Context
The ABI has collected data to show how many people use insurance provided by their employer to access health services. According to this new research, the majority of people who used insurance to access vital healthcare services in 2022 did so through workplace schemes.
Key points to note and next actions
The data shows that, of the 1.8 million people who accessed healthcare through either health or protection insurance in 2022, 1.3 million (75%) relied on workplace provided schemes to do so. These findings highlight the crucial role of the employer in protecting the health of the workforce.
Almost 600,000 (87%) of the 700,000 people who used virtual GPs in 2022 used their employer’s scheme. The number of virtual GP appointments people are making has also grown exponentially, with 1.4 million appointments across the year, a 92% increase on 2021 and nine times more than 2019.
Insurers arranged 1.2 million mental health counselling and therapy appointments in 2022, of which 94% were accessed through a workplace scheme.
Through health and protection insurance, employers can help employees access early intervention treatment and prevent conditions from worsening, supporting people to stay in work or return sooner.
Acknowledging that the tax on buying health and protection insurance may make it unaffordable for businesses and low-earning workers, the ABI has called for the UK Government to:
- Cut the standard rate of Insurance Premium Tax (12%)
- Remove National Insurance Contributions (13.8%) paid by employers for health insurance
- Exempt health insurance premiums from employee-paid income tax
- Remove the double taxation of Group Income Protection (GIP) purchased through salary sacrifice