Your guide to HCA UK benefits
| 2 | Welcome to HCA UK benefits At HCA Healthcare UK, we want to be able to offer you a benefits package that best meets your needs, which is why we offer a flexible benefits scheme we call ‘Beneflex’. As you will see, there are lots of great benefits available to you. Some of these are core benefits, such as life assurance and pension, which are given to you automatically and which you can trade up or down; others are optional. In many cases, you will enjoy rates that have been specially negotiated for HCA UK employees, and a number of benefits offer income tax and National Insurance contribution savings as well. Please take time to read this guide in full, especially if you are new to HCA UK. It is designed to give you an overview of all your benefit choices. Even if you have been at HCA UK for a while, some things may have changed since you last checked, so it’s still worth having a good look through. With best wishes. HCA UK Reward Team
Indicates a core benefit Indicates an optional benefit Indicates you will save National Insurance contributions Indicates you will save income tax When? Different benefits become available at different times in your HCA UK career. Look out for the relevant icons. Any time after you Beneflex account has been created From the day you start Once you are set up on the Beneflex site, usually after one month When you complete your probation after three months At annual enrolment in December At mid-year enrolment in June DAY 1 1 MTH 3 MTH DEC JUN ANY TIME Key | 3 |
Contents £ | 4 | Critical illness cover 8 Cycle to work 9 Dental insurance 10 GymFlex 11 Health assessment 12 Healthcare trust scheme 13 Holidays 14 Life assurance 15 Pension 16 Personal accident insurance 17 Private GP 18 Introduction to HCA UK benefits 5 HCA UK benefits pathway 6 Travel insurance 19 Tastecard and Gourmet Society 20 Will writing 21 Technology at home 22 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 23 Portland maternity benefits 24 Season ticket loan 25 Benefit choices online 26 Changing your benefits 28 Salary exchange explained 29 Additional benefits 30 Contact details 32 Notes 33
| 5 | Introduction to HCA UK benefits Soon after you join HCA UK, you will recieve your New Joiner email from Beneflex. This is where you will need to go whenever you want to manage or review your HCA UK benefits choices. This guide provides an overview of all the different benefits that are available to you as an HCA UK employee. Some of the benefits are only available at certain times of the year or after a certain period; others are available all year round. The key at the top of each page will indicate when each benefit is available to you, as well as whether it is a core or optional benefit, and if you will save tax and/or National Insurance. Within Beneflex, you will also have access to Mercer Money. Mercer Money is an intuitive and unique online service that helps you select your benefits and take control of your health, personal finances, protection and retirement – all in one secure place. Mercer Money aims to help you improve your overall wellness by providing you with an overview of your finances and health, so you know where you are doing well and where you could improve. If you have any questions about your HCA UK benefits, please refer to the contact details on page 32. | 5 |
Within 3 months | 6 | Day 1 HCA UK benefits pathway Automatic Core annual leave (25 days plus 8 bank holidays) Core life assurance Optional Pension opt in Optional Healthcare trust scheme Home technology Season ticket loan Optional Buy/sell annual leave Cycle to work Dental insurance Dining cards GymFlex Health assessment Life assurance – flex Personal accident insurance Private GP service Travel insurance Will writing Automatic (if eligible) Pension enrolment (default 4% + 4% = 8%) New Joiner Beneflex window Passed Probation Beneflex window (after 3 months)
Mid-year enrolment (June)/ Annual enrolment (December) | 7 | After 1 year Automatic Core critical illness cover (£10K) And if eligible: Healthcare trust scheme Home technology Annual enrolment only: Buy/sell annual leave Travel insurance Life assurance – flex and spouse/partner cover Critical illness cover – flex and spouse/partner cover (if eligible) Optional Cycle to work Dental insurance Dining cards GymFlex Health assessment – employee and spouse/partner Personal accident insurance Private GP service Will writing Back to contents
