Affordable health plans for Multi-Academy Trusts

Managing health and wellbeing across multiple schools is complex. With budget pressures and staff retention challenges, MATs need scalable solutions. Simplyhealth offers affordable, centralised health plans to support your workforce across all locations.

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Healthy leaders and support staff. Happy classrooms. Staff health benefits made simple

We’re called Simplyhealth for a reason. We make workplace healthcare simple for Multi-Academy Trusts. Our cost-effective health plans remove barriers and cut costs, giving:

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    24/7 online GP access

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    Mental health support

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    Health insurance cash plans

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    Annual digital healthcare subscriptions

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    Discounted and self-pay health and wellbeing services


We help Trust leaders support staff wellbeing across all schools, improving access to care and reducing sick days for smoother operations.

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Key benefits for your business

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Improve teacher wellbeing

Fast access to professional support for enhanced wellbeing and fewer absences.

  • 24/7 access to care

  • No long waits

  • No pre-authorisation

  • No referrals

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Attract and retain top talent

Investing in wellbeing pays off. Our business health plans mean teachers get fast access to professional care.

 

Boosting loyalty, helping to cut turnover and keeping classrooms consistent.

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Demonstrate wellbeing impact

Show the impact of your wellbeing strategy with confidence, using simple reporting tools.

Track usage, spot trends, and make informed decisions. All without adding admin burden.

How our health plans work for Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs)

Three simple steps to deliver scalable employee wellbeing solutions across your schools.

1

Choose a plan that fits

Pick a business health plan tailored to your MAT’s health needs and budget. One contract, multiple schools and a seamless onboarding process, designed for simplicity.

2

Give staff 24/7 access to care

Employees get instant access to GP and mental health services anytime, anywhere. Plus, exclusive rewards to keep wellbeing front and centre.

3

Get dedicated support

We make managing health cover stress-free. Our experts provide ongoing insight and long-term guidance to align with your organisational goals - so you can focus on education.

Three flexible health plans designed for MATs

Choose from three affordable options to fit your Trust’s needs and budget. All scalable and easy to manage.

Smiling student in a denim jacket at a desk with open book and pen, classmates and laptops blurred behind.

Simply Essentials

Our annual digital healthcare subscription provides instant access to essential health services by connecting your team with professional support. Any time. Anywhere.

  • 24/7 GP and nurse appointments

  • 24/7 mental health support

  • 24/7 life advice helpline

  • Digital muscle and joint pain assessments.

Smiling female teacher in glasses leads math lesson at whiteboard as elementary students raise hands.

Simply Health Plan

A comprehensive health cash plan where teachers and support staff can easily claim money back towards their everyday health costs - fast.

Everything included in Simply Essentials, plus:

  • Money back towards dental, optical, physio, diagnostic scans and more.

Dentist in white coat pointing at a dental model with a pen during consultation with a patient at a desk.

Simply Dental Plan

Our digital-first dental insurance plan is designed to keep your workforce smiling and productive.

  • Money back towards check-ups, hygienist appointments, X-rays, complex treatments and more

  • Worldwide emergency cover with a 24-hour helpline for peace of mind.


Terms and conditions apply to all plans.

On-demand services

All plans include access to a wide range of discounted and self-pay health and wellbeing services. Including discounted scans, up to 20% of prescription eyewear and lenses*, convenient health test kits and more.


Key benefits

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    Trusted providers. Every service is vetted by Simplyhealth

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    Staff pay for what they need, only when they need it

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    All in one place. Staff can browse, book, and pay through our easy-to-use SimplyPlan app

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     Supports overall wellbeing. From mental health to physiotherapy and more.

    *Contact lenses are not included

Two smartphones showing a healthcare app UI with booking details and service categories (eye, general, men's health).

Why is employee health cover important for MATs?

76% of education staff

report feeling stressed.1

14,000 teachers

call in sick every day.2

£674 lost per year

to sickness absence per employee.3

111 days lost a year

on average per company to sickness absence in the education industry.4

More than 1 in 3

teachers, academics, & education personnel suffer from musculoskeletal disorders.5

1.8 million

people are currently on an NHS mental health waiting list.6

Cut absence across your schools

Teacher sickness is rising and every lost day disrupts learning. Simplyhealth’s affordable business health plans give your staff direct access to professional support. Helping reduce absence and build resilience across every school in your Trust.


Why we’re different:

Our plans focus on early intervention, preventing issues before they escalate into long-term sickness.


The result?

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    Fewer sick days

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    Lower costs

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    Healthier teams that keep classrooms running

Backed by 150+ years of expertise, we give you confidence that your people’s wellbeing is in experienced hands.


Teacher shows a test tube with green liquid to smiling children (one wearing safety goggles) during a classroom science experiment.

Trusted by thousands of leading organisations in education and beyond

Join over 7,000 UK employers who trust Simplyhealth to keep their people healthy and their organisations thriving.

Why choose Simplyhealth for your business health plan?

We've been helping people access quality healthcare for over 150 years – even before the NHS. So, we know what it takes to keep your workforce healthy and your organisation thriving.

Simple to use: Everything in one place with services clearly signposted.

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    No hurdles to care: Staff self-serve with no referrals or pre-approvals.

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    Return on investment: Cut costs on supply cover and temporary staff. Every £1 invested in employee mental health and wellbeing support returns £4.70.7

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    Boost productivity: 47% of employers see increased productivity when employees’ health and wellbeing is supported.8

Smiling older woman and bearded man working together on a laptop and notes in a classroom.

