• UK based call centre UK based call centre
  • Save up to 10% when you switch Save up to 10% when you switch
  • Tailor your cover Tailor your cover
  • We cover 250,000 SME members We cover 250,000 SME members

Choose small business healthcare for a team that thinks big

AXA’s UK health and wellbeing specialists, AXA Health, will be your business's health partner to help your employees bring out their best selves. With over 250,000 SME members, whatever healthy looks like for you and your employees, we know how to get you there. No matter the size of your organisation, we’ll help you build a wellbeing culture throughout it – made to inspire.

Our small business health plans cover the cost of private treatment, if needed, and access to healthcare practitioners online or via the phone is included as standard. Helping you go the extra mile for your team, so they do the same for you.

get more details
call us on 0800 389 7413*

What is small business health insurance?

Small business health insurance is an insurance policy that you can buy to help look after the health and wellbeing of your employees with private healthcare. Our small business health insurance policies can be purchased for businesses with 1-249 employees. We think that the best way for you to get the cover that's right for you and your business is to let you build your plan yourself, so we offer a range of cover options for you to choose from. Whether your priority is giving your employees quick access to diagnosis and treatment, mental health support for the pressures which come with your area of work, or speedy physiotherapy access for you team, we've got the small business health insurance cover to best suit your business and budget. 

Small business health insurance is good for business

Feeling valued is motivating. With healthcare benefits for employees, you can show your team just how important they are to you. This helps you do business better in a number of ways:

hand_cross_blue_circle.png

Retain employees

29% of UK employees see medical insurance as a key part of an employee benefits package, according to Canada Life (2022). To help keep yours happy, help keep them feeling healthy.

critical_illness_blue_circle.png

Attract top talent

Private healthcare cover shows you’re committed to your employees. Cover Magazine (2021) argue that it can help you persuade top-level new recruits to commit to your business.

bills_pound_blue_circle.png

Flexible medical appointments

Allow your team to choose appointments at a time and location that suits them, so they can look after themselves and their work, no problem.

AXA Health brochure

Get your Business Health insurance brochure

Our brochure tells you everything you need to know about health insurance benefits for small businesses.

Your small business health insurance. Not someone else’s

Small business image

Your business is unique. Your employees are unique. That's what makes you fantastic. And that's why our healthcare cover is tailored to what you and your team do, providing them with cover they can count on when they need it most.

Ensuring you get value for money matters a great deal to us. So, we’ve made it easy for you to construct a business healthcare plan that gives you what you want for your budget – without compromising quality of service, convenience and support. Explore your options with a few simple clicks.

Small business health insurance FAQs

The cost of small business health insurance for your business will depend on a number of different factors, including the cover options you choose, the number of employees as well as their ages and your location. To give you an idea of how much small business health insurance could cost, we have put together some example plans here.

We've put together a dedicated page to explain how small business health insurance affects tax. You can read it here

If you'd like to buy small business health insurance, you can get a quote online or call our small business experts on 0800 389 7413

As with most healthcare cover, there are some elements your plan won't cover. The exclusions will depend on the options you choose but some of the most significant exclusions include:

  • Treatment of medical conditions your employees had, or had symptoms of, before they joined, unless you've chosen a 'continuing medical exclusions' or 'medical history disregarded' policy
  • Routine pregnancy and childbirth
  • Treatment of long-term, on-going or recurrent conditions (chronic) like diabetes or asthma
  • Cosmetic treatment

We'll run through the key exclusions when you talk to us about the plan you'd like. Full details of our cover and any exclusions or limitations will be provided when you join.

