
As a leading FCA-authorised UK insurance broker that has arranged over 900,000 policies, WeCovr knows that understanding the nuances of private medical insurance is key. This guide unpacks the tax treatment of company PMI, helping you make an informed decision for your business and your team.
Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is one of the most highly valued employee benefits a UK company can offer. It sends a powerful message: you care about your team's health and wellbeing. But beyond the morale boost, business owners and directors often ask a crucial question: "Is providing PMI a tax-deductible business expense?"
The short answer is yes. For a limited company, the cost of a private medical insurance policy for its employees is generally considered an allowable business expense.
However, the full tax landscape is more detailed. It involves liabilities for the employee and specific rules that every business owner should understand. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the tax treatment from both the company's and the employee's perspective, so you can see the complete picture.
Before diving into the tax details, let's clarify what business PMI is. It's a health insurance policy purchased by a company to provide its employees (and often their families) with access to private healthcare.
The core purpose is to bypass lengthy NHS waiting lists for eligible treatments, allowing staff to get diagnosed and treated faster. This can lead to a quicker return to work, minimising disruption and reducing the impact of sickness absence on the business.
Key Benefits of Offering Company PMI:
Crucial Note: Standard private medical insurance in the UK is designed to cover acute conditions – illnesses or injuries that are short-term and likely to respond quickly to treatment. It does not cover chronic conditions (like diabetes or asthma) or pre-existing conditions you had before taking out the policy.
For a limited company, the premiums paid for an employee health insurance scheme are a legitimate business running cost. This means you can deduct the full cost of the policy from your company's revenue when calculating your profit.
This deduction reduces your total profit figure, which in turn reduces your company's Corporation Tax bill.
How does this work in practice?
Let's use a simple example.
Now, let's say you introduce a PMI scheme for your team, and the total annual premium is £10,000.
By providing PMI, your company has saved £2,500 in Corporation Tax.
While the Corporation Tax deduction is straightforward, there's another important consideration for the company: Employer's National Insurance Contributions (NICs).
Because PMI is considered a 'Benefit in Kind' (a non-cash benefit forming part of an employee's remuneration), the company must pay Class 1A National Insurance on the value of the premiums.
Let's refine our previous example:
So, a £10,000 health benefit for your team has a true net cost to the business of £8,535 after all tax relief is accounted for.
| Company Cost Breakdown | Example Amount | Tax Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Annual PMI Premium | £10,000 | Allowable for Corporation Tax relief |
| Class 1A NICs (@13.8%) | £1,380 | Allowable for Corporation Tax relief |
| Total Business Cost | £11,380 | This is the total deductible expense |
| Corporation Tax Relief (@25%) | (£2,845) | This is the tax saved by the company |
| Net Cost to Company | £8,535 | The final cost after tax relief |
This is where the other side of the tax coin comes into play. While the company gets tax relief, the employee who receives the benefit has to pay income tax on it.
HMRC views private medical insurance as a Benefit in Kind (BIK). This means it's treated as part of the employee's income, and they must pay tax on the value of the premium.
How is this handled?
Example of Employee Tax Liability
Let's say an individual employee's PMI premium costs £800 for the year.
It's vital for companies to communicate this clearly to staff when introducing a PMI scheme, so they understand the small impact on their take-home pay. Despite this tax, the vast majority of employees see it as a highly valuable benefit, as the monthly tax cost is a fraction of what they would pay for an equivalent individual policy.
The rules are fairly consistent, but there are some specific scenarios worth noting.
The tax treatment for unincorporated businesses is different.
A director is an employee of their limited company. Therefore, private medical insurance for a company director is treated in exactly the same way as for any other employee:
This applies even if you are the sole director and employee of your own limited company.
HMRC allows for 'trivial benefits' to be provided to employees tax-free. However, the rules are strict:
An ongoing private medical insurance policy, which is contractual and costs more than £50 per year, will never qualify as a trivial benefit.
Despite the employee's BIK tax liability, the case for offering company health cover remains incredibly strong. The value received far exceeds the small monthly tax cost.
Faster Treatment, Healthier Workforce
The primary benefit is speed. NHS waiting lists for consultant-led elective care in England remain a significant challenge. The latest data from NHS England shows that millions are waiting for treatment.
| Healthcare Stage | Typical NHS Wait | Typical Private Wait | Impact on Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP Appointment | Days to weeks | Same day / 24hrs (with virtual GP) | Immediate advice, less worry |
| Specialist Consultation | Months | Days to weeks | Faster diagnosis, clear action plan |
| Scans (MRI/CT) | Weeks to months | Days | Quicker path to understanding the issue |
| Surgical Procedure | Months to over a year | Weeks | Employee returns to health and work faster |
By providing PMI, you are giving your team a way to bypass these queues, getting them the diagnosis and treatment they need to recover quickly. This directly translates to fewer days lost to sickness and a more present, healthy, and productive workforce.
A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing
Modern private health cover is about more than just surgery. The best PMI providers offer a suite of preventative and supportive services:
At WeCovr, we go a step further. When you arrange a PMI or Life Insurance policy through us, we provide complimentary access to our AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero, to support your team's healthy lifestyle goals. We also offer discounts on other types of business and personal insurance, adding even more value.
The UK private medical insurance market is complex, with numerous providers, policy types, and underwriting options. Trying to compare them all yourself can be overwhelming. This is where a specialist PMI broker like WeCovr adds immense value.
Navigating the tax rules and policy details is our speciality. We can help you set up a scheme that maximises value for your employees while being as tax-efficient as possible for your company.
Providing private medical insurance is a clear, tax-efficient investment in your company's most valuable asset: its people. For the business, it is a fully tax-deductible expense that helps reduce your Corporation Tax bill. For the employee, it provides access to fast, high-quality healthcare for a small monthly tax cost.
Ready to explore how a private medical insurance scheme could benefit your business?
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our expert advisors are ready to help you compare the market and find the perfect health cover for your team.






