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Simplyhealth is one of the UK's biggest health cash plan providers, helping employees claim back money for everyday healthcare costs like dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment. Here's what's covered, what it costs, and how it compares to full private medical insurance.
Simplyhealth business health insurance is a health cash plan, not full private medical insurance, with plans starting from around £3 per month per employee up to £50+ per month for the most comprehensive cover.
Simplyhealth tends to suit SMEs and larger employers who want to support everyday employee health affordably, rather than pay for comprehensive medical cover. If your workforce needs cover for serious illness or surgery, it's worth comparing private medical insurance alongside or instead of Simplyhealth. The best way to find out what's right for your business is to speak to an advisor, since group size, benefit level and workforce demographics all affect the price.
Simplyhealth business health insurance is a health cash plan that helps employers support employee wellbeing without the higher cost of traditional private medical insurance. Simplyhealth looks after more than 2 million customers and has over 150 years of healthcare heritage, making it one of the UK's leading providers of business health cash plans.
We're a comparison service, not an insurer - we connect you with specialists who compare Simplyhealth against a wide range of business health insurance providers to find the right fit for your workforce. This review covers Simplyhealth's products, pricing, claims process and customer feedback, and how it compares to alternatives.
Overall rating: 4.3 out of 5
Best for: SMEs and larger employers wanting to support everyday employee health at an affordable, predictable cost.
Consider alternatives if: you need cover for private hospital treatment, surgery or cancer care - you'll need private medical insurance instead.
Simplyhealth primarily provides health cash plans for businesses. This means employees can claim money back for everyday healthcare costs like dental check-ups, eye tests, physiotherapy and prescriptions. Employees pay for treatment upfront, then submit a receipt through the Simplyhealth app and receive reimbursement directly into their bank account, typically within three working days.
This is fundamentally different from full private medical insurance, which covers private hospital treatment, specialist consultations and major medical procedures. If you're looking for comprehensive cover that includes inpatient care and surgery, Simplyhealth isn't the right choice - you'd need providers like Bupa, Vitality or AXA Health instead.
That said, Simplyhealth occupies a valuable niche: helping businesses offer meaningful health benefits at a fraction of the cost of private medical insurance, while still providing tangible support for employee wellbeing.
Depending on the plan you choose, Simplyhealth business health insurance can cover:
Simplyhealth health cash plans typically don't cover the items below. If your employees need cover for serious medical treatment, you'll need to consider private medical insurance providers alongside or instead of Simplyhealth.
Exclusions
Business health insurance
Tell us about your workforce and what matters most to your business, and an advisor will talk you through whether a cash plan, private medical insurance, or a mix of both makes sense.
Simplyhealth's roots stretch back to 1872, when the Manchester & Salford Hospital Saturday Fund and the Leeds Hospital Fund were established to help working-class families afford healthcare. The Simplyhealth brand was created in 2009, bringing together several historic health cash plan providers including the Hospital Saving Association and HealthSure.
Today, Simplyhealth looks after over 2 million customers and is one of the UK's largest health cash plan providers, holding around 60% of the retail market. The company acquired Denplan, the UK's leading dental payment plan, from AXA in 2011 for £115 million, and took a majority stake in eyecare provider Ocuplan in 2022.
Simplyhealth is a private company limited by guarantee, meaning it has no shareholders. Profits are reinvested into the business and charitable causes rather than paid out as dividends. Simplyhealth is B Corp certified, has been carbon neutral since 2020, and donates around £1 million annually to health-related charities including Dentaid, Heart Research UK and the Mental Health Foundation.
This dual regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority provides strong consumer protection. As a Financial Services Compensation Scheme protected provider, if Simplyhealth were to fail, eligible policyholders would be protected.
Simplyhealth offers three main products for businesses, which can be used individually or combined to create a broader health benefits package.
Best for: businesses wanting basic digital health support at minimal cost. Price: from £3 per month per employee.
Simply Essentials is Simplyhealth's entry-level digital healthcare subscription. It focuses on the main drivers of workplace absence - mental health and musculoskeletal issues - by providing:
Simply Essentials is available to businesses of all sizes and covers pre-existing conditions from day one - unlike traditional private medical insurance, there's no medical underwriting.
Best for: businesses wanting to help employees with specific healthcare costs.
Simply Fund It is a flexible funding option that lets businesses provide pay-and-claim health benefits for specific services. Employers can choose which treatments to fund, such as:
This approach means businesses only pay for the services they want to offer, keeping costs predictable and avoiding unnecessary coverage.
