How can business health insurance support employees with chronic health conditions?

Chronic conditions are ongoing illnesses that doctors can typically only manage rather than cure. Some chronic conditions may be genetic or present from birth, while others emerge later and may develop due to lifestyle factors.

Some examples of chronic conditions include:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic kidney disease
• Epilepsy

These conditions often respond well to treatment via medication, lifestyle changes or other therapies, allowing patients to live a normal life.

As mentioned, chronic conditions can respond well to treatment, meaning any support you can provide employees will help them stay healthy long-term. Many employees with chronic conditions can be at risk of long-term sickness absence or presenteeism, which impacts productivity and team morale. Ultimately, poor physical health can increase staff turnover. All of these factors can result in increased costs or reduced growth for your business.

Statistics show that at the end of 2023, more than 2.5 million people were out of work due to long-term illness. These figures include ongoing musculoskeletal issues, which aren't typically classed as chronic conditions. However, supporting employees with chronic conditions will help retain staff and give you a more productive workforce.

Your business has a duty of care to all your employees, meaning you must take steps to protect their health and safety at work. Your duty of care includes protecting their physical health and reducing the risk of work-related stress. Business health insurance can help you meet that duty.

Some chronic conditions can represent an ongoing disability which requires reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act.

Company health insurance provides employees access to private healthcare and health and well-being services. You can buy a company health insurance policy from a health insurance provider. The policy then provides group cover for all employees. Company health insurance has various advantages. It helps employees feel valued, increases employee retention and engagement, and shows your willingness to support their health and well-being. Private health insurance typically provides quick access to treatment compared to NHS waiting times, so your employees spend less time away from work.

Company health insurance premiums are also tax-deductible for corporation tax purposes. However, your employees will pay more income tax on the value of the benefit.

Private health insurance covers acute conditions that arise after employees join the policy. Health insurance excludes any pre-existing conditions present during the five years before an employee joins. This means that private health insurance coverage can vary depending on an employee's medical history.

Company health insurance also has various standard exclusions that apply to every customer. Chronic conditions fall within standard exclusions, meaning employees can't access private medical treatment to manage their ongoing symptoms. Health insurance providers automatically exclude the physical conditions we've mentioned and any related symptoms. Some providers also reserve the right to reclassify mental health issues as chronic conditions if an employee claims for treatment in multiple policy years.

If you offer private health insurance to your employees, you might wonder whether employees with chronic conditions will get the full benefits. The good news is that while these employees need NHS treatment for their ongoing symptoms, company health insurance can still provide valuable support.

Here are a few ways company health insurance can benefit employees with chronic conditions.

Access to a quick diagnosis

Some chronic conditions can develop later in life, meaning employees may notice symptoms during their employment with you. Symptoms may have multiple explanations, meaning employees need diagnostic tests, scans or an appointment with a specialist consultant to receive a diagnosis. Company health insurance may not treat chronic illness, but it can help employees get a diagnosis quickly.

If tests reveal that your employee has an illness the policy covers, they can access private medical care quickly. Alternatively, if they have a chronic disease that the policy doesn't cover, they can contact their GP for a referral to appropriate NHS services.

Treatment for flare-ups

Chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and asthma typically require ongoing monitoring and treatment, including adjustments to medication to manage varying symptoms. Patients with chronic illnesses such as Crohn's disease, arthritis and fibromyalgia can experience flare-ups with acute symptoms.

Some flare-ups need emergency treatment that private health insurance doesn't offer. For example, an asthma attack will likely require a visit to A&E. However, other flare-ups aren't life-threatening but can be debilitating and painful. Some company health insurance policies cover flare-ups, but the terms and conditions vary, so it's vital you check the small print.

Quick treatment for other health issues

A chronic illness doesn't prevent your employees from developing other health issues. Private medical insurance typically includes cancer care, in-patient treatment and other treatments, depending on your chosen policy. If you offer private health insurance to your team, employees with chronic illnesses can use it to receive quick access to treatment for unrelated conditions.

The claims process varies depending on the type of underwriting you have on your policy. If you have full medical underwriting, employees will likely have existing exclusions based on their chronic illness. With moratorium underwriting, your insurers will check whether their symptoms relate to their chronic disease or other exclusions apply.

Mental health support

Life with a chronic condition can be stressful and worrying for employees. Most private medical insurance provides mental health support to help them discuss their worries. Policies provide core coverage with 8-10 counselling sessions per year.

You can also extend the mental health support available by adding more coverage to your policy or providing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which offers confidential third-party counselling and telephone support.

Access to a virtual GP and health advice helplines

Virtual GP services provide 24/7 appointments with a GP via video call or telephone consultation. It helps employees seek medical advice at a time that suits them without taking time off work. A private GP appointment can help employees with chronic illnesses discuss whether their symptoms are likely related to their existing condition or a sign of something else. A virtual GP can often refer a patient to a consultant for further investigation if necessary.

Telephone helplines provide general guidance and can signpost employees to appropriate support. Nurses typically run general health helplines, but some insurers offer access to pharmacists, midwives and mental health specialists.

Lifestyle and well-being support

Many chronic illnesses respond well to lifestyle changes. For example, some patients with type 2 diabetes need insulin, while others can manage their condition by living a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet alongside medication helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Most business medical insurance policies include employee health assessments that provide an overview of an employee's general health. These assessments let employees set goals to improve their well-being and manage their chronic symptoms. Your insurer can provide anonymised data to help you understand employee health challenges.

Insurers typically have member reward schemes offering discounted gym memberships, fitness tracking technology and other well-being benefits.

Self-help resources

Knowledge is power, and self-help resources can help employees manage their health and learn more about their condition, particularly if they're newly diagnosed. Private medical insurance providers offer various self-help resources, such as articles and assessment tools. Articles cover topics including ways to live a healthy lifestyle and information on common conditions.

Employers can also use these resources to plan workplace wellness initiatives or share them with employees during education programmes.

The right company medical insurance policy for your business depends on your work and employees' needs. If your employees' work is highly stressful, you may need enhanced mental health coverage, while heavy manual labour demands investment in physical therapies.

Consider what support will benefit employees with ongoing conditions, such as well-being guidance or access to mental health support.

Speaking to a specialist broker helps you consider the pros and cons of different policies and invest in coverage that fits your needs and budget.

When you invest in employee medical insurance, you'll want to keep employees engaged with the benefits available. Good communication is essential to ensure your team knows what's available and how to use it. Provide information that employees can easily find when needed, for example, via the company intranet. Send regular reminders about the benefits available, or ensure information is in plain sight by putting up posters in staff break rooms or leaflets in the reception area.

Consider what information will benefit different employees. Communicating sensitively about chronic illnesses helps employees feel supported and understand how their medical insurance can help them. It can also increase awareness among their colleagues.

As you can see, private medical insurance can support workers with ongoing conditions in various ways. It's also worth considering what other benefits can provide valuable support. Income protection insurance pays a percentage of an employee's income during sick leave and can reduce the stress of an absence from work by ensuring they can pay their bills.

Flexible working arrangements that let employees adjust their hours or workplace location can help your staff manage their symptoms and remain productive team members.

At Globacare, we help our clients choose health insurance tailored to their needs. If you'd like to explore how health insurance can help you support your team, contact us to learn more.