As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 750,000 policies, WeCovr understands the UK private medical insurance market inside out. Choosing the right health cover for your business is a crucial decision, impacting both your employees' wellbeing and your company's bottom line. In this guide, we put two of the UK's leading providers under the microscope.
WeCovr compares the top two providers for SME and corporate health cover
When it comes to protecting your team's health, AXA Health and Aviva are two of the most trusted names in the UK. Both offer exceptional private medical insurance (PMI) plans for businesses, but they have distinct strengths and approaches.
Deciding between them depends on your company's specific priorities. Are you focused on proactive wellness and mental health support? Or is a vast, flexible hospital network the most important factor? This comprehensive 2025 comparison will break down every key aspect, from core cover and cancer care to digital tools and cost, helping you make an informed choice for your Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) or large corporation.
Why Business Health Insurance is More Important Than Ever in 2025
The landscape of employee benefits and healthcare in the UK has changed dramatically. Offering private health cover is no longer a 'nice-to-have' for a select few; it's a strategic tool for businesses of all sizes.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), sickness absence rates remain a significant concern for UK businesses, costing the economy billions annually. Simultaneously, NHS waiting lists continue to be a major issue. Figures from NHS England in early 2025 show that millions are waiting for routine consultant-led treatment, with many waiting over a year.
This challenging environment creates a compelling case for business PMI:
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For the Business:
- Reduced Absenteeism: Fast access to diagnosis and treatment means employees get well and return to work sooner.
- Attract & Retain Top Talent: A strong health insurance package is a highly valued benefit that can set you apart from competitors.
- Boost Productivity & Morale: Showing you care for your team's health fosters a positive and loyal company culture.
- Duty of Care: It demonstrates a tangible commitment to employee wellbeing.
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For the Employee:
- Peace of Mind: Knowing they can bypass long waits for eligible conditions is a huge relief.
- Choice and Control: They gain more control over when and where they receive treatment, with access to private rooms.
- Access to Specialist Care: Quicker access to leading consultants and advanced treatments.
- Valuable Digital Tools: 24/7 access to digital GPs, mental health support, and wellness apps.
Understanding the Basics of UK Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
Before we dive into the comparison, it's vital to understand what private medical insurance is designed for.
Critical Information: PMI is for Acute Conditions
Standard UK private health cover is designed to treat acute conditions. An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include joint replacements, cataract surgery, or hernia repairs.
Crucially, PMI does not cover pre-existing or chronic conditions.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Any illness or injury you had before the policy start date.
- Chronic Conditions: Illnesses that are long-term and cannot be cured, only managed. Examples include diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and high blood pressure.
Key PMI Terms Explained
- Underwriting: This is how an insurer assesses risk and decides what to cover. The main types for businesses are:
- Moratorium (Mori): The most common type for small SMEs. The insurer doesn't ask for medical history upfront. Instead, they automatically exclude conditions you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before joining. However, if you go 2 full years on the policy without any issues relating to that condition, it may become eligible for cover.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You provide a full medical history for all employees. The insurer then lists specific exclusions from the start. It's more work initially but provides complete clarity on what is and isn't covered.
- Medical History Disregarded (MHD): Usually only available for larger corporate groups (typically 20+ employees). The insurer agrees to cover eligible pre-existing conditions, subject to the policy terms. It's the most comprehensive but also the most expensive option.
- Excess: The amount an employee pays towards a claim each policy year. A higher excess (e.g., £250) will lower the overall premium.
- Hospital List: The list of private hospitals and facilities your plan gives you access to. A more limited list reduces the premium.
- Outpatient Cover: This covers consultations and diagnostics that don't require a hospital bed. It's usually an optional extra or has a set financial limit (e.g., £1,000 per year).
As an expert PMI broker, WeCovr can walk you through these options to find the perfect underwriting and cover structure for your business.
Introducing the Contenders: AXA Health vs. Aviva at a Glance
AXA and Aviva are both titans of the UK insurance industry, but they have cultivated different areas of expertise within the PMI market.
