Small business health insurance, from one employee up

Some insurers publish plans that start at one.

Aviva’s Solutions plan is for businesses with 1 to 249 employees, and AXA Health says that if you have a business bank account you can get business health insurance with it.

Bupa’s small business plan starts at 2 employees.

Vitality says sole traders can set up a policy just for themselves, but the premium may not be tax deductible. Aviva ↗

Direct from an insurer, or through a broker or financial adviser, says MoneyHelper, which also lists comparison websites.

Bupa offers a quick guide price online, or a complete quote to buy online.

For a fair comparison, give every insurer or broker the same details: who is covered, family, the level of cover, the excess and the underwriting method. MoneyHelper ↗

That is your choice.

MoneyHelper lists brokers among the places you can buy private medical insurance and points to the AMII website to find a medical insurance broker.

Whoever you use, the FCA tells consumers to check the firm on its Firm Checker first. MoneyHelper ↗

There is no single answer, and we do not rank insurers: the FCA treats a recommendation as advice, which an FCA-authorised adviser or broker gives.

What matters is what you compare: the team sizes each insurer accepts, core and out-patient cover, the excess, the hospital list, the underwriting method and family cover. FCA PERG 5.8 ↗

We do not publish prices, and the insurers we checked do not publish small business rates: each plan is quoted.

What you pay for is set by the plan you build, such as who is covered, whether family is included and the level of cover; Aviva lists an excess from £50 to £500, the six week option and reduced hospital lists as ways to reduce the cost.

GOV.UK says the value to report for tax is the cost to you of providing it. Aviva ↗

With some insurers, yes.

Bupa says you can offer cover for employees’ partners or children for an additional cost per person, and AXA Health says family members can be added at any point during the policy.

HMRC says the employee or director is chargeable on family premiums the employer pays. Bupa ↗

Vitality says that for a limited company the premiums are tax deductible and can be offset against profits, and that the cover is then a taxable benefit in kind.

GOV.UK says the employer reports it on a P11D and pays Class 1A National Insurance, at 15% for 2026 to 2027.

Check your own position with your accountant. Vitality ↗

Each insurer sets its own range.

Aviva’s Solutions is for businesses with 1 to 249 employees; Bupa’s small business health insurance is for between 2 and 249 employees; AXA Health says each category of cover on a plan needs at least 3 lead members. Aviva ↗

AXA Health lets you vary cover between groups: up to 6 categories can be included on a plan, and each category needs at least 3 lead members.

Check each insurer’s rules on who can be included; for the employment-law side, take advice. AXA Health ↗