Cover: Provides even greater flexibility over where you’re treated. Plus, extra cover for planned, pre-approved treatment abroad and cover for the routine management of some specified chronic conditions like asthma
- Travel: Whether travelling for business or pleasure, this our travel option covers emergency medical treatment. You will also have access to other travel related benefits
Included as standard:
Regardless of the cover options you choose, you’ll also have access to the following benefits and services included as standard when you take out self-employed health insurance with us:
Easing the pressure with physio
Our muscles, bones and joints service is here to help you manage or alleviate joint and muscle pain - whether it's a bad back or a sprained ankle. A physiotherapist will assess your symptoms online or over the phone and talk to you about what they could mean. This service is available for members aged 18 and over.
Health information and support
Access to our 24/7 health support line comes as standard, no matter what cover options you choose
Access to our 24/7 online GP service
Access to video or phone appointments with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner, for up to 20 minutes. AXA Doctor at Hand is powered by Doctor Care Anywhere. Appointments are subject to availability. Advanced Nurse Practitioners are available 8am-10pm.
Care for cancer and heart conditions
Our experienced healthcare practitioners are available at the end of the phone day or night. Speak to our specialist cancer and heart nurses 9am-5pm Monday - Friday. Outside these hours, our experienced nurses and counsellors provide round the clock support by phone.
Wellbeing offers
Access to up to 40% off monthly gym membership*
What are the benefits of health insurance for self-employed contractors?
- Get back to work quickly: When you’re self-employed, being unable to work due to ill health can have a big impact on your business and on your finances as you won’t have access to sick pay like you might if you were an employee. Our health insurance for self-employed contractors aims to get you prompt access to diagnosis and treatment (depending on the cover options chosen) so you can minimise the amount of time that you need to spend away from work
- Flexible medical appointments: Our health insurance for the self-employed comes with the added benefit that medical appointments can be made at a time and place that suits you, so you can minimise the impact that it has on your work and your life
- Get access to support when you need it: Being self-employed or freelance can be isolating as you often don’t have the support of colleagues working with you. Our private health insurance gives you access to support online or over the phone from our team of nurses, counsellors, midwives and pharmacists. So you’ll have someone to support you, whether you’re struggling with the pressures of work or you have a health concern
Health insurance for contractors FAQs
Yes, if you have a business bank account then you can get business health insurance with us at AXA Health.
At AXA Health, we know that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to business health insurance. That's why we let you build a plan yourself by letting you choose the cover options that you want, so you can get business health insurance that works for you and your budget.
Regardless of the cover options you choose, you'll get access to the following included as standard:
- Access to our 24/7 online GP service, AXA Doctor at Hand (provided by Doctor Care Anywhere, appointments subject to availability)
- Health information and support via our 24/7 health support line
- Speak to a physiotherapist online or over the phone without the need for a GP referral via our muscles, bones and joints service (for members age 18 and over)
- Care for cancer and heart conditions via our experienced healthcare practitioners who are available by phone
- Access to up to 40% off monthly gym membership offer*
The cost of business health insurance for contractors will depend on a number of different factors, including cover options you choose, your age and the underwriting option you choose.
As with most private healthcare plans, there are some general exclusions and limitations. These include:
- Routine pregnancy and childbirth
- Out-patient drugs and dressings
- Threatment of ongoing, recurrent and long-term conditions (chronic conditions)
- Cosmetic treatment
- Treatment needed as a result of training for or taking part in any sport for which you are paid, receiving a grant or sponsorship (not counting travel costs) or are competing for prize money
- Treatment for medical conditions you had, or had symptoms of, before you joined. Depending on the underwriting option you choose
- Fees if you choose to use a hospital that is not in our Directory of Hospitals
This information is just a summary of some of the cover we offer and the key exclusions. For more information about our cover, any cover limitations and what we don't cover, please see our product brochure
You can choose from the following options (If you are buying cover for 1-2 people only, you will need to include either a Treatment option or the Diagnostics Only option in your plan):
- Treatment: Cover for hospital procedures and operations, including surgery, plus radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer when you include Comprehensive Cancer Cover
- Diagnostics Only: Waiting for a diagnosis can be a worrying time. This option means you can see a specialist quickly if you become unwell
- Dentist and Optician Cashback: Helps you look after your teeth and eyesight with cashback towards dentists' fees, glasses, contact lenses and eye tests
- Therapies: Cover for referred treatments by an osteopath, physiotherapist, acupuncturist or chiropractor
- Outpatient: Ensures you are seen quickly by a specialist at a time and place that suits you when you have a GP referral
- Mental Health: Look after more than just your physical health with cover for mental health treatment
- Private GP: Makes it easy for you to see a private GP in person, promptly, at a time that's convenient
- Extended Cover: Provides even greater flexibility and choice over where you're treated. Plus, extra cover for planned, pre-approved treatment abroad and cover for the routine management of some specified chronic conditions like ashthma
- Employee Assistance Programme: If you're going through difficult times, such as divorce or money problems, this option gives you a professionally trained expert to talk to; on the phone, or in person, depending on the chosen programme
- Travel: Whether travelling for business or pleasure, this provides cover for emergency medical treatment. You will also have access to other travel-related benefit
Investing in your health and wellbeing when you’re self-employed is important. When you’re solely responsible for your business and your income, prioritising your health and wellbeing can benefit both you personally and your business. Investing in private health insurance can help you to get back to work quickly if you become unwell. It can also give you access to other health and wellbeing offers, such as discounted gym membership to help you look after your overall health and wellbeing.
Find out more about our health insurance for self-employed contractors, including what we do and don’t cover and get a quote today
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*Discount applies to Nuffield Health fitness and wellbeing centre monthly individual membership only. Your employees must provide proof of membership and/or employer. You, your spouse, partner or dependent must be a named member on a current AXA Health healthcare plan to get a 40% discount and be 18 years or older. As a member, you can access your home club (the one you select on joining) as well as many more clubs around the country. These depend on your home club. You must use your home club at least 50% of the time. The joining fee is £39 and may be subject to change by Nuffield Health. Existing members of Nuffield Health who transfer to a 40% off AXA Health discount will be charged a £39 administration fee by Nuffield Health. Read full terms and conditions at axahealth.co.uk/terms/gym-discount.
40% off Nuffield Health 24/7 online memberships - available to your employees and their spouses, with or without an AXA Health membership. Read full terms and conditions at axahealth.co.uk/terms/gym-discount. You must be over 18 to redeem all AXA Health discounts with Nuffield Health.
40% off the purchase of a Hussle Monthly+ pass is available to members on an AXA Health healthcare plan. A partner or spouse and direct dependants included on their healthcare plan can also get 40% off the purchase of a Hussle Monthly+ pass. 33% off a Hussle Monthly+ pass is available to employees of AXA Health healthcare clients not covered by a company healthcare plan. They must provide proof of employer. Read full terms and conditions at axahealth.co.uk/terms/gym-discount.