TL;DR
As an FCA-authorised expert with over 900,000 policies arranged, WeCovr understands the nuances of private medical insurance in the UK. This guide demystifies the tax implications for employers, explaining exactly how offering private health cover affects your company's finances and your employees' tax positions. Can companies deduct PMI costs as a business expense?
Key takeaways
- Annual PMI Premium Cost (illustrative): £800 per employee x 10 employees = £8,000
- Company's Profit Before PMI (illustrative): £100,000
- Corporation Tax Rate (2025): 25%
- Attracting and retaining top talent: A strong benefits package makes your company more competitive.
- Reducing sickness absence: Faster access to diagnosis and treatment gets employees back to work sooner.
As an FCA-authorised expert with over 900,000 policies arranged, WeCovr understands the nuances of private medical insurance in the UK. This guide demystifies the tax implications for employers, explaining exactly how offering private health cover affects your company's finances and your employees' tax positions.
Can companies deduct PMI costs as a business expense?
Yes, absolutely. For a limited company in the UK, the cost of providing private medical insurance (PMI) to its employees is almost always considered an allowable business expense. This means the full cost of the insurance premiums can be deducted from your company's revenue before calculating its Corporation Tax bill.
In simple terms, HMRC views employee health insurance as a staff welfare and remuneration cost, similar to a salary or a pension contribution. As long as the expense is "wholly and exclusively" for the purpose of the trade—which rewarding and retaining staff certainly is—it is tax-deductible.
This deduction makes offering PMI significantly more affordable than the headline premium price might suggest. By reducing your taxable profit, you directly lower the amount of Corporation Tax you owe.
How the Tax Deduction Works in Practice
Let's imagine a small software company, "Innovate Ltd," decides to provide PMI for its 10 employees.
- Annual PMI Premium Cost (illustrative): £800 per employee x 10 employees = £8,000
- Company's Profit Before PMI (illustrative): £100,000
- Corporation Tax Rate (2025): 25%
| Scenario | Without PMI | With PMI |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Profit | £100,000 | £100,000 |
| PMI Expense Deduction | £0 | £8,000 |
| Taxable Profit | £100,000 | £92,000 |
| Corporation Tax Owed (at 25%) | £25,000 | £23,000 |
| Tax Saving | - | £2,000 |
As you can see, by spending £8,000 on a valuable employee benefit, Innovate Ltd saves £2,000 in Corporation Tax. This effectively reduces the net cost of the health insurance scheme to just £6,000. (illustrative estimate)
Understanding Corporation Tax and Allowable Expenses
To fully grasp the benefit, it's helpful to understand the two key concepts at play: Corporation Tax and allowable expenses.
Corporation Tax is a tax paid by UK limited companies and certain other organisations on their annual profits. The profit is calculated by subtracting all business costs from total revenue. The current main rate of Corporation Tax is 25%.
Allowable Expenses are the costs that your company can deduct from its revenue to arrive at its taxable profit. The fundamental rule from HMRC is that for a cost to be allowable, it must be "wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade."
Providing private health cover for employees easily meets this test. It serves several clear business purposes:
- Attracting and retaining top talent: A strong benefits package makes your company more competitive.
- Reducing sickness absence: Faster access to diagnosis and treatment gets employees back to work sooner.
- Boosting morale and productivity: Showing you care for your team's wellbeing fosters a positive work environment.
Because PMI is a legitimate staff cost, it is treated just like any other allowable expense, such as office rent, utility bills, or salaries.
The Tax Implications for Employees: P11D and Benefit in Kind (BIK)
This is a critical part of the equation. While the company enjoys tax relief, the employee who receives the health cover must pay income tax on its value. This is because HMRC classifies private medical insurance as a 'Benefit in Kind' (BIK).
A BIK is any non-cash benefit that an employee receives from their employer. Think of company cars, gym memberships, or, in this case, private health cover. These benefits have a cash equivalent value, and that value is subject to income tax.
The P11D Form
Each year, employers must report the value of any benefits in kind provided to their employees to HMRC. This is done using a P11D form.
- Who is it for? A P11D must be completed for each employee who receives benefits in kind.
- What does it do? It details the type of benefit and its cash value for the tax year (which runs from 6th April to 5th April).
- Deadline: The P11D form must be submitted to HMRC by 6th July following the end of the tax year.
The value reported on the P11D form is then added to the employee's total earnings for the year, and they pay income tax on it at their marginal rate (20%, 40%, or 45% in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
How Employee BIK Tax is Calculated: An Example
Let's return to our example employee at Innovate Ltd, who receives a PMI policy with an annual premium of £800. How much extra tax will they pay? It depends on their income tax band.
| Employee's Income Tax Band | Tax Rate | Annual Premium (BIK Value) | Annual Tax Owed on PMI | Monthly Tax Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Rate Taxpayer | 20% | £800 | £160 | £13.33 |
| Higher Rate Taxpayer | 40% | £800 | £320 | £26.67 |
| Additional Rate Taxpayer | 45% | £800 | £420 | £35.00 |
This tax is usually collected automatically through a change in the employee's tax code, which reduces their tax-free personal allowance. This means they will see a small reduction in their net pay each month. It's crucial for employers to communicate this clearly to staff when launching a PMI scheme.
