DOWNLOAD THE BENEFITS EXPERT GUIDE TO CASH PLANS SEPTEMBER 2025 HERE
Health cash plan take up grew significantly last year as employers doubled down on everyday health support. The UK’s corporate cash plan market grew by 9 percent in 2024, with nearly two million employees now covered by employer-paid schemes and more than 2.3 million people benefiting overall once family members are included.
Exclusive research in the Benefits Expert Guide to Cash Plans September 2025 reveals the benefit is fast becoming a mainstream tool for recruitment, retention and wellbeing. Employers are shifting away from voluntary plans, which grew just 0.5 percent last year, in favour of funded schemes that demonstrate a stronger commitment to staff support.
Cash plan provider Medicash has extended its lead as the largest provider, now covering more than 535,000 employees, while Westfield Health works with the widest employer base, serving over 7,400 companies. The market also saw a new entrant in the form of Unum’s Health Plan 360, which launched in September 2025. The new digital-first cash plan, delivered via its Help@hand app, aims to boost engagement and close workplace health support gaps.
Research data in the guide also highlights how employees use their plans. Dental, therapy and optical claims account for over 75 percent of use across all providers, while digital add-ons such as virtual GPs, cancer-screening apps and EAPs are helping cash plans to continue to evolve into connected wellbeing solutions.
Employee claims processing is fairly speedy, although performance varies between providers. BHSF processes claims in under one working day, while Simplyhealth cut average settlement times to 2.48 days. Speed of claims payment is increasingly important to employees who judge benefits on ease of use.
With sickness absence at a 10-year high and NHS waiting lists a concern for many, the guide shows why more employers are turning to cash plans as a cost-effective, inclusive health benefit. Download your copy for insight into the sector’s key providers and services, important market trends, and to understand how cash plans are expected to develop in the future.
- Download the full Benefits Expert Guide to Cash Plans 2025 for detailed provider data, take-up trends and expert analysis.
