We're evolving. Mercer is now part of the new, expanded Marsh brand

At Mercer Marsh Benefits we know competing with big companies for talent is tough - especially on a tight budget. As one of the UK’s top employee benefits brokers, our strong relationships with trusted, well-known providers help us secure the best coverage and cost for your business. 

How we can help

Whether you have one employee or 250, we offer quality solutions tailored to meet the needs of both you and your team.
  • Group Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

    Help your employees access healthcare when they need it.

    ✓  Medical treatment for acute conditions.

      Hospital treatment and specialist fees.

     Diagnostic test and scans (MRI, CT, x-ray)

     Cancer care

     Musculoskeletal (MSK) treatment.

    Get a quote

     

  • Group Life Insurance

    Ensure families receive financial support with a clear death‑in‑service benefit.

     Tax-free lump sum  on death in service.

      Benefits linked to salary (chosen by you).

      Automatic cover with minimal medical underwriting.

      Trust-based pay-out and support services for family members.

    Get a quote

  • Group Income Protection Insurance

    Provide employees with a regular income if they’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

      Income replacement during long-term sickness.

      Deferred period to suit your sick pay policy.

      Long-term benefits payments.

      Rehabilitation and return-to-work support.

    Get a quote

  • Health Cash Plan

    Provide employees with financial support for everyday healthcare expenses.

    ✓  Dental care.

      Optical care.

      Therapies and physiotherapy.

      GP and virtual healthcare access.

      Health MOTs and screenings. 

    Get a quote

  • Dental Insurance

    Support employee oral health with dental insurance cover.

      Routine check-ups.

      Basic dental treatment (fillings, extractions)

      Major dental treatment (crown, bridges, dentures).

      Emergency dental treatment.

      Cover available for one employee or more.

    Get a quote

     

  • Access to healthcare

    Give access to some healthcare benefits without the cost of a full PMI policy:

    ✓  Digital GP services

    ✓  Mental health support

    ✓  MSK support

    ✓  Wellbeing resources

    ✓  Family cover options

    ✓  Dental and care (additional)

    Get a quote

As with all insurance policies, terms and conditions apply.

Why choose us

For small business benefits that matter, we provide access to private healthcare and business medical insurance that help boost employee health and reduce sickness absence. We help you design plans that support flexible working or flexible hours, that reflect your company values and promote employee loyalty.

Protect your team and boost your company culture with a comprehensive package of employee benefits designed to attract top talent and improve employee retention. Our tailored business health insurance plan and flexible solutions support workplace happiness and employee engagement for small companies.

Speak to a consultant

Our friendly employee benefits consultants are on hand to help you. Simply tell us a bit more about yourself and a member of the team will be in touch. 

Save more with Elect

Elect is a cost-effective, all-in-one benefits solution designed exclusively for your business. With enhanced terms, competitive pricing, and added-value benefits, Elect delivers bespoke policies tailored to your people—giving you exceptional coverage without compromising your budget.

It includes:

  • Private medical insurance
  • Group Income Protection
  • Group Life Insurance
  • Pensions

And enjoys the same free enhancements such as:

  • Optical, dental, and prescription charges.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Virtual GP service
  • Health assessments.

Relationship management is at the heart of Elect, and our advisers know there is no one-size-fits-all package. You’ll be assigned a dedicated relationship manager who will help you create an employee benefits program tailored to your requirements and objectives.

Learn more about Elect

Get an Elect quote

With enhanced terms, competitive pricing, and added-value support/services, Elect delivers bespoke policies tailored to your people—giving you exceptional coverage without compromising your budget.

What’s covered in a Group Private Medical Insurance policy?

A group private medical insurance helps your employees access healthcare support when they need it. It typically covers:
  • Treatment for acute conditions

    Covers short‑term illnesses or injuries that are treatable and expected to lead to a full recovery.
  • Hospital treatment and specialist fees
    Includes private hospital charges for inpatient and day‑patient care, plus consultant, surgeon and anaesthetist fees.
  • Diagnostic tests and scans
    Covers investigations such as MRI, CT and X‑ray scans, blood tests and other diagnostics needed to confirm a diagnosis.
  • Cancer care
    Typically includes cancer diagnosis, treatment (such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and ongoing eligible care.
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) treatment
    Covers common muscle, joint and back conditions, often including physiotherapy and related specialist treatment.

This means your team can focus on getting better without long wait times, helping to keep your business running smoothly and potentially avoiding some of those hidden costs associated with absentseeism and presenteeism.

Get a quote

Terms and conditions apply, please get in touch for more information.


What does a Group Life insurance policy cover?

