As a small business owner in Manchester, finding the right health insurance can be a daunting task. You need to consider factors such as cost, coverage, and provider networks.
Manchester has a high cost of living, which means health insurance premiums can be steep. According to our analysis, the average cost of health insurance for a small business in Manchester is around £800 per month.
However, the benefits of having health insurance for your employees far outweigh the costs. By providing health insurance, you can attract and retain top talent, improve employee morale, and reduce absenteeism.
In Manchester, you can opt for a group health insurance plan that covers a range of services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. Some providers even offer additional benefits like dental and vision coverage.
Benefits of Small Business Health Insurance
Offering small business health insurance is a game-changer for your employees, giving them 24/7 access to UK GPs, even when they're abroad.
With this benefit, your employees can get video consultations available 7 days a week, and faster appointments, eliminating the need to put up with long NHS waiting lists.
This means your employees can get the medical attention they need quickly, reducing the likelihood of unplanned absences and improving overall productivity.
As a small business owner, you'll also get to benefit from our health cover, allowing you to prioritize your own wellbeing.
Your employees will appreciate the extra support, leading to a healthier and happier team.
Here are some specific benefits your employees can enjoy:
- Personalised wellbeing programme to help them lead a healthier life
- Fast access to GPs and specialists
- Simple online management of their care
- Discounts on top brands to save money and boost morale
With these benefits, you'll be able to attract and retain the best talent, and create a positive work environment that supports your employees' overall wellbeing.
Choosing the Right Plan
If you've already got a health insurance plan in place, you can integrate it with OnPay in just a few minutes, making benefits administration a breeze.
You can keep the plan you love, or work with your existing broker – it's up to you.
If you've never offered health insurance to your employees, you're missing out on a valuable benefit that can attract and retain staff.
Your employees get 24/7 access to UK GPs, video consultations, and faster appointments, reducing days lost to unplanned absence.
You get a more competitive employee benefit package, a more productive workforce, and a healthier and happier team.
Company Health Insurance covers acute conditions, but not chronic conditions, so it's essential to understand what's included and excluded in the plan.
Typically, an insurer defines a small business as having 1-249 employees, so make sure you understand your business size and the corresponding insurance options.
You can read more about acute versus chronic conditions in our explainer, or check out the options and add-ons explained in our guide to Small Business Health Insurance.
Insurers and Alternatives
There are several insurers offering small business health insurance in Manchester, but it's essential to choose one that suits your business needs. Six insurers have been personally worked with on behalf of small business clients, each with unique selling points.
If health insurance is too costly, there are other options to consider. A Health Cash Plan can provide coverage for everyday health needs, including physiotherapy, dental care, and eyecare.
Some businesses opt for Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) or Group Income Protection, which provide emotional and mental health support or sick pay to employees. Critical Illness Cover is also an option for employees suffering from a critical illness.
Here are some alternatives to traditional health insurance:
- Health Cash Plan: Covers everyday health needs such as physiotherapy, dental care, and eyecare.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Provides emotional and mental health support through online tools and one-to-one counselling services.
- Group Income Protection: Offers sick pay to employees above the statutory requirement and practical support to help them get better.
- Critical Illness Cover: Provides financial support to employees suffering from a critical illness.
- Dental care/optical coverage: Can be purchased separately or as part of a Cash Plan and private health scheme.
Six Insurers Offering
Six insurers are offering Small Business Health Insurance options.
These include six insurers that we’ve personally worked with on behalf of small business clients.
Each one has its unique selling points.
Working out which is best ultimately depends on the needs of your business and its staff.
#5 Clever Alternatives
If you're looking for clever alternatives to traditional health insurance, there are several options to consider.
Health Cash Plans are a form of health insurance that provides coverage for everyday health needs, including physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, dental care, eyecare, health checks/scans, prescriptions, hearing aids and more.
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can provide emotional and mental health support through online tools and one-to-one counselling services.
Group Income Protection can provide practical support to help employees get better and make a faster return to work, in addition to providing sick pay above the statutory requirement.
Critical Illness Cover can provide financial support to employees suffering from a critical illness, often coming with an EAP as well.
Dental care and optical coverage can be purchased separately or as part of a Cash Plan or private health scheme.
Here are some key features of these alternatives:
Enrolling and Managing Employees
Enrolling and managing employees is a breeze with our system. You can invite employees to review and enroll in the coverage they want, and they can even add dependents and manage medical, dental, and vision coverage for the whole family.
We guide employees through the costs they can expect with a dynamic preview of the premiums, making it easy for them to make informed decisions. This feature is especially helpful for employees who may be new to health insurance or need to adjust their coverage due to life changes.
In-app open enrollment allows employees to elect coverage and add dependents themselves without any paperwork, saving them time and effort. This is a huge time-saver for both employees and HR teams, who can focus on more important tasks.
As your business grows, you can seamlessly add or remove workers from your policy with ease. This means you can stay on top of changing headcounts without any hassle, and make sure your employees have the coverage they need.
Lower Costs
Lower costs are a major perk of small business health insurance. Highly engaged employees can enjoy 28% lower healthcare costs.
The cost of small business health insurance varies depending on several factors. These include the number of employees, company location, employee age and family status, and underwriting type.
Here are some factors that can affect the cost of small business health insurance:
- Number of employees
- Company location
- Employee age(s) and family status
- Underwriting type - which will depend on whether you have PMI currently or not
Prices start from £26.91 per month, per employee. This is a relatively affordable option for small businesses looking to provide health insurance for their employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get health insurance for a small business?
For a small business, the average annual cost of health insurance is around $8,435 for single coverage and $23,968 for family coverage, with monthly premiums of approximately $703 and $1,997 respectively. These costs have increased by 7% over the past year.
Can a small business write off health insurance?
Yes, a small business can write off health insurance premiums, but only up to the earned income collected from the business. This deduction is considered an employee benefit program expense.
How do small businesses get insurance for their employees?
Small businesses can get insurance for their employees by purchasing a group health insurance plan through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) or directly from a private insurance company. Business owners can offer their employees a selection of plans to choose from.
What are the requirements for small business health insurance?
To qualify for small business health insurance, you must have 1-50 full-time equivalent employees and meet specific enrollment and location requirements. Check if you qualify and learn more about the requirements to get started.
Does ACA apply to employers with less than 50 employees?
Employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees are not required to offer health care coverage under the ACA, but if they do, coverage must comply with its requirements
Sources
- https://onpay.com/benefits/small-business/health-insurance/
- https://www.aetna.com/solutions/forms/small-business-product-information-request.html
- https://capacityinsights.co.uk/small-business-health-insurance/
- https://hoorayinsurance.co.uk/small-business-health-insurance-options/
- https://www.vitality.co.uk/business/health-insurance/small-business/
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