Automatically after one year. Critical illness cover £10,000 cover After one year’s service, you will automatically be given core critical illness cover of £10,000. If you want to, you can then increase this benefit at annual enrolment in December. The cost of this varies, depending on your age and level of cover. You can also select critical illness cover for your spouse or partner. You can find out how much it would cost you per month by visiting the Beneflex site. You do not pay National Insurance on any increases you make to your core cover. DEC | 8 |
| 9 | Cycle to work Save money on a bike We love the Cycle to Work Scheme at HCA UK, and it gets more and more popular every year. Why not join the many people who are already taking advantage of it? The scheme enables you to get a bike tax-free when it is used for commuting to work. This should allow you to make substantial savings on the overall cost. How it works You choose a bike You are free to choose any bike or other equipment you want, including sale items, although there is a cap on the total value of the equipment you can select. For more information, please check the Beneflex site. We buy it for you Just log on to the Beneflex site and select the voucher value you need. You lease the bike and equipment from us for 12 months We’ll divide the value of your bike and equipment by 12 and deduct this amount from your monthly salary for a year. The deduction will be made prior to income tax and National Insurance contributions, meaning you pay less of both. This is where you make your savings. The bike is yours At the end of the lease period, ownership is transferred to yourself upon payment of a minimal transfer fee. “What happens if I leave HCA UK before I finish paying for the bike?” Not to worry. Any amount still owing will be deducted from your final pay cheque. ANY TIME £ Back to contents
If you choose this benefit, you will enjoy immediate cover with no need for a pre-joining examination. There are three levels of dental cover for you to choose from. All of them entitle you to twiceyearly check-ups, although the maximum amount you can claim varies. More information is available on the Beneflex site. How it works To receive reimbursement, simply complete a claims form and send your receipt to the insurer. ANY TIME Dental insurance Keep smiling | 10 |
| 11 | How it works You choose your gym Simply log on to the Beneflex site and enter the postcode where you’re looking to use a gym. You’ll find most of the big names are on the scheme, including LA Fitness, Fitness First and Virgin Active. There are even some small independent gyms to choose from. We buy it for you and you pay us back in instalments We pay all your membership costs upfront and then deduct the money back from your salary each month. You will have to pay income tax, although not National Insurance, on the full cost of the membership fee. GymFlex is a great benefit for anyone who wants to stay fit, giving you up to 50% off in your gym of choice. You can also get employee-and-spouse membership at the discounted rate. ANY TIME GymFlex Save money while staying healthy “What happens if I leave HCA UK before I finish paying my membership fees?” Not to worry. Any amount still owing will be deducted from your final pay cheque. £ Back to contents
| 12 | ANY TIME Looking for advice on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle? This benefit gives you the opportunity to have a confidential, expert GP-led assessment at one of HCA UK’s Primary Care clinics. Clinical assessment The session will cover topics such as weight, metabolic rate, blood pressure, cholesterol, diet and musculoskeletal health. You will be able to ask the physician questions and discuss any lifestyle changes they might recommend. Personal report You will also receive a personal report containing your clinical test results and what these mean, as well as any recommendations your physician makes. There are now four levels of assessment to choose from. You can now also select a health assessment for your spouse/partner. For more details, please log on to the Beneflex site. Health assessment Expert lifestyle advice About HCA UK Primary Care Part of HCA Healthcare UK, HCA UK Primary Care specialises in providing day-to-day healthcare services to individuals and corporates.
