Pensions minister Torsten Bell (pictured) has ruled out auto-enrolment for private medical insurance (PMI).
The subject of auto-enrolment for workplace health benefits has been raised following the publication of the Labour government commissioned Keep Britain Working Review in November.
The high profile review, authored by Sir Charlie Mayfield, urged the exploration of pooling mechanisms to help make investing in the workplace health provision (WHP) affordable for SMEs.
It likened the process as similar to that successfully employed for auto-enrolment in workplace pensions.
However, it appears the government has not embraced this significant step of the review despite the NHS’s current waiting list and large numbers of people inactive due to poor health.
Bell delivered a key note speech at the Association of British Insurers (ABI) annual conference today.
Following his speech, the pensions minister was asked whether auto-enrolment was possible for private medical insurance as with pensions? In response, Bell said: “Basically no.”
The Keep Britain Working review also recommended incentives such as tax relief for employer health benefits would be critical to encourage take-up of changes proposed as it enters its secondary stages.
However, the review authors emphasised these incentives should not be something for nothing and should reward positive behaviours and employment practices.
The government has not formally commented on this proposal yet, but showed no inclination to enact it at the Budget in November.