Construction and Manufacturing lead the way with low-cost healthcare

October 2023, by Megan Anderson.

Healthcare brokers state that construction and manufacturing sectors strike the balance between employees needs and rising costs.

Intermediaries have stated that construction and manufacturing businesses are prioritising low-cost healthcare for employees, according to new research from not-for-profit healthcare provider Benenden Health.

The research shows that 42% of intermediaries in the UK say construction and manufacturing businesses are making the most enquiries for low-cost healthcare for its employees, to meet the healthcare needs of employees, while managing their bottom line.

The research also found that the transport, hospitality, and property sectors are also following suit and turning to low-cost healthcare.
The research is part of wider efforts to highlight the changing healthcare requirements of businesses in the UK, with low-cost health cover ranking more favourably (85%) than digital GP services (82%), employee assisted programmes (79%) and cash plans (77%).

Benenden Health’s research asked intermediaries about healthcare services finding mental health support the ‘most attractive’ service (67%), with just under half (47%) stating faster GP access and a fifth (19%) stating diagnostics.

Benenden Health also found that nearly three quarters (74%) of intermediaries have found employer expectations of healthcare services have changed in the last 12-18 months. Intermediaries state that employers are more focused on immediate access to services, especially digital services, on the back of NHS England wait times reaching record highs this year.

Chief Executive Officer, Bob Andrews comments, “Private healthcare is no longer reserved for the C-suite, and it’s reassuring to see construction and manufacturing businesses are introducing affordable healthcare to benefit both office-based and manual labour-based employees.

“Workers in the UK are currently managing a harsh economic climate, the long-term mental and physical health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising NHS waiting times both in primary and secondary care.

“Add the physically demanding nature of manual labour to this mix and it comes as no surprise our research has found these sectors as the current, fastest adopters.”

Three-quarters (77%) of intermediaries surveyed also stated that Benenden Health’s services would appeal to businesses, and another three-quarters (74%) specified that its ‘No-exclusions for pre-existing conditions’ feature is the most-appealing.

For more information about business healthcare for intermediaries.