Compare
Health cash plans
ProviderMedicashSimplyhealth
Dental£300£250
Optical£150£175
Physio£400£350
Per person / mo£6.50£7.20
Cover levels compared by Kota
Care · Health cash plans
Set up health cash plans without the benefits admin
Your people already spend money on dental check-ups, eye tests, and physio. A health cash plan pays them back. Kota helps you find a plan, enrol your people, and manage it all in one place.
Benefits
Health cash plan
Active- Members covered
- 128
- Claims this month
- 23
- Monthly premium
- £1,152.00
Members
- AMAlice MorganCovered
- SMSam MurphyCovered
- JEJamie EllisCovered
- NDNina DuboisCovered
- JvDJasper van DijkCovered
Powering benefits for 100,000+ employees
Why offer health cash plans?
Engagement
Your people see and feel the value
Most benefits only matter when something goes seriously wrong. A cash plan pays out for costs your people deal with all year.
Retention
Strengthens recruitment and retention
Candidates look closely at benefits. A cash plan gives them something concrete to weigh up, not a gym discount that’s forgotten by Monday.
Cost
Predictable costs
Premiums are a set amount per employee, so you know what you’re paying month after month.
Wellbeing
Supports financial wellbeing
In a survey of 2,000 UK employees, health plans ranked second only to pay rises as the cost-of-living support they most want from their employer.
Abouthealth cash plans
What is a health cash plan?
A health cash plan pays your people back for everyday healthcare costs. You pay a set monthly premium per employee, with no medical underwriting.
What’s covered
- DentalTreatment and check-ups
- OpticalEye tests and glasses
- PhysiotherapyPlus complementary therapies
- PrescriptionsAnd specialist consultations
- Mental healthSupport and counselling
- Cash backPay upfront, claim, and get paid back up to an annual limit
Health cash plans vs. Private medical insurance
Health cash plan
- Covers
- Everyday costs: dental, optical, physio
- Cost
- Flat monthly premium per employee
Private medical insurance
- Covers
- Private diagnosis and treatment of new, acute conditions
- Cost
- Higher premiums, usually priced by age or claims
Many employers offer both.
The insurance benefit your people actually use.
Health cash plans have the highest claims frequency of any insurance product in the FCA’s value data, because it covers the everyday costs they already pay for.
How Kota handleshealth cash plans
Brokerage, provider integrations, and HRIS sync in one place.
Who offershealth cash plans?
Providers you can set up with Kota.
How much dohealth cash plans cost?
Health cash plans are cost-accessible. Some plans start from as little as £3 per employee per month. Here’s what shapes your premium:
01
Your cover level
Higher cashback limits for each category mean a higher premium. Most providers offer tiers you can adjust later.
02
The size of your team
Larger teams get better per-head pricing, but plans stay accessible for small teams too.
03
The age profile of your employees
Older teams claim more often, and some providers adjust rates for your team’s age profile or claims at renewal.
04
Your add-ons and extras
Family cover, virtual GP, hospital stays, and extra therapies increase the cost.
Example scenario
A 50-person tech company on a mid-level plan covering dental, optical, and physiotherapy pays around £8–£10* per employee per month, roughly £4,800–£6,000 a year.
* Based on sample data. Quotes may vary.
Tax implications in UK and Ireland
United Kingdom
A health cash plan is a benefit-in-kind. Premiums are an allowable business expense, you pay Class 1A NICs on the value, and you report it on the P11D or through payroll (payrolling becomes mandatory from April 2027). Employees pay income tax on the premium value.
Ireland
Premiums are a deductible business expense. Employees pay income tax, PRSI, and USC on the premium value as a benefit-in-kind. Health cash plans don’t normally qualify for medical insurance tax relief.
“Employee experience is fantastic. The app is clean, intuitive, and puts all of the control back to the employee.”
How it works in Kota
From first quote to ongoing admin, in three steps.
Choose your plan
Compare providers on cover levels, claim limits, and price. Then set your cover level and whether cover starts on day one or after probation.
Enrol your people
Kota sends your team’s details from your HRIS. Your provider sends each employee a welcome pack explaining their cover and how to claim.
Kota runs the admin
Joiners, leavers, cover changes, and payroll figures stay in sync between your HRIS, your provider, and payroll.
Frequentlyasked questions
- Is a health cash plan worth it?
- Many scaling teams find it worthwhile. It delivers regular, visible value, claims are frequent, premiums are predictable, and costs are modest next to PMI.
- What’s the difference between a health cash plan and health insurance?
- A cash plan pays back everyday costs like dental, optical, and physio up to an annual limit. Health insurance (PMI) covers acute conditions and major treatment. The key difference is how often each one is used.
- Can you have a health cash plan and PMI?
- Yes, many employers do. They do different jobs and complement each other.
- How do employees claim on a health cash plan?
- They pay upfront, then claim in their provider’s app or portal with a receipt. They’re usually paid back within a few working days. No pre-authorisation or referral needed.
- How many employees do you need to set up a health cash plan?
- Most providers work with teams from as few as 3–5 employees.
Focus on the outcomes,not the admin
See the plans and the price before you decide. No pressure, no obligation.