| 13 | This is, unsurprisingly, one of the best benefits we offer. As an HCA UK employee, you will get excellent health cover, including cover for pre-existing conditions. You will be eligible to sign up for health cover as soon as you have passed your probation. You will receive an email inviting you to log on to the Beneflex site, where you will be able to arrange cover. Employee-only cover is free, however, you will be taxed on this benefit. This may occur through Payroll or a P11D submission to HMRC on your behalf. You can also add your partner and children to the cover, at your own cost. Full details are available on the Beneflex site. 3 MTH DEC JUN Healthcare trust scheme Private medical cover Back to contents
Shortly after joining, you will be set up on the Beneflex site, where you will then be able to buy or sell annual leave. More information is available on the Beneflex site. You do not have to pay income tax or National Insurance on the cost of buying holiday. However, you will be liable if you sell holiday, as your post flex salary will increase. Ten days more or five days less options Employees can buy up to ten or sell up to five days’ annual leave, depending on their existing holiday entitlement. 35 days maximum 35 days is the maximum amount of holiday you can take in one year. This may restrict the amount you can buy. For example, if your entitlement is already 28 days, you will only be able to buy seven extra days a year. 1 MTH DEC 10 5 DAYS 35 DAYS Holidays Options to buy or sell “What happens if I join HCA UK midway through the year?” Your holiday entitlement for that year will be calculated on a pro rata basis, so the number of days’ annual leave you get will be proportional to the number of days remaining in the year. | 14 |
DEC DAY 1 This is a tax-free lump sum benefit, worth two times your annual salary, that will be paid in the event of your death. You will automatically be covered from your first day of employment. There are no tax implications and nothing will be deducted from your salary. You can increase your cover via Beneflex. The cost of this varies, depending on your age and income. Life assurance Peace of mind for loved ones | 15 | Form filling Please make sure you have completed an up-to-date expression of wish form on Workday. This will help the Trustees to determine who to make payment to. A guide to completing your expression of wish form is avilable in the Reward section on IHCA. Back to contents
| 16 | All eligible employees will be automatically enrolled into HCA UK’s Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme following a three-month deferral. You can join the scheme from the very beginning of your employment by completing an ‘opt-in’ form. If you do not opt in, however, you will be automatically enrolled after three months’ service, providing you meet the entry requirements. You will be enrolled at the minimum contribution level required to meet the Government standards. You can change the level of contribution based on your years of service in the company via Beneflex any time you like. You can also elect to make additional voluntary contributions, although this figure will be paid in by you alone and not matched by HCA UK. The pension is paid in by Pension Salary Exchange, which means you do not pay tax and National Insurance on money you put into your pension pot, up to the annual allowance set by HMRC. ANY TIME Pension Because your future matters Years of completed company service Employer contributions Employee contributions 0 - 4 4% 4% 5 - 8 5% 5% 9 - 12 6% 6% 13 - 16 7% 7% 17 - 20 8% 8% 21 - 24 9% 9% 25+ 10% 10%
As a healthcare organisation, we fully understand the serious impact injuries can have on your life. That’s why we think it’s important to offer personal accident insurance to protect you and your family against potential risks. A sample of what’s covered • Total permanent disability • Broken bones • Dental injury • Primary dislocation • Hospital confinement • Coma and rehabilitation ANY TIME £10,000 £10,000 £10,000 £50,000 1 5 x = Personal accident insurance 10 levels of cover to choose from How much does it cost? The cost is spread over 12 months and deducted from your monthly salary. Details of the monthly premiums are available on the Beneflex site. *Some injuries are subject to a fixed claim amount regardless of the number of units purchased. | 17 | Units purchased Final value of claim Value of claim You can purchase up to a maximum of 10 units. This will determine your level of cover, as your claim will be multiplied by the number of units you buy*. Back to contents
| 18 | If you sign up for this benefit, you can see a private GP at one of HCA UK’s Primary Care clinics as often as you need. Simply call to make an appointment. Seeing the doctor We will make sure you have at least 15 minutes for each consultation. It’s important that you have time to talk and the doctor has time to listen. Seeing the practice nurse The practice nurse can offer a range of procedures at no extra cost, including simple dressings and changes, removal of stitches and family planning services. How much does it cost? You will not need to pay anything extra for your consultations. If the doctor thinks you need tests, you will get preferential rates which we have negotiated with laboratories and imaging centres. You will be told the costs of these tests before you decide whether or not to proceed. Private GP Consultations when you need them About HCA UK Primary Care Part of HCA Healthcare UK, HCA UK Primary Care specialises in providing day-to-day healthcare services to individuals and corporates. 1 DEC JUN MTH