AXA Health: Part of the global AXA Group, AXA Health positions itself as a health and wellbeing partner, not just an insurer. Their philosophy is built on proactive health management, with a strong emphasis on preventative care, mental health support, and guided clinical pathways. They are known for their high-quality clinical governance.
Aviva: As the UK's largest general insurer, Aviva brings enormous brand trust and a reputation for comprehensive, flexible cover. Their strength lies in their extensive hospital network, highly customisable policies, and a powerful, user-friendly digital ecosystem for members.
Here’s a quick snapshot of how they stack up:
Feature | AXA Health | Aviva |
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Heritage | Global health specialist with deep clinical expertise | UK's largest and most established insurer |
Core Focus | Proactive health, wellbeing, and guided care | Comprehensive, flexible cover with wide choice |
Digital GP | Doctor at Hand service | Aviva Digital GP (powered by Square Health) |
Mental Health | 'Stronger Minds' pathway, often with no GP referral needed | Integrated mental health support and therapy access |
Hospital Network | Guided and Standard options to manage cost and choice | 'Key' and 'Expert Select' lists for flexibility |
Ideal For... | Businesses prioritising preventative health and mental wellbeing | Businesses wanting broad choice and customisable plans |
Deep Dive: Core Cover and Policy Options Compared
All business PMI policies are built around a core foundation of cover, with optional extras allowing you to tailor the plan to your budget and needs.
Inpatient and Day-Patient Cover
This is the heart of any PMI policy, covering treatment where a hospital bed is required (overnight or for the day).
- AXA Health: Their Business Health plan provides comprehensive inpatient and day-patient cover as standard. This includes hospital charges, specialist fees, and diagnostics like MRI/CT scans related to the admission.
- Aviva: Their Solutions plan for SMEs and Optimum plan for corporates also provide full cover for inpatient and day-patient treatment, with fees covered in full subject to their fee guidelines.
Both providers are evenly matched on this core element, offering robust protection for serious medical needs.
Cancer Cover: A Critical Benefit
This is one of the most valued parts of any PMI policy. Both AXA and Aviva offer outstanding cancer care as standard, but with slightly different features.
Cancer Care Feature | AXA Health | Aviva |
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Full Cover for Treatment | Yes, comprehensive | Yes, comprehensive |
Advanced/Experimental Drugs | Yes, if on their approved list | Yes, subject to policy terms |
Dedicated Nurse Support | Yes, highly rated | Yes, dedicated oncology team |
NHS Cash Benefit | Yes, available as an option | Yes, included as standard |
Prostheses & Wigs | Yes, included | Yes, included |
Both providers offer market-leading cancer cover. The choice may come down to smaller details, like whether the NHS cash benefit is standard or an add-on.
Outpatient Cover
This is where customisation really begins. Outpatient cover pays for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests that don't require a hospital stay.
- AXA Health: Offers a range of outpatient limits, from a basic £500 or £1,000 per year up to a fully comprehensive option with no yearly limit. They also have a 'Therapies' option covering physiotherapy, osteopathy, and more.
- Aviva: Similarly provides a sliding scale of outpatient cover, allowing you to choose a limit that suits your budget. They often bundle therapies into their outpatient limits, giving employees a single pot of money to use for consultations, scans, and physical therapy.
Limiting outpatient cover is one of the most effective ways to manage the cost of a business PMI policy.
Mental Health Cover
Employee mental health is a top priority for UK businesses in 2025. Both AXA and Aviva have invested heavily in their mental health support.
- AXA Health: Their 'Stronger Minds' service is a standout feature. It gives members direct access to counsellors or psychologists, often without needing a GP referral first. This removes a significant barrier to getting help quickly. Cover is available for both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment.
- Aviva: Aviva also provides a comprehensive mental health pathway. This includes access to therapy sessions, support for stress and anxiety, and cover for psychiatric care. Their digital tools provide a wealth of resources for mental wellbeing.