Best for: businesses wanting comprehensive everyday health cover. Availability: businesses with 3+ employees.
The Simply Health Plan is Simplyhealth's most comprehensive offering, combining digital health services with claimable cash benefits. It includes everything in Simply Essentials plus:
The Simply Health Plan offers six benefit levels, allowing businesses to choose coverage that matches their budget and workforce needs. Higher levels (5 and 6) have achieved a 5-star Defaqto rating, while levels 3-4 received 4 stars. For businesses with 50+ employees, Simplyhealth offers modular options and community-banded rating, making it more affordable for mid-sized organisations.
Many businesses combine Simply Essentials with Simply Fund It rather than jumping straight to the full Simply Health Plan. It's a cost-effective way to see which benefits your team actually uses before committing to a higher benefit level.
At a glance
Simplyhealth positions itself as an affordable alternative to traditional private medical insurance. While specific pricing depends on the plan level and number of employees, here's what to expect.
For accurate pricing, speak to an advisor about a quote based on your specific workforce demographics and coverage requirements.
Several factors affect your Simplyhealth business health insurance premium:
Research by the Association of British Insurers suggests businesses report up to a 20% drop in absenteeism and a 35% boost in employee retention after introducing health and dental plans. Simplyhealth's own figures suggest virtual GP appointments save businesses around £26.40 in productive time per appointment compared to face-to-face care.
Whether Simplyhealth represents good value depends on how your employees use it. If your workforce regularly claims for dental, optical and therapy services, they could easily reclaim more than the premium costs. But if employees rarely use healthcare services, a cash plan may not be cost-effective.
Simplyhealth's health cash plans often use age-banded pricing, unlike full private medical insurance. If your workforce skews older, ask for a full breakdown of how the age bands affect your total premium before you commit to a benefit level.
One of Simplyhealth's standout features is its straightforward claims process, which consistently receives praise in customer reviews.
For successful claims, employees need:
Customer reviews consistently highlight the ease of Simplyhealth's claims process. Trustpilot reviewers frequently mention that the claims process is simple, that payment lands in their account within two to three days, and that the app makes claiming easy with "no fuss, no questions, just quick payment."
The company also responds to 100% of negative reviews on Trustpilot, typically within 24 hours, suggesting a commitment to resolving customer issues.
How it works
Employee attends appointment
They visit their chosen healthcare professional, such as a dentist, optician or physiotherapist, and pay as normal.
Keep the receipt
The itemised receipt must show the date, treatment type and cost.
Submit through app or online
Employees photograph or scan the receipt and submit it via the SimplyPlan app or online portal.
Claim is processed
Simplyhealth reviews the claim against the policy limits.
Payment received
Money is paid directly into the employee's bank account, typically within three working days.
Understanding where Simplyhealth sits in the market helps determine if it's right for your business.
Bottom line: Simplyhealth and private medical insurance serve different purposes. If you need cover for serious illness, private medical insurance is the right choice. If you want to help employees with everyday health costs affordably, Simplyhealth excels.
Simplyhealth holds approximately 60% of the retail cash plan market but is second to Health Shield in the corporate market. Its key differentiators are brand recognition, the SimplyPlan app, and comprehensive digital health services including 24/7 GP access.
We compare across a wide range of providers, including Simplyhealth and full private medical insurers.
Simplyhealth maintains strong customer satisfaction ratings across independent review platforms.
Simplyhealth holds an overall rating of 4.5/5 from more than 4,400 reviews.
Simplyhealth has received several industry awards, including Best Healthcare Cash Plan Provider, Best Provider of Virtual and Remote Healthcare Provision, and Best Dental Benefits Provider at the Health Insurance and Protection Awards 2020, plus Outstanding Wellbeing Innovation 2021 from Cover Magazine.
You can get a Simplyhealth business health insurance quote through several channels: directly through Simplyhealth, through an employee benefits consultant or insurance broker, or by comparing options through an advisor who can weigh Simplyhealth up against alternatives.
To get an accurate quote, have ready:
Simplyhealth is a strong option for many businesses, but it's not the only health cash plan provider, and it isn't private medical insurance. Comparing Simplyhealth against a wide range of providers helps you understand which plan level suits your workforce and confirms you're choosing the right type of cover, not just the most familiar name.
How it works
Sign up
Complete the application through your chosen channel, whether that's directly with Simplyhealth or through an advisor.
Onboarding
Simplyhealth provides onboarding support to help you set up your scheme.
Employee communication
Share plan details with employees, including instructions for downloading the SimplyPlan app.
