Simply Essentials: Digital healthcare for businesses
Give your employees fast, reliable access to virtual healthcare that reduces absence, boosts productivity, and lightens HR admin - all through an affordable annual digital health subscription for UK businesses.
The everyday health challenges employers are facing today
NHS wait times, rising stress levels and preventable health issues continue to drive sickness absence and reduce productivity.1 Delays in accessing healthcare impact delivery, morale and budgets. HR teams need a simple way to support employees without added admin.
Your solution: Simply Essentials
Simply Essentials is a simple, digital‑first annual healthcare subscription built for people leaders, business owners and finance decision‑makers who want to support employee wellbeing without the cost of private medical insurance (PMI).
Traditional PMI typically covers major medical events like surgery in private hospitals but excludes routine care and pre-existing conditions*. Simply Essentials takes a different approach.
It’s built around the everyday health issues that most commonly lead to short‑term absence, helping your people access the right support sooner.
*Specific coverage will vary depending on the provider and plan.
What's included in Simply Essentials
24/7 online GP & nurse appointments
Help employees get seen sooner. Anytime access to qualified clinicians reduces time off work and unnecessary absence.
24/7 mental health support
Protect wellbeing and productivity. Practical, confidential support for stress, anxiety and wider mental health needs.
Digital muscle & joint pain assessments
Identify issues early, prevent long‑term conditions. Accessible, assessments to triage muscle and joint pain quickly.
Life advice (legal, financial & lifestyle)
Reduce distraction and worry. Employees get guidance on issues that can impact focus and performance.
Gym membership discounts
Encourage healthy habits at scale. 10% off, no joining fee at 430+ PureGym locations nationwide.
Plus access to discounted and self-pay health and wellbeing services
With Simply Essentials, your employees can also access a broad range of clinically assured health and wellbeing options.
Key benefits:
Trusted providers. Every service is vetted by Simplyhealth
Staff pay for what they need, only when they need it
All in one place. Staff can browse, book, and pay through our easy-to-use SimplyPlan ap
Supports overall wellbeing. From mental health to discounted physiotherapy and more.
Our on-demand services include:
Physical health
Discounted physio sessions, weight management consultations and more.
Eye & skin health
Up to 20% off prescription eyewear* and discounted online dermatology consultations for expert diagnosis.
*Excludes contact lenses
Mental health coaching & therapy
Online sessions to support self-improvement.
At-home health tests
Discounted in-clinic health screenings and at-home test kits to help detect common conditions, like high cholesterol or diabetes.
Gut health & healthy diet
Dietitian-led consultations offering support on digestive wellness.
Neurodiversity assessments
Comprehensive assessments for ADHD, Autism, and combined (AuDHD). Results back within 1 month.
Services are provided by Third Party suppliers
Get a business health plan quote today
Get a fast, tailored quote in minutes and give your team instant access to 24/7 care.
Employee wellbeing that works
Reduce employee absence
Faster access to health care means employees return to work sooner.2
Increase productivity
Healthier teams perform better, helping you improve output and business efficiency.3
Boost wellbeing & retention
A meaningful benefit employees actually use.4
What businesses say about feeling supported by Simplyhealth
Simplyhealth has been a fantastic partner. Their team is responsive, proactive, and genuinely invested in helping us make the most of the plan.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
October 2025
Simplyhealth show that they really care about the offer to support wellbeing and are always there to help, support with queries and develop as a provider.
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation trust
June 2024
Healthcare your people can count on
Quality clinicians
Highly experienced GPs providing care your people can trust -reflected in 94% “Very Good” or “Good” patient ratings. HealthHero Data Analytics (Jan–Sept 2025).
Support never stops
42,000+ GP calls (HealthHero) and 20,000+ EAP calls through (Spectrum.Life). Keeping employees supported day and night. (Jan–Dec 2025).
Rated excellent
Trusted by over 7,000 businesses. A provider your people can rely on - consistently rated Excellent overall on Trustpilot.
