Business Healthcare

Employees can call our helpline or log in to the Benenden Health App 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to book an appointment for a telephone or video consultation with a UK-based GP.

What’s included

• Telephone consultations are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Video consultations are available 7 days a week, 8am to 10pm, except Christmas Day.
• Employees, and their immediate family, can access this service when travelling overseas.
• If clinically appropriate, our GPs can prescribe some medications over the telephone. These costs are not covered by the employees’ membership - they are private prescriptions and separate charges apply for the cost of medication and delivery, which your employees will pay directly to the pharmacy. Prescriptions can either be collected from a pharmacy local to your employee or delivered directly to your employee the next working day.

What's excluded 

• The 24/7 GP Helpline can’t provide a referral to access any other Benenden Health service.
• Where clinically appropriate, the GP may refer your employees back to their own GP.
• The 24/7 GP Helpline isn’t designed to replace your employee's registered GP practice as we don’t have access to their medical records.
• The 24/7 GP Helpline doesn’t provide ongoing treatment, repeat prescriptions or investigations.
• We’re can't provide prescriptions outside of the UK and the cost of prescriptions are not covered by the membership.

Employees can call our helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for immediate emotional support and signposting for problems such as mild to moderate anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationships, legal and debt concerns.

What’s included

• We can provide support and signposting for mild to moderate anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationships, legal and debt concerns.

• We provide immediate support and reassurance and can guide individuals to the most appropriate services and resources to help them.

• Employees can access this service when travelling abroad.

Any employee could find themselves with the responsibility for arranging care for a family member at some time in their lives.

Our Care Planning and Social Care Advice, and Neurodiversity and Disability Advice services are here to help by providing access to care advisers who can provide information and advice about adult care issues, adult neurodiverse and disability needs, or advise the parent or guardian of a child who may have these needs.

What's included 

• Our care advisers can help your employees to make the right choices by talking them through the financial, legal and practical aspects of arranging both short and long-term adult care, as well as providing ongoing impartial support.
• Where appropriate, our service can provide detailed reports shortlisting the most suitable care providers.
• Our service can also provide personalised advice for adults and the parents and guardians of children with neurodiversity and disability needs. Including how to navigate information and signposting for support strategies, funding, rights of parents and carers, care options, and respite care.
• This service is designed to help your employees understand the potential costs of care, how the system works and any funding they may be entitled to.

What's excluded 

• Benenden Health doesn't fund the care that your employees, their spouse or partner, parents or children over the age 21 may need.

• Your employees will have access to our discount platform for money-saving deals on gym membership, cinema tickets and gift cards from selected retailers.
• Support your employees' eye health with access to free online eye screening tests and up to 30% off eye health products.
• Help inspire employees to lead a healthy lifestyle with our Wellbeing Hub in the Benenden Health App. Employees can browse a wide ranging choice of articles, videos and classes to support their mental wellbeing, fitness and nutritional health.
• Employees can enjoy a range of instructor-led virtual health, fitness and wellbeing classes online. They can watch classes live or catch up at their leisure.
• and they will also receive a copy of our health and wellbeing magazine Be Healthy.

Nobody wants a nervous wait for answers, so help your employees find answers faster with private Medical Diagnostics. Your employees can request a private diagnosis when their NHS wait time is over three weeks. They will need to be referred by a qualified NHS Practitioner in order to access this service. Employees must contact us for authorisation before they proceed with any appointments.

What's included 

• Dependent on authorisation, our service includes consultations with an appropriate and experienced consultant and may include tests such as scans and x-rays.
• We can support any authorised diagnostics for employees up to the value of £2,500 per condition.
• We have an extensive nationwide network of facilities providing employees with access to diagnostics consultations and tests. This network includes our own Benenden Hospital located in Kent and access to diagnostic facilities across the UK.

What's excluded 

• Employees will be responsible for funding any diagnostics costs incurred over £2,500.
• We won’t fund diagnosis undertaken prior to authorisation.
• All appointments we authorise must take place within six months of our initial authorisation and we won’t be able to settle any expenses that are incurred more than six months after initial authorisation.
• We won’t pay for services relating to the same medical condition on the same body area within two years of us first authorising support.
• We won’t currently authorise diagnostic assistance for any appointments which aren’t for diagnostic purposes, cosmetic concerns, angiograms (cardiac catheterisation) specialist assistance for pain management, complementary therapy, second opinion consultations and any diagnosis where, in our view, it may be safer to remain on the NHS waiting list e.g. psychiatry and suspected cancer diagnosis or where the diagnosis may lead to a long-term medical requirement.

This list is subject to change and employees should always contact us for authorisation prior to making any appointments. This service doesn't support for monitoring of any ongoing condition, including consultations or treatment.

NHS wait times

Wait times for diagnosis are subject to change. Currently, members can request our help if the NHS wait time is more than three weeks for diagnosis. Please see our current wait times.

Our nationwide network of private hospitals

We have a network of facilities providing members with access to diagnostics consultations and tests. This network includes our own Benenden Hospital located in Kent. The hospitals in our network can change from time to time so check for the most up to date information.