How Class 1A National Insurance Contributions Work for Employers
The tax implications don't end with Corporation Tax relief for the company and income tax for the employee. There is one more important cost for the employer: Class 1A National Insurance Contributions (NICs).
Employers are required to pay Class 1A NICs on the total value of most benefits in kind they provide to their employees. This is a separate payment made to HMRC.
- The Rate: The Class 1A NICs rate for the 2024/2025 tax year is 13.8%.
- Calculation: The employer pays 13.8% of the total BIK value. In our Innovate Ltd example, the total value of the PMI benefit is £8,000.
- Cost to Employer (illustrative): 13.8% of £8,000 = £1,104.
This Class 1A NIC payment is also an allowable business expense, so it can be deducted from profits before calculating Corporation Tax.
The Full Picture: Calculating the True Net Cost for an Employer
Let's put all the pieces together to find the true, final cost for Innovate Ltd to provide PMI for its 10 employees.
| Item | Cost / (Saving) | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Annual PMI Premium | £8,000 | £800 x 10 employees |
| 2. Class 1A National Insurance | £1,104 | 13.8% of £8,000 |
| Total Gross Outlay | £9,104 | (Line 1 + Line 2) |
| 3. Corporation Tax Relief | (£2,276) | 25% of £9,104 |
| True Net Cost to Company | £6,828 | (Gross Outlay - Tax Relief) |
So, while the initial premium was £8,000, the final, after-tax cost to the business is only £6,828. This represents a total saving of 27.2% on the gross outlay. For a benefit that can dramatically improve employee health and loyalty, this represents outstanding value for money. (illustrative estimate)
Are There Any Exceptions or Special Cases?
While the rules are straightforward for most limited companies and their employees, there are a few scenarios where the tax treatment differs.
Sole Traders and Partnerships
For self-employed sole traders or members of a partnership, the tax situation is less favourable. If you buy private medical insurance for yourself, HMRC will generally not allow you to claim it as a business expense.
The "wholly and exclusively" rule is interpreted much more strictly here. HMRC argues that an individual's health is a personal matter, not a business one, even if illness would prevent you from working. Any benefit you receive is considered a dual-purpose expense (personal and business), which disqualifies it from tax relief.
However, if a sole trader or partnership employs other people, they can provide PMI to their employees and claim the full cost as an allowable business expense, just like a limited company. The employees would still be liable for BIK tax.
Company Directors
Company directors are treated as employees for tax purposes. This means:
- A company can pay for a director's private medical insurance.
- The premium is an allowable business expense for the company.
- The director must pay income tax on the value of the benefit (it's a BIK).
- The company must pay Class 1A NICs on the premium cost.
Business Health Insurance Trusts
For very large organisations, a Business Health Insurance Trust can be a more tax-efficient way to manage employee healthcare. A trust is a separate legal entity that holds funds specifically for paying employees' medical claims.
- How it works: The company makes payments into the trust, which are an allowable business expense.
- Tax benefit: When the trust pays for an employee's treatment, it is not usually considered a BIK. This means the employee does not pay income tax, and the employer does not pay Class 1A NICs.
- Considerations: Setting up and administering a trust is complex and expensive. It is typically only viable for companies with hundreds or thousands of employees.
For most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a standard group PMI scheme is the most practical and cost-effective solution. An expert broker like WeCovr can help you determine the best structure for your specific business needs.
The Broader Benefits of Offering PMI: Beyond the Tax Deduction
The significant tax efficiencies are a major advantage, but the true value of offering private medical insurance UK lies in the profound positive impact it has on your workforce and your business operations.
1. Attracting and Retaining Top Talent
In a competitive job market, a comprehensive benefits package is a powerful differentiator. After salary and pension, health and wellbeing benefits are consistently ranked as what employees value most. Offering PMI signals that you are a caring employer who invests in your team's long-term health.
2. Reducing Sickness Absence
This is perhaps the most direct and measurable return on investment. With NHS waiting lists reaching record levels—the latest NHS England data shows over 7.5 million cases on the referral-to-treatment waiting list—employees can face long, anxious waits for diagnosis and treatment.
PMI provides a fast track to specialist consultations, diagnostic scans (like MRI and CT), and surgical procedures. This can reduce an employee's time off work from months to mere weeks. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a record 185.6 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2022, costing the UK economy billions. Reducing this figure in your own business can have a huge impact on productivity and profitability.
3. Boosting Productivity and Morale
It's not just about absence. An employee worried about a health issue or struggling with pain while waiting for treatment is unlikely to be fully focused or productive. This 'presenteeism' can be just as costly as absenteeism. Quick access to care alleviates this stress, improving focus and overall morale across the team.
4. Comprehensive Wellness and Preventative Care
Modern private health cover is about much more than just treating illness. The best PMI providers now include a host of proactive wellness benefits, such as:
- 24/7 Virtual GP Access: Allowing employees to speak to a doctor anytime, anywhere, often getting a prescription the same day.
