Self-employed health insurance
When things are going well, being self-employed is great. But when sickness strikes it can feel as though no one’s got your back. There’s probably no one who can do your job for you, so not only are you suffering, you also face a potential loss in earnings.
With self-employed health insurance, you’ll have someone on your side helping you get diagnosed and treated quickly, so you can get back to running your business.
Back to health and back to work with health insurance for the self-employed
When you're self-employed, our business health insurance means you won’t have to worry about delays and long waiting lists in order to access diagnosis and treatment. If you need a specialist, we can book an appointment at a time that suit you. If you need treatment, we’ll then make sure you’re as comfortable as possible in a private hospital or the private wing of an NHS hospital. Cover is subject to the cover options chosen.
Flexible health insurance for the self-employed
Because everyone is different, our health insurance for the self-employed is really flexible. You can build cover that’s right for you and your business, and there are also lots of ways you can manage your costs – so it might be cheaper than you think.
Build a plan that works for you
With our health insurance for the self-employed, you can choose from the following cover options:
If you are buying cover for 1-2 people only, you will need to include either the Treatment option or the Diagnostics Only option in your plan.
- Treatment option: Cover for hospital procedures and operations, including surgery, plus radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer when you include Comprehensive Cancer Cover
- Diagnostics Only option: This option helps you or one of your employees find out what's wrong, quickly, if you need to be referred
- Dentist and Optician Cashback option: Look after your teeth and eyesight with cashback towards dentists’ fees, glasses, contact lenses and eye tests
- Therapies option: Cover for referred outpatient treatments by an osteopath, physiotherapist, acupuncturist, or chiropractor
- Outpatient option: Helps get you seen quickly with a GP referral by a specialist at a time and place suitable for you
- Mental Health option: Look after more than just your physical health with cover for mental health treatment
- Private GP: This option makes it easy for you to see a private GP in person, promptly, at a time that’s convenient
- Extended Cover: Provides even greater flexibility over where you’re treated. Plus, extra cover for planned, pre-approved treatment abroad and cover for the routine management of some specified chronic conditions, including asthma
- Travel: Whether travelling for business or pleasure, our travel option covers emergency medical treatment. You will also have access to other travel-related benefits
- Employee Assistance Programme: This option gives you a professionally trained expert to talk to during difficult times such as divorce or money problems
- Health Assessments: Health assessments can provide guidance so you can make small changes to improve your health and wellbeing
- Vaccinations: Look after your health with a contribution towards annual flu and travel vaccinations
Health insurance when you're self-employed FAQs
When you're self-employed, taking time off work due to ill health can have a big impact on your business. There's often no one who can pick up your work while you're off, which can result in lost contracts and financial implications.
Health insurance helps you to get back to work quickly through prompt access to diagnosis and treatment. This means that you can get seen and start receiving treatment quickly, helping to minimise the amount of time that you need to spend away from work.
You'll also have access to health information and support, meaning you can get reassurance and don't have to spend more time worrying than you have to.
Yes, if you have a business bank account then you can get business health insurance with us at AXA Health.
At AXA Health, we think that the best way for you to get the health insurance that's right for you is to let you build your plan yourself. We offer a range of cover options for you to choose from, so you can build a plan that suits you and your budget.
Regardless of the cover options that you choose, if you take out health insurance with us at AXA Health, we give you access to the following services and offers:
- Access to our 24/7 online GP service (appointments subject to availability)
- Health information and support via our 24/7 health support line
- Speak to a physiotherapist online or over the phone without the need for a GP referral via our muscles, bones and joints service (for members age 18 and over)
- Cancer and heart nurses available by phone to help you and your family when living with these conditions
- Access to special member offers such as discounts on gym membership. Terms apply
The cost of health insurance when you're self-employed varies depending on a number of different factors, including the cover options you choose, your age and the underwriting option that you choose.
Business health insurance is designed to cover acute conditions that arise after your policy has started. What is covered on your health insurance will depend on the cover options you choose. Find out more about our cover options here
As with most private healthcare plans, there are some general exclusions and limitations. Some of the most significant things that your plan won't cover include:
- Routine pregnancy and childbirth
- Out-patient drugs and dressings
- Treatment of ongoing, recurrent and long-term conditions (chronic conditions)
- Cosmetic treatment
- Treatment needed as a result of training for or taking part in any sport for which you are paid, receive a grant or sponsorship (not counting travel costs) or are competing for prize money
- Treatment of medical conditions you had, or had symptoms of, before you joined. Depending on the underwriting option you choose
- Fees if you choose to use a hospital that is not in our Directory of Hospitals
This information is just a summary of some of the cover we offer and the key exclusions. For more information about our cover, any cover limitations and what we don't cover please see our product brochure
Income protection supports you financially if you're unable to work due to injury or illness. It pays you a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or diasbility and continues until you return to work or you retire.
Health insurance covers the cost of private medical treatment for new acute conditions that arise after your policy has started. It can help you get back to work quickly through prompt access to diagnosis and treatment (depending on the cover options you choose).
What are the benefits of our health insurance for the self-employed?
Regardless of the cover options that you choose, you'll have access to the following included as standard:
- 24/7 access to a private GP - Access to our 24/7 phone and video GP service. Appointments are subject to availability.
- Muscle, bone and joint support - You and your team aged 18 and over get access to a physiotherapist over the phone, or online without the need for a GP referral.
- 24/7 health support line - Our helpline is open 24/7 for health information and support from nurses and counsellors. Midwives and pharmacists are available from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, until 4pm on Saturday, and until 12pm on Sunday.
- Heart and cancer support - Our experienced nurses are at the end of the phone to offer you and your family information and support if diagnosed with one of these conditions
- Gym discounts - Access to special member offers such as discounts on gym memberships. Terms apply
Small business guide to health insurance
If you've considered investing in healthcare cover, it's likely that you have questions around how it works. You'll want to make sure that you're getting the cover that will best suit your needs and your budget, so you can ensure that your healthcare cover is the best fit for you and your business.
That's why we've created our small business guide to health insurance.
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Defaqto 5 star rated
Our Business Health plan has been rated 5 stars by independent financial information business, Defaqto. The Defaqto 5 Star Rating is based on an assessment of the overall product including all options. If some of the options are not selected, this will affect the product's Star Rating.
*Phone lines are open 8:30am-5:30pm Monday to Friday. We may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of our conversation.