What is covered?
The various insurers each provide a “menu” of illnesses and diseases they cover. Standard inclusions typically may include cancer and heart disease. Health insurance usually covers just the treatment itself, which includes the initial appointment, referrals to consultants and any courses of drugs or operations needed. Some providers offer an income for the insured person while they are unable to work, although these are costly options and not commonplace.

What is not covered?
Perhaps the most important list to study is the list of what is not typically included. Examples include:

• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Complementary therapy – Although recognition of complementary therapies is growing, they are not always included as part of the treatment offered by mainstream health insurance providers.
• Chronic and pre-existing conditions
• Cosmetic surgery
• Dental care -Dental care is rarely available as standard. However, some providers offer a dental plan as an additional extra.
• Eye care and difficulty with eyesight – This is not usually included on the standard list, but some providers may offer the services of an optician for an extra charge.

Other issues to consider
There may be tax implications for both you and the employee to consider as a result of providing health cover. Consult your local Revenue and Customs office for advice before you implement a scheme.

Consider also how the insurance schemes are administered. Your employees will not feel that the cover is a real benefit if they find it difficult to access. Some providers offer a dedicated assistant for your staff to contact direct, so you do not have to be involved in the process.

Finally, when you are taking out a business health insurance policy, do not forget that your business is paying for the scheme, rather than the person who benefits from the cover. This is important when you are comparing quotes, and considering what level of excess to choose. Normally, a high excess results in a cheaper premium. However, in this case it will be your business that has to bear the cost of any treatment falling below the excess threshold, so a smaller excess may be more cost effective.