Our priority is getting your staff back to good health faster, which is why we offer a broad range of non-urgent surgical treatments and operations. Your employees can request Surgical Treatment for our approved procedures when the wait time on the NHS is over five weeks.

What's included

• Dependent on authorisation, we can support the full cost of any treatment on our approved list of procedures that take place in one of our national treatment network hospitals, including our own Benenden Hospital in Kent.
• We’re here for your employees, whatever they require. This can include covering fees for surgeons, anaesthetics, operating theatres, accommodation, nursing, medical admission and specialist consultants, as well as pre-operative tests and postoperative physiotherapy.

What's excluded

• We can’t provide treatment services where a procedure has taken place on the same body area within the previous two years.

• We will only fund treatment that takes place within eight weeks of our authorisation.

• We can only provide treatment from our approved procedures list. Types of procedures not on our approved procedures list include:
  - Brain related surgery.
  - Cancer related surgery.
  - Surgery related to heart conditions.
  - Cosmetic surgery.
  - Emergency surgery.
  - Reconstructive surgeries following trauma.
  - Acute care.
  - Anything related to fractures.
  - Spinal related surgery.
  - Pregnancy related surgery.
  - Joint replacements.
  - anything related to pain management. 

Our approved procedures 

This list isn't exhaustive and is subject to change. As our services are provided on a discretionary basis and are subject to the resources we have available, we may change the approved procedures that we are able to provide from time to time. Please view our full list of procedures. 

NHS Wait times 

Wait times for treatment are subject to change. Currently, members can request our help if the NHS wait time is more than five weeks for treatment. Please see our current wait times.

Our nationwide network of private hospitals

We have a national network of facilities at which we can authorise your employee’s surgical, and other treatment, procedures. Your employees may be required to attend a different facility for treatment to the facility they attended for their diagnosis. This network includes our own Benenden Hospital located in Kent. The hospitals in our network can change from time to time so check the network of facilities for the most up to date information.

Your employees can call us to request a physiotherapist to assess their condition over the phone to determine if they're likely to benefit from physiotherapy and if so, the best course of treatment. If recommended, physiotherapy may be provided either via virtual or face-to-face sessions with a physiotherapist in our network or guided self-managed exercises.

What's included 

• For symptoms that can be managed with guided self-management, a physiotherapist will design a bespoke programme of exercises to address your employee’s individual needs.
• Our physiotherapist will support your employees throughout their journey at specific intervals via case management telephone calls.
• Your employees can view prescribed exercises through a personalised Online Digital Rehabilitation programme. This can record activity to help inform our physiotherapist on progress, using this to support their recovery.

Face-to face and virtual physiotherapy treatment

• Face-to-face or virtual physiotherapy treatment is provided through our national network of physiotherapy clinics.
• Employees may receive sessions of physiotherapy per case – the number of sessions your employees receive will depend on clinical guidance from the physiotherapist and they may be advised to complete exercises at home.

What's excluded 

• We won’t pay for services relating to the same medical condition on the same body area within two years of us first authorising support.
• We’re unable to provide support if the physiotherapist determines your employee’s condition cannot be treated via guided self-management or within in a six-session model.
• If we’re unable to provide physiotherapy via our network, we may offer an alternative solution.

Fostering an open culture around mental health is vital to encouraging a healthy attitude toward mental wellbeing in the workplace. Our Mental Health Support is a key component of our healthcare that helps you to support the mental health of all your employees.

What's included 

Our experienced counsellors can provide short-term structured support for employees facing life stressors such as:

• Bereavement.
• Work or relationship difficulties.
• Mild to moderate distress.

This can also include support for common mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, where a short course of structured support would be clinically beneficial. 

Before treatment is offered, an assessment is carried out over the phone to determine the type of support that’s most appropriate for your employee, which could be:

Structured wellbeing counselling

• This could include up to six sessions of structured wellbeing counselling which may be delivered by phone, face-to-face or video calls with one of the counsellors in our network.

Supported self-help

• This is guided self help based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Designed by a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, employees receive a set of supportive learning modules to complete. They’ll work through a programme and have up to six support calls to help monitor their progress. This will include agreeing progressive actions and goals that will work to help your employees resolve their symptoms.

Supported referral

• For conditions deemed moderate to severe, we’ll help your employee by making a supported referral to the NHS.

What's not included  

• This service isn’t intended to provide ongoing care or support for more severe, long-term conditions. As a result, there may be cases where we’re unable to support due to the complexity of their circumstances. In these instances, we’ll provide telephone support calls with a counsellor until your employee receives an assessment from the NHS.
• We can’t provide counselling support when your employee is receiving other types of support from another service (such as the NHS or a private therapist, community psychiatric nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist and recovery programmes).
• If we’re unable to provide mental health counselling via our network, we may offer an alternative solution.
• This service will not initiate, monitor or review any mental health medications.

Dealing with cancer can be overwhelming and difficult. So, if your employee has cancer, they can request our Cancer Support service. This service gives them access to a registered nurse who'll provide them with emotional and practical support and advice. 

Please note that this service can also be requested by members who have been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

What's included

Your employees will have access to a dedicated nurse for telephone support. The nurse will call or email them, as agreed, to discuss concerns or questions they may have in relation to their illness. This service will continue for as long as their nurse feels their support is required.

