Business mental health advantage

We’re changing the way we think about mental health
Mental health continues to be a key priority for business, but employees still face many challenges in accessing treatments. That’s why our business health insurance covers more mental health conditions than any other leading UK insurer†††† and we’ve taken steps to remove most exclusions for small business and corporate customers†. To find out more give us a call on 0808 159 8772^
See PDF How we compare: Small business (PDF 1.3MB)
See PDF How we compare: Corporate business (PDF 1.0MB)
What causes mental health problems in the workplace?
One in four people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. Work can sometimes heighten pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Whilst the pressures of the workplace can also trigger mental health problems such as stress.
A number of work-related factors can have a negative impact on mental health. For example,high workloads, tight deadlines and not feeling challenged enough can all contribute to poor mental health of employees. Spotting the signs of ill mental health in your employees early (lack of motivation, tiredness and withdrawal from both work and social interactions) can help you support your team in accessing the help they need.
Opening up the conversation about mental health in the workplace, checking in on your team regularly and providing access to mental health support such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) promotes good mental wellbeing in the workplace.
How can Mental Health Advantage help?
1. Removing time limits
Mental health issues are complex and can recur. Our new commitment means we won’t leave your employees or your business without our support.
We’ve removed the three year ‘chronic rule’ from our cover, meaning we’ll cover your employees for recurring conditions††† up to their benefit limits, always working within best practice to identify the most clinically appropriate treatment.
2. Providing ongoing support
We want to be there for your employees for the long term. That’s why we offer ongoing support for monitoring and maintenance of diagnosed mental health conditions.
Because we continue to support your employees, we can potentially lessen the severity of the occurrence and reduce the impact on your business.
3. Extending our cover
We now cover all mental health problems††† except the treatments of dementia and learning difficulties, behavioural and development problems. As well as extending our cover, we continue to provide for conditions that are relevant to your people. As standard, unlike our competitors, we cover:
Alcohol abuse
Drug abuse
Self-harm
We cover mental health conditions whatever the reason, even if they’re connected with a normally excluded condition. For example, we would cover anxiety as a result of sleep disorders, even though sleep disorders are normally excluded conditions.
Our network also includes mental health therapists with specific skills to support adolescents.
More ways we’re improving our cover

No need to see a GP
For mental health conditions, it’s not always necessary for your employees to see a GP first‡.They can call us directly for support and a referral..

Active support
We’re committed to helping businesses and employees with relevant mental health issues, including helping people reach a diagnosis and access treatment for conditions like personality disorders.

Strength in numbers
We have over 4300 mental health therapists nationwide.

Partnerships
We work closely with leading organisations and research bodies such as BITC, CMHA, Mind and What Works Centre for Wellbeing.

Accessibility
We continue to invest in technology such as online cognitive behavioural therapy that makes mental health therapies more accessible for employees.

Innovation
We continue to collaborate, learn and share best practice on mental health.
Health tools and information
We have a wealth of online tools, quizzes, calculators and mobile apps and health content to help your employees look after their health and wellbeing.
We provide more than just health cover††
Our complementary, chargeable services including Employee Assistance Programmes, resilience and stress management solutions are available options to help support your employees mental wellbeing whatever they're facing.
Helping families live healthier, happier lives
At Bupa, we want to help families talk about health. With advice from Bupa experts on a range of mental health conditions, parents have the support they need to break through and be heard.
Family Mental HealthLine
You don't expect your people to leave their personal life at the door. If there's something not quite right at home, it's likely to have a knock-on effect at work,
The Family Mental HeathLine gives them access to a trained adviser and mental health nurse‡‡‡ who will listen, provide advice, guidance and support.
Employee Assistance Programmes
Bupa Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are confidential mental health and wellbeing support services. Your employees can call to talk over their concerns with a counsellor.
If appropriate, they will be put through to a specialist with the right expertise for their needs.
We also make it easy to access Bupa Insurance mental health benefits through a seamless referral process††† following a comprehensive telephone assessment.
Resilience and stress management solutions
We can provide on-site training for line managers and other employees to help them build resilience and manage stress to prevent mental health issues occurring.
We also offer a pro-active digital solution Emotional Wellbeing Online for the whole of workforce which helps employees feel in control.
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Learn more about What works wellbeing, an independent collaborative centre that puts high quality evidence on wellbeing into the hands of decision-makers in government, communities, businesses and other organisations.
Learn more about Business in the Community, a business-led membership organisation made up of progressive businesses of all sizes who understand that the prosperity of business and society are mutually dependent.
Read more about CMHA, a coalition of organisations that have come together to create an environment in the City where mental health is discussed in the same way as physical health.
†††† As of March 2024, this comparison to other products in the market is based on Bupa’s and Defaqto’s interpretation of the differences between Bupa’s Bupa By You, SME Select and Corporate Select health insurance products and other health insurance products offering mental health cover. The comparison excludes any special offers or promotions which may temporarily alter the cover offered. Cover comparison information is for personal use and guidance only and does not constitute any contractual representation, warranty or obligation by either Bupa or Defaqto about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of the comparison. Neither party accepts any liability for errors, omissions, direct or consequential loss in relation to this comparison.
See PDF How we compare: Small business (PDF 0.1MB)
See PDF How we compare: Corporate business (PDF 0.1MB)
†Please note: Existing in-patient, out-patient and day case benefit limits and exclusions for pre-existing conditions still apply to our cover for mental health conditions.
‡Direct Access telephone services are available as long as the symptoms are covered under the policy. If your cover excludes conditions you had before your policy started, we’ll ask you to provide evidence from your GP that your symptoms are not pre-existing for a period of up to two years from policy start date (or five years in the case of mental health). We can then refer you to a consultant or therapist through the Direct Access service. Always call us first to check your eligibility.
††The services mentioned here are separate to our business health cover, please ask your account manager for more details on how they can help your business.
‡‡ Available with business health insurance and trusts when mental health cover is included in the selected health cover product
^Telephone support between 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday via a dedicated helpline. Calls may be recorded to maintain the quality of our Family Mental HealthLine service.
†††Standard exclusions for pre-existing, special and moratorium conditions, and benefit limits for out-, in- and day-patient mental health treatment continue to apply. For full details please refer to your guide and certificate
‡‡‡Telephone support between 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday via a dedicated helpline. Calls may be recorded to maintain the quality of our Family Mental HealthLine service.
^We may record or monitor our calls
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.
Occupational Health Services are provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