Both providers excel here, recognising the parity between mental and physical health. AXA's direct access model can be a particularly powerful benefit for employees reluctant to speak to their GP first.
Added Value: What Else Do AXA Health and Aviva Offer?
A modern PMI policy is about more than just treatment. It's a complete health and wellbeing package.
Digital GP Services
24/7 access to a GP from a smartphone is a game-changer for busy employees.
- AXA Health: Offers the Doctor at Hand service. This provides unlimited video or phone consultations with a registered GP, 24/7, 365 days a year. They can issue prescriptions, make referrals, and provide medical advice.
- Aviva: Provides the Aviva Digital GP service, powered by Square Health. It offers similar functionality, including 24/7 access to GP appointments, repeat NHS prescriptions, and medical advice for the whole family (even non-insured partners and children).
Wellness & Prevention Programmes
This is where AXA's philosophy really shines, but Aviva also has a strong offering.
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AXA Health:
- Proactive Health Hub: An online portal with health assessments, coaching, and expert content.
- ActivePlus: Discounts on memberships at a wide range of UK gyms and health clubs.
- Working Body: A service designed to manage musculoskeletal issues (like back or joint pain) early, often via physiotherapy, without needing a GP referral.
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Aviva:
- Aviva Wellbeing App: A comprehensive app with health tracking, challenges, and a library of articles and tips on sleep, nutrition, and fitness.
- Get Active: Offers discounts on gym memberships, fitness trackers, and other wellbeing products.
WeCovr's Exclusive Member Benefits
When you choose WeCovr to arrange your company's private health cover, your team gets even more value.
- Complimentary CalorieHero App: All insured employees receive free premium access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a simple, effective tool to help your team manage their diet and achieve health goals.
- Exclusive Discounts: As a WeCovr client, your business and your employees can access preferential rates on other insurance products, from business liability to personal life insurance.
Underwriting and Claims Process: How Do They Compare?
A smooth claims process is essential for a positive employee experience.
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Underwriting: Both AXA and Aviva offer the full range of underwriting options: Moratorium, Full Medical Underwriting, and Medical History Disregarded for larger groups. A specialist broker like WeCovr will advise on the best fit for your company's size and history. Switching from another provider is also straightforward with Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) underwriting.
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Claims Process:
- GP Referral: The employee usually visits their NHS GP (or uses the plan's Digital GP) to get a referral to a specialist.
- Authorisation: Before any treatment or consultation, the employee must call the insurer to get the claim authorised. Both AXA and Aviva have expert teams to handle this and will confirm cover and guide the member.
- Treatment: The employee receives treatment at a hospital or clinic from the insurer's approved list.
- Payment: The insurer settles the bill directly with the hospital or specialist.
Both providers have streamlined digital portals and apps to make starting and tracking a claim simple. Aviva's 'Expert Select' tool is particularly useful for helping members find a pre-approved specialist and hospital.
Hospital Lists: Access to Private UK Hospitals
The hospital list you choose directly impacts the cost of your premium and where your employees can be treated.
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AXA Health: Their main list is the Directory of Hospitals. To manage costs, they offer their Guided Option. With this, the member is given a choice of up to three high-quality, vetted specialists for their condition, which can significantly reduce the policy premium. This provides a balance between choice and cost-effectiveness.
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Aviva: Aviva's hospital lists are well-known.
- Key: A more restricted list of quality private hospitals that helps keep premiums low. It still provides excellent nationwide coverage but excludes some of the most expensive central London hospitals.
- Expert Select: Their standard and most popular list, offering access to a huge range of private and NHS Private Patient Units across the UK.
Hospital List Tier | Description | Impact on Premium |
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Restricted (e.g., Aviva Key) | A curated list of quality, cost-effective hospitals. | Lower premium |
Standard (e.g., Aviva Expert Select) | Wide access to most private hospitals nationwide. | Standard premium |
Guided (e.g., AXA Guided Option) | Insurer helps choose from a shortlist of specialists. | Lower premium |
Premium / London Upgrade | Includes top-tier private hospitals, often in Central London. | Higher premium |
Cost Comparison: What Factors Influence Premiums?