The below explains how the claims process usually works:

  • Step 1: If your GP recommends you see a specialist, tell them that you want to go private and ask for an open referral (this is when your GP states that treatment is necessary and which type of specialist you require treatment from, but they do not specialist's name). Our appointment booking service can then help you find a suitable specialist and make a convenient consultation for you (your consultation will be covered if you include an Outpatient option with your plan)
  • Step 2: Call us as soon as you've seen your GP. This will mean that you won't end up paying for treatment that you're not covered for
  • Step 3: We'll check your cover and let you know what happens next. We may ask you to provide more information, for example from your GP

It's easy to add employee family members to the plan at any point during your policy. The group decision maker can either call us on the phone number listed in the handbook (phone lines are open 9am-5pm Monday - Friday). Depending on the underwriting option chosen, the amendment to your policy can often be authorised over the phone. Once the amendment has been actioned, the family member will be added to your plan and can start receiving the benefits of your small business health insurance plan. 

AXA Mind Health study

Did you know that 31% of SME employees are currently experiencing a mental health condition? (AXA Mind Health Study, 2023). Each year, the AXA Mind Health & Wellbeing Study explores the state of mental health across the UK, providing small businesses with actionable insight to help you support your people.

Gym discounts to keep your team healthy

Our business healthcare plans don't just help your team get well and return to work if they fall ill, our great gym offers also help them proactively look after their physical and mental health. Plus, access to the offers is available for everyone covered on your business healthcare plan, including employees' partners, spouses and direct dependants.

40% off Nuffield Health monthly individual memberships

Get access to Nuffield’s Fitness and Wellbeing Centres, great places to develop healthy new habits, with over 112 centres nationwide to choose from. Terms apply.**

40% off Nuffield Health 24/7 online memberships

Get access to Nuffield's online-only fitness classes, with a range of durations and intensity levels to choose from, including prehab and rehab classes designed by physiotherapists. So, you and your team can keep fit even when the gym's not an option. Terms apply.**

40% off Hussle’s Monthly+ pass

Get access to multiple gyms, pools and spas, near home or away, for the ultimate flexibility. Terms apply.**

Small business guide to managing costs

Rising costs are currently at the forefront of everyone’s minds, including small business owners. To help ease this stress, we’ve put together a small business guide to managing costs which covers tips to help you and and your employees save money, the cost of absenteeism and the link between financial wellbeing and mental health. 


Our team brings out the best in your team

24/7

24/7 online GP service

Access to video or phone appointments with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner, for up to 20-minutes, so your employees can get the treatment they need. AXA Doctor at Hand is powered by Doctor Care Anywhere. Appointments are subject to availability. Advanced Nurse Practitioners are available 8am-10pm. 

Hospital bed

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. 

 

Stethoscope

Specialist appointment booking service

Your employees can see the right person quickly. The sooner they see a consultant, the sooner they can get a diagnosis and treatment, and the sooner they can start getting better. You'll need to include access to specialist consultations and diagnostic tests with your business healthcare plan for the consultation to be covered.

Easing the pressure

Easing the pressure with physio

Our muscles, bone and joint service is here to help your people manage or alleviate joint and muscle pain – whether it’s a bad back or sprained ankle. A physiotherapist or osteopath will assess their symptoms online or over the phone and talk to them about what they could mean. Available for members aged 18 and over.

Medical records at a touch

Health information and support

We’ll give your employees access to our 24/7 health support line. It comes as standard, no matter what cover options you choose. It takes away any niggling health worries, helping them feel their best and give their best.

Weights

Up to 40% off monthly gym membership

Up to 40% off monthly Nuffield Health, Fitness and Wellbeing centre membership and Hussle Monthly+ pass fees** for you and all your employees. Which means your team can find their motivation, whether they’re training for a marathon or just getting started.

Sole trader header

Switch to AXA Health and save

We’ll aim to reduce your premiums by up to 10% if you switch your employee health cover to us.

A little extra something

Both you and your business contact could get a £100 Amazon gift card when you refer them to us.

Once they take out a small business healthcare plan, we'll send the gift cards to both of you. 

Terms apply.

