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Set up group health insurance without the benefits admin

Private medical insurance is one of the most valued benefits you can offer. Kota handles the HRIS, insurer and payroll admin that comes with it, all in one place.

Benefits / Health insurance

Health insurance

Active
Members covered
128
New joiners
5
Monthly spend
£4,830.51

Members

  • AMAlice MorganCovered
  • SMSam MurphyCovered
  • JEJamie EllisCovered
  • NDNina DuboisCovered
  • JvDJasper van DijkCovered

Powering benefits for 100,000+ employees

  • Remote
  • PayFit
  • carwow
  • Poolside
  • Cloudsmith

Why offer group health insurance?

  • Retention

    Attract and retain top talent

    Private medical cover is the third most sought-after benefit among UK employees, and 71% of employees say better pay and benefits would make them switch jobs.

  • Recovery

    Help your employees recover faster

    NHS waiting lists take a toll: almost one in five employees on a waiting list say it has affected their work. Private cover means faster diagnosis, faster treatment and a quicker return to full capacity.

  • Productivity

    Build a more productive workforce

    Nearly half of UK workers live paycheck to paycheck, so time off for an unexpected health issue can quickly become a financial worry. Faster treatment means less time off.

  • Cost

    Protect your team within budget

    Group pricing spreads risk across your workforce, so premiums stay modest for younger, desk-based teams and scale with your headcount.

About grouphealth insurance

What is group health insurance?

Group health insurance, also known as group PMI, is a private medical policy your company takes out for your employees. You’re the policyholder and your employees are the members. You choose the plan and set the eligibility rules, usually all permanent employees, with or without a probation period. Employees access private treatment through a GP referral or, with some insurers, by booking directly with a specialist.

What’s covered

  • Hospital careInpatient and day-patient treatment
  • OutpatientSpecialist consultations
  • DiagnosticsScans, blood tests, pathology
  • Mental healthSupport
  • Cancer careOn many plans
  • CashbackPhysio, dental and optical on many plans

Group health insurance vs. Health cash plans

Group health insurance

Covers
Private diagnosis and treatment of new, acute conditions
Includes
Hospital stays and cancer care, with outpatient and mental health on many plans
How it pays
Pays the hospital or specialist, after any excess

Health cash plan

Covers
Everyday costs, not hospital treatment
Includes
Dental, optical, physio and therapies
How it pays
Pays employees back, up to annual limits

Many employers offer both.

Private treatment,when it’s needed.

Without long public waiting lists. Your people get access to private specialists, diagnostics and hospital care through their insurer’s network.

See pricingBook a demo

How Kota handlesgroup health insurance

Procurement, administration and renewal in a single system, instead of a broker, an insurer portal and a payroll spreadsheet.

Compare

Group health insurance

ProviderBupaFreedomVitality
Excess£100£250£0
UnderwritingMHDFMUMoratorium
Hospital listExtendedGuidedCore
Per person / mo£68£61£57

Renewal quotes ready 90 days early

Who offersgroup health insurance?

Insurers you can set up with Kota.

UK and Ireland

and more

How much doesgroup health insurance cost?

Most UK insurers quote from as few as two employees. Here’s what shapes your premium:

  1. 01

    The size of your team

    Larger groups pay less per head because insurers spread risk across more lives.

  2. 02

    The age profile of your workforce

    In the UK, younger teams usually attract lower premiums, and renewal pricing reflects your team’s age profile. In Ireland, health insurance is community-rated, so age doesn’t set the price.

  3. 03

    The level of cover you choose

    Inpatient-only cover costs significantly less than comprehensive plans with outpatient care, mental health support and therapies.

  4. 04

    The excess you set

    A higher excess, typically £100-£250, lowers your premium without changing the cover you offer.

Also worth knowing

Location (London and the South East cost more), industry (desk-based roles cost less), your underwriting type and your claims history at renewal all affect your price.

Tax implications in UK and Ireland

United Kingdom

Group health insurance is a benefit-in-kind. Premiums are an allowable business expense, you report the value on a P11D or through payroll, and you pay Class 1A NICs on it. Employees pay income tax on the premium value.

Ireland

Premiums are a tax-deductible business expense, and you pay employer PRSI on the benefit. Employees pay income tax, PRSI and USC on the premium value through payroll, reported to Revenue in real time, and can claim tax relief on the premium through Revenue’s myAccount.

“Why can’t everything be this easy?! Everything was easy, both on the admin side and for end users.”

Aisling FogartyNine Dots

How it works in Kota

From first quote to ongoing admin, in three steps.

  • Share your workforce data

    Insurers need headcount, dates of birth, job titles and salaries to quote. Names aren’t needed at this stage.

  • Choose cover and underwriting

    Pick the insurer, level of cover and underwriting type, then confirm your start date and eligibility rules.

  • Kota enrols and manages

    Employees are enrolled from your HRIS and receive their welcome details. Joiners, leavers and renewals are handled from there.

Frequentlyasked questions

What does group health insurance typically cover?
Most policies cover inpatient and day-patient treatment, outpatient specialist consultations and diagnostics like MRI scans and blood tests. Many also include cancer care, mental health support and physiotherapy, with dental and optical cashback as add-ons.
How many employees do you need for group health in the UK?
Most UK insurers quote from two employees. Medical History Disregarded underwriting is usually available from 15-20 employees; smaller groups typically get moratorium or full medical underwriting.
Can employees add dependants to a group policy?
Many policies let employees add a partner or children for an extra premium. Terms vary by insurer.
How does group health insurance handle pre-existing conditions?
In the UK, moratorium underwriting excludes conditions you’ve had symptoms, treatment or advice for in the past five years, which may become eligible after two symptom-free years. Full medical underwriting sets exclusions from day one. Medical History Disregarded covers them from the start, at a higher premium. In Ireland, pre-existing conditions are covered after set waiting periods.
What happens to an employee’s cover when they leave?
They should come off the policy straight away, or you keep paying for them. Kota does this automatically through your HRIS.
Is group health insurance mandatory for UK employers?
No, it’s optional. But it’s increasingly standard among tech and digital-first companies competing for talent, and one of the benefits employees value most.

Focus on the outcomes, not the admin

See the plans and the price before you decide. No pressure, no obligation.