How Charities Can Offer Low-Cost Health Cover for Charities
In today’s climate of rising costs and growing need, charities are expected to do more with less. While looking after communities, they’re also looking after their staff, and often on shoestring budgets.
One powerful but underused solution? Offering low-cost health cover for staff.
This guide explores how UK charities can implement health benefits without stretching their finances, helping retain staff, improve wellbeing, and build trust, all while staying on budget.
Why Health Benefits Matter for Charities
The charity sector employs over 900,000 people in the UK, with more than 170,000 registered charities across England and Wales alone. Most are small organisations with limited resources, yet face rising expectations around staff wellbeing.
According to a 2025 NCVO report, 80% of charities expect a reduction in funding this year, while still facing inflation linked rises in employment costs.
At the same time, the UK health cover market grew 12% year-on-year to reach £7.59 billion, with over 2.89 million people holding health cash plans. Why? Because flexible, budget-friendly health solutions are becoming essential, not just desirable.
Offering a low-cost health cover for charities is no longer a luxury. It’s a smart, strategic choice that supports recruitment, retention, and resilience.
What is Low-Cost Health Cover?
Low-cost health cover refers to affordable plans that help individuals claim back on everyday healthcare costs. These include:
- Physiotherapy
- Counselling
- Chiropody
- Optical and dental care
- Hospital day admissions
Rather than replacing the NHS, they complement it, giving charity employees peace of mind without long waits or full out of pocket costs.
A low-cost health cover for the charity sector works especially well for organisations that can’t afford private medical insurance (PMI), but still want to offer meaningful support.
Budget-Friendly Benefits Without Big Commitments
One of the myths charities often face is that staff health schemes must be expensive. Low-cost health cover for charities can start from as little as £1.45 per week per employee, with some providers offering tiered or employer/employee-shared contributions.
Some plans also include family coverage at no extra cost or support for children up to 18.
This widens the benefit’s value without raising cost.
Additionally, offering basic health benefits can reduce –
- Absenteeism from preventable issues
- Mental health-related burnout
- Financial stress from unexpected health costs
Why Staff Expect Health Support in 2025
A recent Globacare UK guide highlighted a clear majority of employees now expect wellbeing and health support from their employers in 2025. Among charity staff, support for mental health and preventive care ranks highest.
Providing low-cost health cover for charities demonstrates a duty of care that aligns with charity values, showing staff they’re just as important as service users.
How to Choose the Right Low-Cost Health Cover
Here are some tips for selecting a plan that fits your charity’s needs:
1. Start with Budget Transparency
What can your charity afford per staff member per month? Many plans let employees contribute voluntarily if full sponsorship isn’t feasible.
2. Prioritise Versatile Cover
Look for plans that include mental health, physiotherapy, and everyday services which are increasingly in demand across the UK.
3. Ask About Usage Rates
Choose a provider with high uptake and low admin load. Ideally, the plan should be easy to understand and quick to claim.
4. Confirm UK-Wide Cover
Especially important if your charity operates regionally or remotely.
WHA Healthcare, for example, offers low-cost health cover for charities with a human-first approach including clear pricing, simple claims, and no hidden clauses.
Funding Options So You Don’t Have to Shoulder It Alone
If cost is still a barrier, consider these ideas:
- Use grant funding, several trusts and foundations allow for staff wellbeing costs
- Offer it as an opt-in voluntary benefit, with no direct cost to the charity
- Include in new staff packages as a non-pay reward
Some small charities have even partnered with local businesses to co-fund low-cost health cover for charities, especially in health-focused regions.
Building Trust With Staff and Stakeholders
Public trust in UK charities remains high with 57% of people expressing trust according to the Charity Commission’s annual Public Trust in Charities 2025 research. But internal trust matters just as much.
When charities provide low-cost health cover for staff , they’re sending a powerful message – which is, we care. This boosts staff morale, volunteer loyalty, and even external perception, something donors increasingly pay attention to.
Smart, Supportive, and Sustainable
Offering health benefits isn’t about mimicking the private sector. It’s about providing care to those who give care, and doing it in a way that aligns with charitable values.
A well-chosen low-cost health cover for charities plan offers:
- Predictable, low monthly cost
- Valuable everyday support
- Boosted staff wellbeing
- Enhanced employee retention
- Aligned organisational values
In a sector where resources are stretched, health shouldn’t be. This is your opportunity to lead with compassion, without compromising your budget.
Ready to Explore Low-Cost Health Cover?
WHA Healthcare is here to help. As a not-for-profit with decades of experience, we specialise in health cover solutions for charities.
Get in touch to explore options today, on low-cost health cover.
