Case study: Admiral widens healthcare coverage to meet employee demand

Kristian Brunt-Seymour
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Admiral Insurance is using its Ministry for Health to help improve employee health and wellbeing.

It has a strong emphasis on preventative measures but is also expanding the offering to include voluntary private medical insurance (PMI) and an employee assistance programme (EAP).

The Ministry for Health programme promotes health and wellness through a variety of schemes including in-office yoga classes, free eye tests and massages. There are also corporate gym rates, discounted reflexology, detox, and flu jabs which are paid for through deductions in staff wages.

"It's about employee-engagement. It's not just about financial reward, it's about providing what we can so staff feel that we do care about their health and wellbeing," says Admiral payroll and benefits manager Michelle Sutton.

The latest move to open out the availability of its PMI scheme came as a result of changing provider to Bupa from the former Simplyhealth plan.

Private medical insurance is offered for the company's senior staff and management, but Admiral is introducing the voluntary option for its entire 5,500 staff this month, with cover available for family, spouse, married and single-parent families and dependents up to the age of 24.

Interestingly, despite having an average workforce age of 26, the choice of opting into PMI was something the company's staff asked for during the company's bi-annual staff survey. Sutton believes this provision of an EAP and the discounted PMI will make staff feel more supported and engaged.

"We were never allowed voluntary opt-in before, but Bupa are allowing us this option," continues Sutton.

"We'll do the corporate rate for the people that we normally cover already but if an employee or a call centre rep wants to join the scheme, they will pay themselves but at a much better rate than normally available.

"The advantage of providing private healthcare is as a caring employer you are looking to get staff whatever treatment they need. They're able to get through the treatment quicker, and cover family members at a cheaper corporate rate. There's also a flexibility aspect," she concludes.

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