Small business health insurance

Small business health insurance for Simply Business customers.

You’ll be eligible for healthcare cover with Equipsme if you (and any employees you’re applying for) are aged between 16 and 69 (59 if you’re a sole trader). You can also add your partner and up to six children (aged 25 or under) to your plan. There are no medical questions, but pre-existing conditions from the three years before your start date won't be covered.

If you have employees, your health cover will start 21 days after you take out your policy. This is to give your employees time to add their families and upgrade their cover. If you're the business owner and you're only taking cover out for yourself and your family, your cover will start on the day after you purchase it.

Coronavirus and business health insurance

We know it's a challenging time for small businesses, and especially for those with employees, who'll be thinking about their health and wellbeing too.

The NHS is coordinating all Covid-19 (coronavirus) treatment and care, which means treatment for Covid-19 won't be covered under the healthcare plan. If you have Covid-19 symptoms, you may be advised to stay at home for treatment and recovery. If your symptoms are serious, you’ll be advised to call 111, or 999 for urgent treatment.

Private healthcare gives access to treatment for other illnesses and injuries. Business health insurance gives you 24/7 access to remote GP appointments, but there may be some delays to treatment because of Covid-19’s impact on healthcare resources.

Why buy small business health insurance?

Do you need business health insurance?

Small business health insurance isn’t compulsory, but here’s why it’s worth considering:

Save time

Your small business can’t function without you (and your team, if you have one). If you or an employee gets sick or injured, private healthcare can give you quick access to healthcare professionals, including GPs, specialists and physiotherapists.

Get back to making money

If you don’t spend as much time waiting for a diagnosis and treatment, you can get back to running your business and making money quicker. Buying through your business can also give you a more competitive price for your personal health insurance.

Attract good people

Staff like to know their employer is looking out for their wellbeing. If you have employees or are thinking about hiring, health insurance can be a big incentive for them to stay with (or join) your business.

Business health insurance benefits

Fast-track diagnosis

24/7 access to a virtual GP, but depending on your cover level you can also access:

• tests
• scans
• specialist consultations to help diagnose conditions (including cancer)
• diagnostic surgery
• private hospital and practitioner fees

Private healthcare

Depending on the plan you choose, you can access treatment through a network of specialists and hospitals, covering:

• in-patient and day-patient fees
• practitioner fees
• ambulance fees for medically necessary movement between facilities
• nursing care

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy help by phone, plus hands-on sessions as standard. The number of sessions you get depends on your plan.

Business health insurance FAQs

What is small business health insurance?

Small business health insurance is private medical cover for you and your employees. If you or an employee gets ill or injured, it can help you access healthcare professionals and treatment quickly. It can also give added benefits such as access to nurse helplines, stress support and online health checks.

Business health insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it can keep your business running efficiently, as you may not spend as much time waiting for diagnosis and treatment.

Are pre-existing conditions covered?

Pre-existing conditions from the three years before your policy start date aren’t covered.

How much does small business health insurance cost?

The cost of small business health insurance usually depends on the kind of plan you choose. For example, you can choose a plan that gives you access to a GP, physio, health support and a health check. If you'd also like access to diagnosis and treatment, this will be more expensive.

How many employees do you need to get health insurance?

As this is small business health insurance, the Equipsme healthcare plan is available for sole traders and businesses with employees. Equipsme’s plans cover:

• the business owner (including sole traders aged 16-59)
• any employees that the owner chooses to cover (as long as they're aged 16-69 at the start of cover)
• any partners and children (aged 25 and under) of the owner

If you have employees, your cover will start 21 days after your take out your policy. This is to give employees time to increase cover levels or add family members – get more details here. If you're the business owner and you're only taking cover out for yourself and your family, your cover will start on the day after you purchase it.