| 19 | This benefit gives you comprehensive European or worldwide travel insurance, including winter sports cover if you need it. It covers you for any number of holidays during the insurance period. All insured persons can travel independently and each trip can last a maximum of 60 days. Who's covered ? You + + Your partner This can be a spouse, partner or permanent companion of either sex who is living at the same address as you. Your children This includes all dependent children. They will need to be aged 18 or under on the date the insurance starts (or aged 25 or under if they are still in full-time education). Please note: all cover for all insured persons will cease the moment you leave HCA UK. Travel insurance Cover for you and the family DEC 1 MTH Back to contents
| 20 | Get the ultimate lifestyle package with Tastecard and Gourmet Society. Bringing you the very best in discount dining, exclusive days out and much, much more! By taking advantage of this mouth-watering offer, you can experience fine dining at a hand-picked collection of independent eateries and awardwinning restaurants, as well as some of the UK’s favourite chains. Tastecard and Gourmet Society offer different experiences. Tastecard offers 50% off your food bill or 2 for 1 at family favourites such as Zizzi, Strada, ASK Italian, and Pizza Express, whilst Gourmet Society gives members 25% off the total bill, including drinks at venues like Café Rouge, Browns, Vintage Inns, and Loch Fyne. For more information, log on to the Beneflex site. You will also get exclusive access to a wide range of additional offers, including discounts on hotels and theatre trips, free cinema tickets and a chance to win luxury holidays. More details on how to access this information will be provided with your membership pack. Tastecard and Gourmet Society Up to 50% off dining out ANY TIME We can offer you the chance to purchase Tastecard and Gourmet Society membership at a greatly reduced rate. The cost will be taken in one lump sum when you select it.
Most people know the importance of making a will, but for one reason or another never get around to it. Having a will can minimise your family’s financial difficulties, and help them to avoid lengthy legal proceedings at the time of their bereavement. It can also ensure your estate and/or children will be looked after by the persons of your choosing, as well as help to reduce inheritance tax. Standard or advanced packages are available on single and joint wills depending on your personal requirements. ANY TIME Will writing Peace of mind that your wishes will be looked after | 21 | Back to contents
| 22 | This benefit enables you to own the latest technology, whilst spreading the cost over 12 months. As payments are taken from your salary, this eliminates any interest fees, or the credit checks usually applied on the high street. As soon as payment is received, orders are delivered to your chosen delivery address via a trackable, next working day delivery service, subject to stock availability. ANY TIME 3 MTH Technology at home Save money and spread the cost on the latest technology “What happens if I leave HCA UK before I finish paying for the items?” Not to worry. Any amount still owing will be deducted from your final pay cheque.
| 23 | www Visit employeeassistance.org.uk or 0800 call 0800 328 1437 at any time for free, confidential advice and support on these or any other issues. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Support and advice when you need it DAY 1 The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) gives you and your family free access to a confidential support service. The service is staffed with qualified professionals who are always on hand to offer support and practical advice on any issues you may be having at work or in your personal and family life. Personal and family • Debt and money worries • Divorce or separation • Legal guidance' on personal matters • Parenting and eldercare • Substance and gambling addiction • Depression and anxiety • Bereavement Work • Coping with change • Work and life balance • Dealing with working relationships, colleagues and managers • Managing work-related pressures • Dealing with clinical incidents Back to contents
