Employers are spending more on healthcare

Despite the recession, employers are spending on average nearly 9% more on providing private healthcare for their employees, research by Aon Consulting has said.

A poll of 653 employers found that, while nearly a third were redesigning their private healthcare plans to cut costs, 16% said they intended to add access to occupational health as a key benefit.

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At the same time, a survey by analysts Laing and Buisson has suggested that last year the number of people with private medical insurance policies in the UK or enrolled in medical schemes self-insured by employers, actually rose marginally.

Alex Bennett, head of health consulting at Aon Consulting, said: “Over the past few years there has been a strong emphasis on corporate social responsibility and the importance of promoting wellness in a corporate environment is just as vital during the current economic climate.”