Employers are increasingly turning to workplace healthcare benefits amid NHS pressure, with almost a third of those without private medical insurance considering introducing cover within the next three years, according to Broadstone’s second Employee Benefits Landscape Report.
The research found that among employers that do not currently offer PMI, the proportion with firm plans to introduce cover rose from 9 per cent in 2023 to 11 per cent in 2025, while those considering it increased from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. Over the same period, the share of organisations with no plans to offer PMI fell, indicating a broader shift in employer attitudes towards healthcare provision.
Meanwhile, growth is also evident across other healthcare benefits, with the proportion of employers offering clinic-based health screenings increasing from 20 per cent in 2023 to 25 per cent in 2025, while onsite day screenings rose from 7 per cent to 10 per cent.
The report also suggests that health cash plans continue to gain traction, with the proportion of employers offering them rising from 24 per cent in 2023 to 26 per cent in 2025, and a further 26 per cent of employers considering introducing a cash plan within the next three years.
ABI figures support this trend, showing health insurers processed a record £4bn in private medical insurance claims in 2024, up 13 per cent on the previous year, while total health insurance coverage increased to 6.5 million people, including 4.8 million covered through workplace policies.
Broadstone Head of Health & Protection at leading independent financial services consultancy Brett Hill says: “Healthcare benefits, such as private medical insurance (PMI) and health cash plans are becoming an essential part of benefits packages, especially in competitive industry sectors.
“The NHS remains under significant pressure which means that businesses increasingly view access to timely diagnosis and treatment as a critical factor in supporting employee wellbeing, productivity and retention.
“What’s particularly striking is the growing pipeline of employers actively planning to introduce or expand healthcare benefits over the next few years. Organisations are also taking a more preventative approach, with greater uptake of screenings and health cash plans, reflecting a broader shift towards early intervention and long-term workforce resilience.”