Four in ten (40%) respondents rank health insurance among their top three most-valued employee benefits, compared to 37% in 2015, according to research by Willis PMI Group, part of Willis Towers Watson.
Its survey of 1,197 UK employees also found that 32% place health screenings among their top three benefits, which is up 7% on 2015.
The research also found:
- Around a third (32%) of respondents rank critical illness cover among their top three most-valued benefits, 38% select life insurance, 30% cite health cash plans, and 27% name income protection insurance.
- 13% place counselling services and employee assistance programmes (EAPs) in their top three benefits.
- More than half (54%) of respondents place contributory pension schemes in their top three workplace benefits.
- 17% of respondents put childcare vouchers in their top three favourite benefits, compared to 19% in 2015.
- Less than a fifth (17%) of respondents rank company car schemes among their top three.
Mike Blake (pictured), director at Willis PMI Group, said: “The rise in popularity of health insurance is perhaps understandable with the media continuing its scrutiny of the NHS and its struggle to meet the demands of an aging and growing population.
“Although many private medical insurance (PMI) scheme members may not use their policy to make regular claims, knowing they can access healthcare treatments quickly and conveniently without having to rely on the NHS can offer considerable peace of mind.”