What is a chronic medical condition?
A chronic condition is a medical condition that continues for a long period of time, recurs and is likely to need ongoing monitoring and treatment to help control the symptoms it causes. Chronic conditions can include illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure. These are all conditions that may need routine check-ups as well as medication or a special diet to control.
How do chronic conditions impact individuals and businesses?
Chronic conditions can seriously impact individuals, both physically and mentally. In fact, around 40% of people with depression and anxiety disorders also have a long-term condition such as cardiovascular disease, COPD, diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders.2 This therefore shows the link between chronic conditions and mental health.
Chronic conditions can also have an impact on businesses including long-term absence. An estimated 185.6 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2022. Those with long-term health conditions were one of the groups with the highest rates of sickness absence3. With around 12.8 million people of working age living with a long-term health condition1, it is becoming increasingly important to prioritise the health and wellbeing of employees.
Does health insurance cover chronic conditions?
Health insurance is designed to cover unexpected conditions that respond quickly to treatment. We provide cover for the initial investigations to diagnose a condition that begins after you take out your plan and will support your employee with the beginning of their treatment journey, subject to the cover options selected. If treatment for a chronic condition is needed on a long-term or ongoing basis, we will no longer cover it. We will always contact your employee before this point, to give them the opportunity to discuss future treatment options with their specialist, either transferring to the NHS or self-funding private treatment.
Does AXA Health provide any other support for chronic conditions?
Regardless of the cover options you choose, your employees will benefit from our supportive health information line, with nurses and counsellors available 24/7 to answer questions about chronic conditions and pharmacists available during selected daytime hours to help with any uncertainty about how they should be taking their medication. They'll also have access to our 24/7 online GP service, AXA Doctor at Hand, so they can consult with a GP at a time or place convenient for them. Advanced Nurse Practitioners are also available from 8am to 10pm. (Provided by Doctor Care Anywhere. Appointments are subject to availability).
If an employee aged 18 or over is experiencing chronic pain that can be eased with physiotherapy, they'll also be able to self-refer to our muscles, bones and joints service, where they can have a remote assessment and receive an online exercise programme that they can complete from the comfort of their own home. If face-to-face treatment is required, you will need to have the relevant cover options in place and onward care will need to be eligible and authorised.
How much does AXA Health business health insurance cost?
The cost of your business health insurance will depend on a number of factors, including the number of people you are covering, and the cover options you select.
Our small business health insurance is designed to ensure you get value for money by allowing you to choose the options that suit your business needs. This means that you only need to pay for the options that you want, helping you control how much you pay. Businesses covering 1 - 2 people only must purchase either a Treatment option or the Diagnostics Only option. Adding an excess can also help reduce the cost of a healthcare plan, which means your employees would pay an excess once per plan year if they do require treatment. We also provide the option of paying for your healthcare plan annually, which would give you a 5% saving.
An AXA Health business plan can provide excellent support for your business and employees. Regardless of which cover options you select; we'll be here to help. Whether your employee needs health information, remote physiotherapy support or GP advice. This allows your employees to take control of their health so they can focus on helping your business grow. Find out more about our cover options and build the plan that's right for you.
Find out more about our business health insurance, including what we do and don't cover and get a quote today
Sources and References
1 Health matters: health and work - GOV.UK (2019)
3 Sickness absence in the UK labour market - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) (2023)
Specified conditions include; angina, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart valve problems, high blood pressure, glaucoma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems and ulcerative colitis
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