The benefits of business health insurance

  • Improved employee retention. Private healthcare cover is often ranked as one of the most valued benefits by employees (Cover Magazine 2021). Offering private healthcare cover to your team can help to show that you’re investing in their health and wellbeing and that their dedication to the business is recognised.
  • Beneficial for recruitment. As well as being beneficial for employee retention, private healthcare cover can also be a great incentive to help attract high quality new recruits to your business.
  • Greater flexibility with medical appointments. Small business healthcare cover can provide you and your team with access to more flexible medical appointments. This means that you can choose an appointment at a time and location that’s most convenient for you.

At AXA Health, our small business health insurance also comes with additional benefits, including:

  • Muscle, bone and joint support. Our small business health insurance comes with our muscle, bone and joint service as standard. You and your team can speak to a physiotherapist over the phone or online, without the need for a GP referral. They’ll assess the symptoms, talk about what they could mean and help to plan next steps. Available to members aged 18 years or over.
  • Health information phone line. You and your team have access to our 24/7 health support line. Our experienced nurses and counsellors are available at the end of the phone 24/7, and our midwives and pharmacists are available during the day.
  • Online private GP service. With our online GP service, you and your team can get a video or phone appointment with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner at a time and place that suits you, for up to 20 minutes. Whether that’s at 10pm at night or at the weekend. Appointments are subject to availability. Advanced Nurse Practitioners are available 8am-10pm. 
  • Access to health and wellbeing offers such as discounted gym memberships.

About AXA Health

As AXA’s UK health and wellbeing specialist, AXA Health can help your employees bring their best selves to work. In a small business everybody counts, and keeping your business happy and healthy is key to getting the job done.  

Where do we start? We start with you. With whatever healthy looks like for you and your people, however they spend their days – out supporting clients, working from home, or coming into the workplace.

Having spent decades getting to know how small businesses tick, we have a deep understanding of what really makes a difference. No two businesses are the same, so we’ll help you build a tailored plan that fits your business needs and matches your budget. And you’ll have peace of mind too, knowing that everyone can access wellbeing support and medical help when they need it – all underpinned by our expertise.

Your people are your best asset: by investing in their health and wellbeing for the future, you’re setting your business up to thrive. 

It’s all backed up by our 5-star-Defaqto-rated private health insurance,* so you can rely on us to get your people the support they need to get back to work quickly – and also to help them stay well in the first place.

We were founded by doctors and hospitals working together to make a real difference: to give more people better access to healthcare. And we’ve been doing just that for the 80 years since – now with the might of one of the biggest insurance groups in the world behind us.

It’s our job to help you and your employees find your healthy.

*The Defaqto 5 Star Rating is based on an assessment of the overall product including all options. If some of the options are not selected, this will affect the product’s Star Rating.

Health and wellbeing info, straight to your inbox

Sign up to receive our small business health and wellbeing newsletter straight to your inbox each month. Designed specifically for small business owners, our newsletter provides actionable advice and insights to help keep your employees healthy and happy, and to help keep your business growing.

Receive insights from our in-house experts directly to your inbox on a number of health and wellbeing topics.


Get access to our small business guides providing in depth health and wellbeing insight and recommendations.



Read tips for how you can prioritise the health and wellbeing of your team.


By submitting this form you're agreeing to receive health and wellbeing information, promotions and special offers from AXA Health. If you're not the named person on this form, you must ensure that they consent to such use of this data. You can opt-out by unsubscribing at any time and you can view our Privacy Policy.

2024 5 star logo.jpg

We’re proud that our Business Health plan has been rated 5 stars by independent financial information business, Defaqto.


The Defaqto 5-star rating is based on an assessment of the overall product including all options. If some of the options are not selected, this will affect the product’s star rating.

* Phone lines are open 8:30am-5:30pm Monday to Friday. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation.

**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. AXA Health reserves the right to withdraw or alter this offer at any time. The 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.

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. Members must be over 16 to redeem AXA Health discounts with Hussle. Some venues have alternative age restrictions and will be flagged on the gym details page. Read full terms and conditions at axahealth.co.uk/terms/gym-discount.