Use of insurer-provided health and wellbeing services has surged over the past year, with more than 2.2 million people accessing support such as virtual GP appointments, counselling, and physiotherapy in 2023.
Almost 80 per cent of those using these services did so through their workplace, underlining the growing role of employers in supporting staff health and wellbeing.
According to new figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), overall usage of insurer-provided health services rose by 23 per cent compared to the previous year. These figures cover both treatments funded through private medical insurance (PMI) and the growing range of “added-value” services now offered via group risk, PMI and cash plan policies — including virtual GP access, mental health support, physiotherapy and early intervention or rehabilitation programmes.
Virtual GPs remain among the most popular services, with 1.7 million remote consultations held in 2023 — a 21 per cent rise year-on-year. The ABI says this equates to more than 4,700 consultations every day.
Physiotherapy and tailored exercise plans were implemented in 1.63 million musculoskeletal (MSK) interventions, up 29 per cent, while 1.33 million mental health and counselling sessions — including therapy and digital CBT — were delivered, marking an 11 per cent increase on 2022.
Given this growing demand, the ABI is urging the government to recognise the role health and protection insurers play in helping people stay well and in work — and to reflect this in the forthcoming Autumn Budget. It is calling for reduced tax barriers to encourage wider access to workplace health and protection insurance, particularly for SMEs and lower earners.
This includes a call to freeze Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) until fiscal conditions allow for a reduction.
The ABI also highlights the wider economic context, noting that 9.19 million working-age adults in the UK are currently economically inactive, with 2.8 million citing long-term sickness as the main cause. It says insurer-provided health services are already helping to bridge this gap, but employers can further support uptake by promoting these benefits more actively within their organisations.
The association adds that the launch of Sir Charlie Mayfield’s “Keep Britain Working” review has refocused policymakers on tackling health-related economic inactivity — and argues that health and protection insurers are well placed to contribute to these efforts.
Dr Yvonne Braun, the ABI’s Director of Policy for Long-term Savings, Health and Protection, said:
“Insurers, government and employers all play a critical role in unlocking the full potential of health and protection insurance.
Our data reinforces the need for a joined-up approach to workforce health that can help boost uptake of preventative care, early interventions and timely support offered through insurance. By working together, we can build a healthier, more resilient workforce and reduce long-term sickness and economic inactivity.”
