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Private health insurance becomes top workplace benefit for UK employees

Analysis from MyHealthPal found that 60% of employees now rank private health insurance as their most valued workplace benefit, ahead of extra holiday (41%) and life insurance (37%).

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A growing number of UK workers are prioritising access to healthcare over traditional workplace perks, with research indicating a shift in employee expectations around benefits.

Analysis from MyHealthPal found that 60% of employees now rank private health insurance as their most valued workplace benefit, ahead of extra holiday (41%) and life insurance (37%).

Matt Hall, SME director at MyHealthPal, said: “When something like health insurance overtakes extra holiday, it tells you priorities have shifted.

“People are thinking less about perks and more about access – whether they can actually get seen and treated in time.”

The findings suggested a broader change in how employees evaluate benefits, with faster access to treatment becoming a key consideration as pressure on healthcare services continues to shape behaviour.

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The report also highlighted a sharp increase in self-funded healthcare.

Spending rose from £37.1bn in 2020 to £46.2bn, a 24% increase since the pandemic.

Separate data from Healthwatch England showed that 16% of people used private healthcare in the past year, up from 9% two years earlier, with NHS waiting times cited as a primary driver.

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Cancer care remained a significant pressure point, with around 31.6% of patients not treated within the 62-day target and waiting lists standing at approximately 6.1 million people.

At the same time, chemotherapy became the second most common privately funded procedure in the UK and is the only top treatment category seeing an increase in admissions.

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Concerns about accessing healthcare are also affecting wellbeing, with one in seven adults reporting they lose sleep worrying about whether they will be able to receive treatment.

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Confidence levels remained relatively low, with only 32% believing they can access hospital care within a reasonable timeframe.

Confidence dropped further for non-urgent operations (22%), mental health services (22%) and diagnostic tests (28%).

Access challenges often begin at GP level.

With around 63.9 million registered patients and approximately 28,700 full-time equivalent GPs in England, each GP is responsible for an average of 2,200 patients.

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Hall added: “If people can’t get an appointment early, everything else gets pushed back – diagnosis, referrals, treatment.

“That’s where delays really begin and private care and employer health cover become more relevant.”

Hall concluded: “More people are now choosing jobs based on access to healthcare, paying privately to avoid delays, and prioritising health cover over other benefits.

“It’s no longer just about salary or holidays. So they’re taking control – through their employer, or by paying for it themselves”

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