If you or your partner becomes pregnant while you’re working at HCA UK, you might be entitled to care at The Portland Hospital at the discounted rate of 50%. Are you eligible? You must have at least two years’ continuous service 15 weeks before the week the baby is due. How it works Before care begins, you will need to send written confirmation that you agree to meet the indicative costs of your chosen package. When the time comes to settle your account, you will be invoiced directly by The Portland Hospital. This will be at the discounted rate of 50% for all those processes you agreed to before care began. Further details about this benefit can be found on the Beneflex site. Portland maternity benefits 50% off maternity care | 24 |
| 25 | Season ticket loan Commute for less If you use public transport to get to work, we can give you an interest-free loan of up to £10,000 on the purchase of your season ticket. Simply log on to the Abellio website and select the ticket you want. After the ticket has been approved by HR, it will be sent to Payroll and then couriered to your facility for you to use. Repaying your loan It’s simple. We will divide the cost of your ticket by 10 or 12, whichever you decide, and then deduct this amount from your salary each month until the loan has been repaid. 3 MTH “What happens if I leave HCA UK before I finish paying for the ticket?” Not to worry. Any amount still owing will be deducted from your final pay cheque. Back to contents
The Beneflex portal is a secure site open only to HCA UK employees. It allows you to access information on your benefits anytime, anywhere. It gives you the full details of everything on offer and lets you see instantly how different benefit choices affect your pay. Accessing the site At work Click on the Beneflex link on the HCA Healthcare UK portal. Outside work Either: Login to HCA portal, and select the Beneflex shortcut Or: Login to Office 365 via a browser (https://www.office.com) and select the Beneflex application in All Apps. Benefit choices online Information at your fingertips | 26 |
| 27 | Step 1 – From the Welcome/home page in Beneflex, access your benefits using the Benefits link. Step 4 – Once you are happy with your benefit choices, remember to click the Checkout button at the bottom of the Benefits Overview page – if you don’t checkout, your selection will not be submitted and you will receive your default package instead. Choosing your package Step 2 – Review benefits under Health, Pension (if enrolled), Protection and Lifestyle categories. Active benefits are highlighted green: Step 3 – Select each available benefit you require, specifying the relevant features, and Add to Cart: The benefit tile will show Select if available for selection and View if not available in the current window: Eligible benefits are black: The benefit tile will show Edit if available for changes and View if not available in the current window: Add To Cart Checkout Select View Edit View ELIGIBLE Dental Insurance ACTIVE Life Assurance Home Benefits Total Rewards Back to contents
| 28 | We always want you to have the package that suits you best. So as well as enabling you to change your benefit choices during annual enrolment, we will also give you the opportunity to make adjustments if you experience what HMRC would recognise as a ‘lifestyle event’. Examples of lifestyle events • Adopting a child • Getting married, separated or divorced • Experiencing the death of a spouse, partner or dependant • Paternity leave or maternity leave beginning or ending Certain benefits can be selected or changed at any time throughout the year, and are not restricted to these lifestyle events. This can be done by selecting an ‘Anytime’ lifestyle event in Beneflex. What you need to do Log on Request a lifestyle event via the ‘change in circumstance’ feature in Beneflex. For assistance, contact Darwin Support on 020 3435 7902. Meet the deadline If you do not make your changes before the requested lifestyle event window closes, you may need to wait for the next mid-year or annual enrolment, depending on the changes. Changing your benefits Adjusting to lifestyle events www
How does it work? You pay for new benefits or for higher levels of core benefits with a corresponding reduction in salary. Post flex salary The reduced amount you receive in your pay each month is known as your post flex salary. National Insurance contributions are due on this reduced amount, which means they will be lower. For some benefits, such as cycle to work and pension, there is an additional income tax saving. We want you to have as much choice over your benefits as possible. So we’re happy for you to swap some of your salary for additional or increased benefits if you’d prefer. £ This diagram shows how your pay may change if you exchange some of your salary for new benefits or a higher level of core benefits. Your benefits Your benefits Your additional benefits Your pay Your pay Basic salary Your basic salary is the amount you earn before the reduction and therefore remains unchanged. This is the salary that is used for your pay review, pension contributions and other HCA UK benefits. Maternity leave Any payments due for maternity leave are calculated on your basic salary less any salary exchange benefits that you have. If you are unsure as to whether, or how, this will affect your maternity benefit, please contact your HR team, who will be able to assist. Your post flex salary must remain greater than or equal to the national minimum wage. Your post flex salary is the amount you receive in your pay each month, before National Insurance, income tax and other deductions. The amount of salary on which income tax is due may be higher than your post flex salary. Basic salary, used for pay reviews and other HCA UK benefits. Salary exchange explained Maximising your benefits | 29 | Back to contents