We aim to provide the best possible care, so the type of support and information provided will be tailored to your employee’s specific needs and may include:

• Understanding their diagnosis and its potential consequences.

• Helping them to prepare questions ahead of consultations or supporting them afterwards to understand what’s been discussed.

• Helping your employee to access services available from the NHS and other organisations.

• Supporting them emotionally.

• Practical advice on dealing with the implications of cancer.

• Helping with the adjustment to life after cancer.

• Preparing them to return to work and supporting them after their return.

The nurse will offer their assistance where they can and, in their clinical discretion, may:

• Identify, arrange and pay* for services or therapies delivered by third parties to help them with issues related to their condition, including short-term home care and complementary therapies.

• Arrange and pay* for specialised clothing, head coverings and prostheses.

• Signpost them to one of the other membership services provided by Benenden Health such as the 24/7 Mental Health Helpline, Mental Health Support or Physiotherapy.

• Guide them to the Benenden Charitable Trust which can provide grants towards any other items which may help your employee. Please note, as a member, they can apply directly to the Charitable Trust with enquiries about financial help.

• Give them information about local and national charities, organisations or support groups.

What's excluded

• Unfortunately, we won’t provide Cancer Support relating to the same medical condition on the same body area within two years of us first authorising support.

• Cancer Support is not available for basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

• Third-party services/therapies, specialist clothing, head coverings and prosthesis are arranged and paid* for at the clinical discretion of your nurse. We won’t pay for any services or items which you purchase direct.

Please note that this service is designed to supplement, not replace, primary consultant-led care provided in the NHS or privately. Your employee’s primary care remains the responsibility of the NHS or private consultant.

* This is subject to a per case budget agreed with our Service Partner.

The price of membership is £15.50 per employee, per month. 

Yes, membership is the same price of £15.50 per person, per month, regardless of age or pre-existing medical conditions.

Yes, everyone is accepted to join Benenden Health regardless of their medical history providing they are a UK resident.

From day one of membership your employees can access round the clock care such as 24/7 GP and Mental Health helplines, a wide ranging choice of wellbeing support plus exclusive member rewards and discounts.

Your employees can benefit from speedy access to services such as physiotherapy and medical diagnosis and treatment in our hospitals. Limits and exclusions apply, please review the service detail. 

No, there is no excess to pay. But your employees will be responsible for funding any costs incurred over £2,500 when accessing our diagnostics service.

Yes. People can request private medical diagnosis at one of the hospitals in our diagnostic network for symptoms for which they have been referred by an qualified NHS practitioner. Once authorised, we can support diagnostic costs up to £2,500.

People can also request assistance for Medical Treatment and Surgery at one of our hospitals in our treatment network for approved procedures. Our approved procedures are broadly those that are considered less complex and might be considered as elective procedures.

Examples of surgery not on our approved procedures list are heart, brain, cancer and joint replacements. View our full list of our approved procedures. 

There are limits and exclusions which apply to our membership. Our business healthcare services are provided on a discretionary basis and are subject to the resources we have available. Some cases can be dependent on a GP referral, NHS wait times and the type of treatment required.

Whilst our tuberculosis service is provided on an insured basis, we are not a medical insurer. Our other services are provided on a discretionary basis and are subject to the resources we have available. In some cases, provision of these services can be dependent on factors such as GP referral, NHS wait times and the type of treatment required.

Our discretionary model is at the heart of everything we do. It has served our members well for more than 115 years and allows us to manage our funds and the services we provide carefully to ensure that we can continue to offer every member one affordable price, regardless of age and pre-existing medical conditions.

We're not a private medical insurer. We provide healthcare services on a discretionary basis, except treatment for TB (tuberculosis), which is provided on an insured basis. Our services are reviewed regularly and subject to the resources we have available. In some cases, provision of service can be dependent on factors such as GP referral, NHS wait times and the type of treatment required.

Yes, you can extend this benefit to employee’s immediate family (that live at the same address) for the same price of £15.50 per person, per month.

An employee can also add family to their own membership on a self-funded basis. Please note that employees have 60 days from joining your Benenden Healthcare for Business Scheme to add family to their membership under the Special Conditions of your scheme. After 60 days they can still add family to their membership, but they’ll be exempt from any Special Conditions regarding when they can access our services.

No. The cost of Benenden Healthcare for Business will never increase due to employee age or service usage. The cost of membership is reviewed annually for all members, never based on an individual’s circumstances.

Yes, membership is available to anyone over the age of 16 who is normally a resident in the UK.

Everyone is accepted regardless of age and medical history. There are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions on joining. 

Benenden Healthcare for Business is a taxable benefit which means it may affect an employees’ income tax but not national insurance contributions. For more information visit tax company benefits. 

This healthcare benefit doesn't include access to dental and optical care.

However, we also offer a Health Cash Plan which does provide support for these everyday health issues. Our Health Cash Plan is tiered, to provide six levels of cover, allowing your employees to spread the cost of routine healthcare and unexpected expenses in a simple and affordable way. The cash plan offers 100% money back on dental and optical care.