Bupa has overhauled its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) health insurance offering.
The update includes dental care as standard, 15-minute GP appointments and preventative DNA testing.
The insurer said the suite of new benefits would help businesses keep their people healthier while supporting growth and talent retention.
They include:
- Dental care including annual dentist and hygiene appointments for every person named on a policy at more than 360 Bupa Dental Care practices
- Face-to-face GP appointments including 15-minute appointments including tests available at 69 Bupa health centres, alongside digital GP services
- Preventive health support through DNA testing unlocking new prevention pathways for those at risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, plus Bupa Medication Check to help personalise treatment
- Enhanced mental health support including access to Members First – a new treatment option for mental health talking therapies with no excess, co-payment or impact on outpatient limits, and JAAQ at Work for employee engagement.
- HR advice for all SME customers who now have access to support through WorkNest, a small business employment law and workplace management specialist.
Dental treatment will be available to all eligible customers from 1 August with face-to-face GP services available to new and renewing eligible customers from the same date.
Medication Check will be offered to new and renewing eligible customers from 1 June, and all eligible customers from 1 August.
Prevention Pathways for breast cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease will be available to eligible renewing customers from 1 September, and to new customers following a 12‑month waiting period.
Health & Protection has contacted Bupa to confirm eligibility requirements for the benefits.
‘Small businesses under pressure’
Dan Sullivan, director of product and proposition at Bupa UK Insurance, said: “Small businesses are under pressure right now. With sickness absence at record levels, even one person being off can have a big impact.
“That’s why SMEs need healthcare that works harder for their business – helping people stay well, get support earlier and return to full health sooner, improving productivity and growth.
“SMEs need to compete with large corporates on benefits. By strengthening our SME health insurance offering, we’re bringing together something genuinely distinctive – from being the only UK insurer to include dental care as standard, to leading the market on preventative health.”
Standard product features of the insurer’s SME health insurance include:
- A cancer promise, with access to diagnosis and breakthrough drugs and treatment, and Mental Health Advantage offering enhanced support for mental health conditions
- Access to Bupa’s healthcare system, connecting digital services with in‑person care across GP, specialist, mental health, hospital treatment and dental.
- Physiotherapy and primary care pathways including access to clinical triage, guidance and treatment for common musculoskeletal and everyday health concerns
- Health helplines which support employees with expert advice for medical worries, family mental health and the menopause
- Neurodiversity support including coaching sessions to help employees to understand and navigate a diagnosis