Our GPs are friendly and experienced, which is why
94% of patients rated their experience as Very Good or Good.


(Jan-Sept 2025)

Over 35,000 GP calls handled via our trusted partner, HealthHero.


(Jan-Nov 25)

Over 74% of patients had their concern managed within their GP appointment, without the need for any onward referrals or care.


(HealthHero Data Analytics – Jan-Sept 2025)

Hear from organisations like yours

We’re already trusted by over 100,000 teachers, support staff, and leaders to keep their health and wellbeing on track.

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I particularly appreciate how easy it is to claim for routine healthcare costs like dental, optical, and physiotherapy. It gives real peace of mind knowing that I’m supported with everyday health expenses…Overall, I’m very satisfied and would highly recommend Simplyhealth to anyone looking for reliable and affordable health cover.

Star Academies,

August 2025

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It was quick and easy to navigate around the app. Once I had chosen to have a GP contact me, I had my consultation within 2 hours of making my appointment - this would have taken me several days at my local GP.

Education Partnership Trust,

May 2025

Ready to support teacher and education sector wellbeing?

Get your business health plan quote today and take the first step towards a healthier workplace.

Some of these services are provided by third party providers.

Frequently asked questions

What is employee health cover for Multi-Academy Trusts?

Employee health cover for Multi-Academy Trusts provides one simple, scalable solution designed to support teachers, staff and leaders. Our business health plans provide affordable access to everyday healthcare, mental wellbeing support, and preventative services. Helping Academies and MATs cut absence, boost retention and deliver on their duty of care.

How does a business health plan reduce teacher absence?

A business health plan reduces teacher absence by providing staff with fast and convenient access to care, helping to prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. Fast access to GPs and mental health support means helping to avoid long NHS waits and getting back to work sooner.

For Multi-Academy Trusts, these plans are centralised and scalable, making it simple to support wellbeing across all schools, resulting in fewer sick days, better classroom continuity, and lower supply costs

Why should businesses offer employee health cover?

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 and loyal workforce, which benefits both employees and the business.

Please note that mental health services are not included in the Simply Dental Plan, except for access to a 24/7 helpline specifically designed to support dental anxiety.

Can we tailor the plan for different schools in our Trust?

Yes. Our plans are flexible, and some can be tailored to fit your Trust’s size, structure, and budget. All while still being managed centrally for simplicity.

Bespoke agreements are available for businesses with 250+ employees.

How do employee healthcare plans help with retention and recruitment?

Offering health and wellbeing benefits shows staff you value them, making your MAT more attractive to new hires and helping retain experienced teachers and support staff.

When employees feel supported, they’re more likely to stay. In fact, 61% of employees are more likely to remain with an employer that offers a strong healthcare package.

These benefits also help reduce stress and sickness absence, creating a healthier, more positive workplace culture that appeals to top talent.

What’s included in Simplyhealth’s business health plans for MATs?

We offer three affordable options for MATs, each designed to support staff wellbeing:

  • Simply Health Plan – Claim money back towards everyday healthcare like eye tests, physiotherapy, and dental care.

  • Simply Essentials – Instant access to healthcare professionals, including virtual GP appointments and mental health support.

  • Simply Dental Plan – Claim money back towards dental expenses such as check-ups, hygienist visits, X-rays, and complex treatments.

All plans include access to clinically assured health and wellbeing services. Partnerships provided by third parties.

To find out more about what our business health solutions include, you can visit our Business Health Plans page.

How much does an employee health plan typically cost?

Costs vary by the number of employees being covered and the plan selected. Get your business health plan quote today in minutes. Start a quote.

Do employees need referrals or pre-authorisation?

No. Employees don’t need referrals or pre-authorisation. They can visit a qualified practitioner, pay for treatment, and claim back towards the costs directly. Online GP, mental-health and physiotherapy support can also be accessed without the need for a referral.

The practitioner must be appropriately registered, and some benefits may have exclusions or qualifying periods before claims can be made.

References

  1. www.educationsupport.org.uk/media/3qeajx41/teacher-wellbeing-index-2025.pdf

  2. www.educationlawadvice.com/2024/10/31/almost-14000-teachers-england-called-sick-day-last-year/

  3. Simplyhealth estimations based on:

    ONS, 2022, Earnings and hours worked, industry by four digit SIC: ASHE Table 16.7a,

    www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/industry4digitsic2007ashetable16ONS, Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2022, Table 21b Number of days lost through sickness absence per work

    www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket

    Calculation: Daily rate calculated from Median salary. Daily rate assumed to be 230 days, based on a full-time employee working 5 days a week and 52 weeks in a year, less 22 days annual leave & 8 public holidays)

  4. www.peoplehr.com/en-gb/resources/blog/sick-leave-report-how-are-different-industries-faring/

  5. www.csee-etuce.org/en/item/3097:musculoskeletal-disorders-in-education-need-for-action

  6. www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/mental-health-pressures-data-analysis

  7. www.deloitte.com/uk/en/services/consulting/analysis/mental-health-and-employers-the-case-for-investment.html

  8. https://employeebenefits.co.uk/healthcare-and-wellbeing/47-of-employers-see-increased-productivity-when-employees-health-and-wellbeing-is-supported/280954.article

  9. www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/67-employers-boost-preventive-care-amid-rising-medical-costs/story