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Private Medical Insurance News - IPMI Magazine Breaking News

Tuesday, 17 January 2012 15:57

International Private Medical Insurance Magazine: Travel Insurance News, Private Medical Insurance, Health Insurance News LONDON 17 January 2012.

55% of decision makers with HR responsibilities agree that all companies should be given tax breaks in order to provide its entire staff with medical insurance and lessen the burden on the NHS, according to research by healthcare provider Simplyhealth. Dame Carol Black and David Frost's review into sickness absence, released in November strongly recommended that tax relief for lower earners be considered to help speed employee return to work. Howard Hughes, spokesperson for Simplyhealth comments: "Our research shows that 40% of organisations currently offer employees private medical insurance, however 46% of these businesses, only provide it as a benefit to senior or middle management.

"According to the independent review into sickness absence, lower earners are at greater risk of long term absence. With the NHS struggling to cope with restricted funding and with seemingly further cuts on the horizon, there is a real need for the Government to encourage employers to take greater responsibility for employee health and wellbeing. Tax relief on healthcare benefits such as private medical insurance is an effective way to help reduce the burden on the NHS and to help organisations to better manage sickness absence. "Our findings confirm that there is appetite for a new approach to employee health and wellbeing. 52% of respondents whose businesses only offer private medical insurance to some employees stated that they would be more likely to provide a private medical insurance benefit to all employees if organisations received a tax break for those employees who are standard rate tax payers."

Simplyhealth's research was carried out by YouGov. 1020 HR professionals were surveyed.

Simplyhealth provides health cash plans, dental plans, self funded health plans and private medical insurance to 11,000 companies in the UK. Our plans can help recruit and retain staff, manage absence and help employers fulfil their duty of care needs.

For further information about Simplyhealth please visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk/forbusiness or call 0845 075 0063.

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