It is impossible to give an exact price without a detailed quote, as premiums are unique to each business. The final cost depends on a combination of factors:
- Average Age of Employees: Older employees generally mean higher premiums.
- Location: Postcodes, particularly in Central London and the South East, influence cost.
- Level of Cover: The more optional extras you add (e.g., full outpatient, dental), the higher the price.
- Excess: A higher excess (£250, £500) will lower the premium.
- Hospital List: Choosing a restricted or guided list will reduce the cost.
- Industry: The type of work your employees do can sometimes be a factor.
The only way to get a true picture of the cost is to get a tailored quote. An independent PMI broker like WeCovr can compare the entire market, ensuring you get the most competitive price from AXA, Aviva, and other leading UK providers for the level of cover you need.
Which Provider is Best for Your Business? Our Verdict
There is no single "best" provider; the right choice depends entirely on your business's culture, budget, and priorities.
Choose AXA Health if...
- Your company culture is built around proactive wellbeing and preventative health.
- You want a market-leading, easily accessible mental health pathway for your team.
- You are interested in guided care options to ensure clinical quality while managing costs.
- You value the reassurance of a global health specialist with deep clinical roots.
Choose Aviva if...
- You need a highly flexible and customisable plan that can be tailored to precise needs.
- A vast hospital network and maximum choice of specialists is a top priority for your employees.
- You want a powerful, integrated digital experience through the MyAviva and Aviva Wellbeing apps.
- You value the brand recognition and trust of the UK's largest insurer.
How WeCovr Makes Choosing Your Business PMI Simple
Navigating the options from AXA Health, Aviva, and other insurers can feel overwhelming. That's where WeCovr comes in.
- Independent & Impartial: We are not tied to any single insurer. Our advice is based entirely on your business's best interests.
- Market Experts: We live and breathe the UK private medical insurance market. We know the policies, the providers, and how to get the best value.
- No-Cost Service: Our expert advice and market comparison service is completely free for you. We are paid a commission by the insurer you choose, which is built into the standard price.
- Ongoing Partnership: We don't just set up your policy. We're here to help at renewal to ensure you always have the right cover at the right price, and to assist with any queries along the way.
Let us do the hard work of comparing the market, so you can focus on running your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does business health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally, no. Standard UK private medical insurance is designed for new, acute conditions that arise after you take out the policy. Most policies for small businesses will exclude conditions an employee has experienced in the five years before joining. However, for larger corporate schemes (e.g., 20+ employees), it is possible to get 'Medical History Disregarded' underwriting, which can cover eligible pre-existing conditions. An expert broker can advise on the best option.
What is the difference between an SME and a corporate health insurance plan?
The main difference is the number of employees and the underwriting options. SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) plans are typically for businesses with 2 to 249 employees and often use Moratorium or Full Medical Underwriting. Corporate plans are for larger businesses (250+) and can offer more flexible terms, such as Medical History Disregarded underwriting, and may have more bespoke reporting and administration features.
How much does business health insurance cost per employee?
The cost varies significantly based on several factors: the average age of your employees, your business location, the level of cover chosen (e.g., outpatient limits, dental cover), the policy excess, and the hospital list. A basic policy for a young workforce outside of London could be as low as £30-£40 per employee per month, while a comprehensive policy for an older workforce in London could be over £100. The only way to know for sure is to get a tailored quote.
Is business health insurance a taxable benefit in the UK?
Yes. When an employer pays for an employee's private medical insurance, it is considered a 'benefit-in-kind' by HMRC. This means the employee will have to pay income tax on the value of the premium, and the employer will have to pay Class 1A National Insurance contributions. The cost of the premium is usually an allowable business expense for corporation tax purposes.
Ready to find the best health cover for your team? The UK private medical insurance market can be complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone.
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation comparison and quote. Let our experts find the perfect fit from AXA, Aviva, and more for your business needs and budget.