There are many great things about working at HCA Healthcare UK. Here are some of the other advantages you’ll enjoy while you’re here. HCA Reward Gateway The HCA Reward Gateway offers you exclusive discounts so good that you could easily save an extra £1,000 in just one year! With over 800 retailers to choose from, you can save on everything from your weekly grocery shop, to your next holiday, to even an evening out at the cinema. There are three fantastic ways to save: 1 Save online with cashback Get money back on your purchases with certain retailers. Your cashback will build up in your personal HCA Reward Gateway account, and you can withdraw it to your bank account at any point – or put it back on a reloadable card to spend in store. 2 Save in store with reloadable cards If you’re shopping on the high street, or at the supermarket, simply order a reloadable card for your chosen retailer to get a discount at that store. 3 Save with instant vouchers Simply order the amount you want and for which store, alternatively, there are vouchers available to view or download from your account straightaway. You can use these online too! The HCA Reward Gateway can be accessed through Beneflex and clicking on the ‘My Discounts’ link. Additional benefits From employee rewards and recognition to holiday offers | 30 |
Staff facilities As well as world-class facilities and state-of-the-art technology, many of the HCA UK sites also have staff restaurants where fresh food is prepared daily by our award-winning catering teams. So, whenever you’re at work, you can enjoy amazing food at very reasonable prices. Career development Here at HCA UK, there are a wide range of learning opportunities offered by both the Organisational Development and Learning Academy Teams. We support you to increase knowledge, develop your skills and build leadership behaviours. For some activities, we offer formal qualifications. Skills and knowledge learning opportunities for both clinical and non-clinical colleagues are organised by the Learning Academy Team. For more information, please email the team on [email protected] Management skills and leadership development are organised by the Organisational Development Team. For more information, please email the team on [email protected] Social There are lots of extra-curricular things to do at HCA UK, notably the annual Christmas Party and Summer Fun Day. EPIC (exceptional people in care) awards The EPIC awards programme recognises colleagues for their contribution and commitment to HCA UK. EPIC thank you EPIC awards provides everyone with a great opportunity to recognise colleagues who have really gone that extra mile and demonstrated HCA UK’s values. Each month, 20 employees who received an EPIC thank you will be randomly selected to receive EPIC points which are redeemable for items in an online catalogue. Employee of the quarter Each quarter colleagues are encouraged to nominate their peers for employee of the quarter through the EPIC awards platform. Employee of the quarter winners receive points which they can then spend on the EPIC website. Long service awards Colleagues who have reached a significant work milestone receive a certificate and EPIC points redeemable for items from the online catalogue. Increasing EPIC points are awarded for further long service milestones up to 200,000 points for 40 years’ service. | 31 | Back to contents
Disclaimer This guide is designed to provide an overview of the employee benefits at HCA Healthcare UK. These benefits are subject to change at any time. Please refer to the relevant policy documents and/or employee guide for full terms and conditions. For the avoidance of any doubt the terms and conditions as laid down in the latest policy documents should prevail. HCA Healthcare UK Staff Pension Scheme – Aviva 0345 600 6303 Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.30pm [email protected] avivamymoney.co.uk/login HCA Healthcare UK Healthcare Trust Scheme – AXA Health 0800 294 5647 Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm and Saturday 8.00am to 1.00pm Beneflex Helpline – Darwin 020 3435 7902 [email protected] Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 0800 328 1437 employeeassistance.org.uk HCA UK Reward Department 020 7616 4836 [email protected] Contact details | 32 |
| 33 | Notes Back to contents
The HCA UK way | Our values • We recognise and value everyone as unique and individual. • We treat people with kindness and compassion. • We act with absolute honesty, integrity and fairness. • We trust and treat one another as valued members of the HCA UK family with loyalty, respect and dignity. Our mission Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. hcahealthcare.co.uk V5 06/23