Claims begin
Most benefits have no qualifying period, so employees can start claiming immediately, though some dental benefits may have a short waiting period.
Simplyhealth is an excellent choice for businesses wanting to support employee health affordably. Its combination of low starting costs, pre-existing conditions covered from day one, and a genuinely easy claims process makes it one of the most accessible ways to offer meaningful health benefits, especially for SMEs that couldn't justify the cost of full private medical insurance.
But it's important to be clear-eyed about what Simplyhealth is: a health cash plan, not private medical insurance. It won't cover hospital treatment, surgery or cancer care, so businesses with employees who might need serious medical treatment should compare private medical insurance alongside, or instead of, Simplyhealth.
We recommend Simplyhealth for: SMEs and larger employers wanting affordable, easy-to-claim everyday health cover, particularly where pre-existing conditions rule out standard private medical insurance underwriting.
Consider alternatives if: your priority is cover for serious illness or surgery, or your employees would struggle with the pay-then-claim model.
The best approach is to compare quotes from multiple providers for your specific situation, so you can make an informed decision based on like-for-like comparisons.
Independent guidance on business health insurance and industry standards.
Common questions
Simplyhealth provides health cash plans, not traditional private medical insurance. Cash plans help you claim money back for everyday healthcare costs like dental and optical treatment, but they don't cover private hospital care or surgery. If you need comprehensive medical cover, you'll need private medical insurance from a provider like Bupa or Vitality.
Yes. Unlike private medical insurance, Simplyhealth health cash plans cover pre-existing conditions from day one. There's no medical underwriting or health questionnaire to complete, and employees with ongoing health needs can claim for treatment related to existing conditions.
Most Simplyhealth claims are paid within three working days of submission. Employees submit claims through the SimplyPlan app by photographing their receipt, and once approved, payment goes directly into their bank account. Customer reviews consistently praise the speed of the claims process.
Yes. Simplyhealth offers plans for businesses from one employee upwards. Simply Essentials, the digital healthcare subscription, is available to all business sizes, while the Simply Health Plan requires a minimum of three employees. Small business health plans are specifically designed to be affordable and easy to manage.
Yes. Simplyhealth is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. This provides strong consumer protection, and eligible policyholders are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Simplyhealth offers health cash plans that reimburse everyday healthcare costs like dental and optical treatment. Bupa provides private medical insurance that covers hospital treatment, surgery and specialist consultations. Simplyhealth is significantly cheaper but won't cover serious medical conditions - they serve different purposes and can be complementary.
Yes. With Simplyhealth cash plans, employees pay for treatment at the time of their appointment, then claim reimbursement by submitting their receipt. This differs from private medical insurance, where insurers typically pay providers directly. The pay-then-claim model may create challenges for employees needing expensive treatment.
Yes. Simplyhealth doesn't restrict which healthcare professionals employees can use. They can visit any registered dentist, optician, physiotherapist or other practitioner in the UK - there's no network or panel to navigate. Claims are based on the treatment received, not where it was provided.
Simplyhealth benefit limits typically reset annually and don't roll over. If an employee doesn't use their full dental or optical allowance in one year, it won't carry forward to the next policy year. This is standard practice for health cash plans.
This depends on how you structure your scheme. Some businesses offer Simplyhealth on an opt-in basis, while others enrol all employees automatically. Discuss your preferred approach with your advisor when setting up the scheme.
Simplyhealth includes mental health support in its plans, typically through access to counselling services and a 24/7 mental health helpline. The Simply Essentials plan specifically focuses on mental health and musculoskeletal issues as primary drivers of workplace absence. That said, cash plan cover for mental health is more limited than what comprehensive private medical insurance provides.
Employees can access GP consultations via video or phone call at any time through the Simplyhealth app. There's no appointment needed - they simply request a consultation when convenient. Simplyhealth reports that 76% of concerns are managed within the appointment without needing referral, and the service handles over 32,000 calls monthly.
Most Simplyhealth benefits have no waiting period, so employees can start claiming immediately after cover begins. But some benefits, particularly dental treatment, may have a qualifying period of two to three months before claims can be made. Check the specific policy terms when comparing options.
Yes, and this is a common approach. Some businesses offer full private medical insurance to senior staff while providing Simplyhealth cash plans to the wider workforce. Others use Simplyhealth to supplement private medical insurance by covering everyday costs, like dental and optical, that it typically excludes or limits.
Most policies run for 12 months with annual renewal. Some insurers offer monthly rolling contracts, though these may have slightly higher premiums.
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