Provider comparison
Medicash vs AXA Health
Side-by-side comparison from the PerkIQ directory. Cover, pricing, regulator status, and fit at a glance.
Category
Health & Insurance
Health & Insurance
Best for
10-2,000 employees
50-10,000+ employees
Pricing model
£4-£15 per employee / month
Per employee / month
UK presence
Since 1871
Since 1940 (as PPP)
Regulator
FCA-authorised
FCA-authorised
Strapline
Medicash is one of the UK's longest-established cash plan providers, reimbursing employees for everyday healthcare costs like dental, optical, physio, and GP services. Cheaper than PMI, popular for broader staff coverage.
AXA Health (formerly PPP healthcare) is a top-tier UK private medical insurer with strong corporate schemes, flexible cover design, and the ability to bespoke benefits for different employee tiers.
What's included
- Cash plan reimbursement. Employees pay for everyday healthcare (dentist, optician, physio, prescriptions) and claim back fixed amounts up to annual limits.
- mProve virtual GP. Round-the-clock video GP appointments, included in most plans, no extra premium.
- Mental health support. Counselling and structured therapy sessions, with self-referral and short waiting times.
- Not-for-profit mutual. Surpluses are reinvested into member services rather than paid out as shareholder dividends.
- Comprehensive PMI. In-patient, day-patient, and outpatient cover with flexible tier design. Open-referral, guided, or directional schemes.
- Doctor At Hand virtual GP. Video GP consultations seven days a week, prescriptions to your local pharmacy, and onward referrals into the AXA network.
- Mental health pathways. Direct-access talking therapies with no GP referral required. Up to 25 sessions on most corporate plans.
- Tiered scheme design. Differentiate cover levels between senior leadership, mid-management, and broader workforce in a single scheme.
Who it's for
Not stated
- Employers wanting service-led PMI: AXA Health competes on digital health tools and member support rather than on being the cheapest.
- Workforces that value virtual GP and mental health support: talking therapies, musculoskeletal and remote GP services are central to the offer.
- Mid-sized and larger employers: flexible underwriting (moratorium or medical history disregarded) suits established schemes.
- Lowest-cost seekers: entry premiums are rarely the cheapest on a like-for-like basis.
- Very small teams: a cash plan often delivers more visible value than full PMI at low headcounts.
At a glance
- FCA authorised & regulated
- Not-for-profit mutual
- UK head office, Liverpool
- Founded 1871
- Broad-staff coverage focus
- Available direct or broker
- FCA authorised & regulated
- Part of AXA Group (global)
- 1.5m+ UK members
- Strong corporate tiering options
- Direct & broker channels
- Doctor At Hand virtual GP
Pick the right one with data, not a sales pitch
Score your benefits stack with PerkIQ and you'll see which of these (or another provider entirely) closes the biggest gaps for your team.
Information on this page is editorial, gathered from public sources and the providers' own materials, and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation. For a quote, contact each provider directly or speak to an FCA-authorised broker. PerkIQ is not a reseller and earns no commission on provider sign-ups.