A group life insurance provides financial support to your employees’ loved ones if the unexpected happens. It usually covers:
  • Tax‑free lump sum on death in service
    A payment to the employee’s nominated beneficiaries if they die while employed.
  • Benefit linked to salary
    Cover is usually set as a multiple of salary (commonly 2x, 4x or more), chosen by the employer.
  • Terminal illness benefit
    An early payout if the employee is diagnosed with a terminal illness and meets policy criteria.
  • Automatic cover with minimal medical underwriting
    Most employees are covered automatically up to a set limit, without needing to provide medical information.
  • Trust‑based payout and family support services
    Benefits are typically paid via a trust for faster payment and inheritance tax efficiency, often alongside bereavement, legal or counselling support for families.

This helps give your team peace of mind, knowing their families are protected. 

Get a quote

Terms and conditions apply, please get in touch for more information.

What’s covered under a Group Income Protection insurance policy?

A group income protection policy provides your employees with a regular income if they’re unable to work due to illness or injury. It usually covers:
  • Income replacement during long term sickness
    Pays a proportion of an employee’s salary (usually around 50%–75%) if they’re unable to work due to illness or injury.
  • Deferred period to suit your sick pay policy
    Benefits start after an agreed waiting period (commonly 8–52 weeks), designed to dovetail with employer sick pay.
  • Long term benefit payments
    Payments continue until the employee returns to work, reaches the policy’s maximum benefit term, or retires.
  • Rehabilitation and return to work support
    Includes early intervention, vocational rehabilitation and phased return‑to‑work support to help employees recover and get back to work sooner.
  • Employer funded, tax efficient cover
    Premiums are paid by the employer and are usually tax‑deductible; benefits are paid via payroll and taxed like salary.

This helps your team focus on recovery without financial stress. 

Get a quote

Terms and conditions apply, please get in touch for more information.

What’s included in a health cash plan?

A health cash plan helps your employees get money back on everyday health costs. It usually offers cover towards:
  • Dental and optical care
    Money back towards routine dental check‑ups, treatments, eye tests, glasses and contact lenses.
  • Everyday therapies and physiotherapy
    Reimbursement for treatments such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and sports massage.
  • GP and virtual healthcare access
    Fast access to GP appointments, often including 24/7 virtual GP services for advice, prescriptions and referrals.
  • Health MOTs and screenings
    Contributions towards health checks, screenings and wellbeing assessments to help spot issues early.
  • Hospital, prescription and diagnostic cash benefits
    Cash payments towards prescription charges, hospital stays, scans or tests to help cover everyday healthcare costs.

This means you can provide employees with financial support for everyday healthcare expenses.

Get a quote

What does dental insurance cover?

Dental insurance for your employees usually includes routine check-ups, cleanings, and X-rays to keep smiles healthy. It also covers:
  • Routine dental care
    Covers check‑ups, examinations, scale and polish, and X‑rays. These are often covered straight away, sometimes with annual limits.
  • Basic dental treatment
    Includes fillings, extractions and root canal treatment. A waiting period (commonly 3–6 months) may apply before you can claim.
  • Major dental treatment
    Covers more complex work such as crowns, bridges or dentures. This usually has a longer waiting period (often 6–12 months) and lower annual limits.
  • Emergency dental treatment
    Provides cover for urgent dental pain or accidents, sometimes available immediately to help manage unexpected costs.
  • Annual benefit limits and excesses
    Claims are typically capped at an annual allowance, with set limits per treatment type and occasional excesses depending on the policy.

Coverage details and limits vary, so we help you find the right plan to fit your team’s needs and budget.

Get a quote

Employee Benefits Market Trends (UK)

The latest pricing and claims trends, legislative updates, and strategies for navigating the market.

FAQs

In the UK you must provide a workplace pension and pay statutory sick pay. You may also be required to offer parental leave. But other employee benefits for small businesses, like small business health insurance are optional but can help attract talent.

No, private health insurance is not legally required but offering it as part of your employee benefits package can improve employee wellbeing, support physical health and boost retention.

Yes, benefits can be customised based on roles, seniority, or employee preferences to suit your business needs. You can include additional benefits like private GPs or group critical illness cover.

Costs vary by provider and coverage but group plans usually offer better rates than individual policies.

Many employee benefits, including health insurance premiums, can be tax deductible, but it’s best to consult a tax advisor.

Group critical illness cover provides financial support to employees diagnosed with serious illnesses. 
Mercer Marsh Benefits is a trading name used by Mercer Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 121935). Registered in England and Wales No. 984275. Registered Office: 1 Tower Place West, Tower Place, London, EC3R 5BU. Copyright © 2026 Marsh. All rights reserved

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