The proven value of investing in employee wellbeing
Improved workplace wellbeing
98% of organisations measuring the impact of wellbeing support say it has a positive effect on their business overall.5
Fewer sick days
1 in 3 employees say if they had seen a GP sooner, they would have taken fewer sick days.6
Return on investment
For every £1 invested in employee mental health and wellbeing, businesses see a return of £4.70.7
Ready to give your team faster, easier access to everyday care?
With over 150 years of experience in simple, accessible healthcare, we’re here to help you create a healthier, happier workplace. Start your quote today.
Simply Essentials is provided by Simplyhealth Guidance and is not an insurance product regulated by the FCA.
Some of our services are provided by third party providers.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is Simply Essentials and what does it include?
Simply Essentials is an annual digital healthcare subscription that gives employees fast access to health and wellbeing services. Including: 24/7 online GP and nurse appointments, mental health support, digital muscle and joint pain assessments, a life advice helpline and more.
This plan is provided by Simplyhealth Guidance Limited and is not an FCA regulated insurance product.
How much does Simply Essentials cost?
Costs vary by the number of employees being covered. Get your business health plan quote today in minutes – Start a quote
How quickly can employees access services?
Employees can start accessing services as soon as the plan is active and they’ve registered their account.
What's the difference between Simply Essentials and private medical insurance (PMI)?
Traditional PMI typically covers major medical events like surgery in private hospitals but excludes routine care and pre-existing conditions *. Simply Essentials focuses on everyday healthcare needs, including 24/7 online GP access, mental health support, digital muscle and joint pain assessments, and a life advice helpline. Helping to address some of the health issues most commonly linked to sick days.
*Specific coverage will vary depending on the provider and plan.
How easy is onboarding and ongoing administration?
Simplyhealth plans are built for simplicity. Setup is fast, ongoing admin is minimal, and employees can manage their own access. As your business grows or changes, updating your plan is easy, with support available whenever you need it.
What are the benefits of Simply Essentials?
Offering employee health cover can help businesses attract and retain talent, improve productivity and foster a positive workplace culture. It can support employee wellbeing by providing timely access to medical care and mental health services, reducing absenteeism and building resilience. Ultimately, investing in health benefits helps create a healthier, more engaged workforce, which benefits both employees and the business.
How does Simply Essentials compare to other health benefits?
Simply Essentials takes a preventative approach to employee health by giving your people fast access to everyday care - including 24/7 online GP appointments, mental health support and digital muscle and joint pain assessments. Its focus is early intervention: tackling common issues like minor illnesses, mental wellbeing concerns and musculoskeletal problems before they escalate into bigger, more complex conditions. By helping employees get support at the earliest stage, Simply Essentials helps to reduce short term sickness absence and works seamlessly alongside any existing medical or wellbeing benefits your business already provides.
What’s the difference between Simply Essentials and an EAP?
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) typically focus on mental health support, counselling and practical advice*. Simply Essentials provides a broader level of care, including 24/7 online GP and nurse access, digital muscle and joint assessments and access to a range of discounted and self-pay health and wellbeing services - from at‑home tests and eye‑care savings to neurodiversity assessments and more.
*Specific coverage will vary depending on the provider and plan
Still looking for the right cover? Explore digital healthcare options
If Simply Essentials isn’t quite what you need, explore our other options to find the best fit for your people:
Simply Health Plan
A comprehensive health cash plan that includes claimable benefit pots (up to annual limits) towards everyday healthcare.
Simply Health Plan is an insurance product regulated by the FCA.
Simply Dental Plan
A digital-first dental insurance plan that’s designed to keep your workforce smiling and productive.
Simply Dental Plan is an insurance product regulated by the FCA.
References
NHS wait times: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/Nov25-RTT-SPN-Publication-PDF-458K-1Xmjkk.pdf.
Rising stress levels: https://wone-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/whitepaper/WONE_Whitepaper_Risky_Business.pdf.
Drive sickness absence and reduce productivity: https://a.storyblok.com/f/273343/x/ebf1a1799a/health-and-wellbeing-report-2025-simplyhealth.pdf
Simplyhealth via Opinium surveys of 500 hr decision makers in the UK, and 2000 employees (21st may – June 2024)
Simplyhealth via Opinium surveys of 500 hr decision makers in the UK, and 2000 employees (21st May – June 2024)