- Mental Health Support: Access to counselling and therapy sessions without a long wait.
- Gym Discounts and Fitness Programmes: Encouraging an active lifestyle.
- Diet and Nutrition Advice: Supporting healthy habits.
At WeCovr, we go a step further. All our clients who purchase health or life insurance receive complimentary access to CalorieHero, our cutting-edge AI-powered calorie tracking and nutrition app, helping your team build healthy habits day by day. We also offer exclusive discounts on other insurance products to help your employees protect their families and finances.
A Note on What UK Private Medical Insurance Covers
It is essential for both employers and employees to understand the scope of a standard UK PMI policy. This helps manage expectations and ensures the benefit is properly understood.
PMI is designed to cover ACUTE conditions that arise AFTER your policy begins.
- An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery (e.g., joint replacement, cataract surgery, hernia repair, cancer treatment).
PMI is NOT designed to cover CHRONIC or PRE-EXISTING conditions.
- A chronic condition is an illness that continues indefinitely and has no known cure. It can be managed but not resolved (e.g., diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, arthritis). Day-to-day management of chronic conditions remains with the NHS.
- A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury, or symptom for which you have sought advice, diagnosis, or treatment in the years before your policy starts (typically the last 5 years).
Underwriting: How Insurers Handle Pre-existing Conditions
There are two main ways that insurers assess pre-existing conditions, and you will need to choose one when setting up a group scheme.
- Moratorium Underwriting (Most Common): This is a "don't ask, just cover" approach. The policy automatically excludes any condition you've had in the 5 years before joining. However, if you remain symptom-free, treatment-free, and advice-free for that condition for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts, the exclusion may be lifted.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): This involves completing a detailed health questionnaire for each employee. The insurer then reviews their medical history and may apply specific, permanent exclusions to the policy for any pre-existing conditions they identify. It provides certainty from day one but is more administratively intensive.
A knowledgeable broker can advise on which underwriting method is best for your group.
How to Set Up a Company PMI Scheme: A Step-by-Step Guide
Implementing a private medical insurance scheme for your business is a straightforward process when you have expert guidance.
-
Define Your Budget and Objectives:
- How much can you afford to spend per employee, per year? Remember to factor in the tax savings.
- How many employees will be covered? Just senior management, or the whole company?
- What is your primary goal? Is it to reduce sickness absence, attract new hires, or reward long-serving staff?
-
Speak to an Independent PMI Broker:
- This is the most important step. A specialist broker like WeCovr does not charge you for their service. Their fee is paid by the insurer you choose.
- A broker works for you, not the insurance company. They provide impartial advice and use their market knowledge to find the best possible terms and price for your business.
-
Compare the Market and Customise Your Policy:
- Your broker will present you with quotes from leading UK insurers (e.g., Bupa, Aviva, AXA Health, Vitality). They will help you compare not just the price, but the crucial details of the cover.
- You can customise the policy to fit your budget by adjusting options like:
- Level of Outpatient Cover: The limit for consultations and diagnostics.
- Hospital List: Which private hospitals are included.
- Excess: An amount the employee pays towards any claim.
-
Choose Your Underwriting Method:
- Your broker will explain the pros and cons of Moratorium vs. Full Medical Underwriting for your specific group and help you make the right choice.
-
Implement and Communicate:
- Once you've chosen a policy, your broker will handle the application process.
- It's vital to then communicate the new benefit clearly to your staff. Explain what is covered, how to make a claim, and—importantly—the personal tax implications (Benefit in Kind). A clear launch helps ensure the benefit is valued and used correctly.
Navigating the Market with a PMI Broker like WeCovr
The UK private health insurance market is complex, with dozens of providers and hundreds of policy combinations. Trying to navigate this alone can be time-consuming and risks you choosing a policy that isn't right for your business or your people.
Partnering with an FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr simplifies the entire process and provides invaluable peace of mind.
- Whole-of-Market Access: We compare policies from all the UK's leading insurers to find the perfect fit.
- Expert Advice: Our specialists understand the fine print and can tailor a plan to meet your specific business goals and budget.
- Unbeatable Value: We leverage our relationships with insurers to negotiate competitive terms on your behalf.
- No Cost to You: Our expert advice and support are completely free for our clients.
- High Customer Satisfaction: Our reputation is built on providing clear, honest, and effective advice that puts our clients first.
Do employees have to pay tax on company health insurance?
Is private health insurance tax deductible for a sole trader in the UK?
What is a P11D form and who is responsible for it?
Does company PMI cover pre-existing conditions?
Ready to explore how a private medical insurance scheme can benefit your business and your team? Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation chat and a comparison of the market's leading policies. Let our experts handle the complexity, so you can focus on what you do best: running your business.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics (ONS): Mortality, earnings, and household statistics.
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA): Insurance and consumer protection guidance.
- Association of British Insurers (ABI): Life insurance and protection market publications.
- HMRC: Tax treatment guidance for relevant protection and benefits products.












