Accident & sickness insurance Accident & sickness insurance

Accident and sickness pays a benefit if someone in your business is on long-term sick leave, is hospitalised or suffers an injury leaving them unable to work.

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Why choose accident and sickness insurance?

If you’re seriously injured at work, it could put you out of action for weeks. Accident and sickness insurance is designed to provide financial support if you or an employee is on long-term sick leave, is hospitalised or suffers a serious injury or dies as a result.

Accident and sickness insurance comes in three parts to cover multiple eventualities: a weekly sickness and accident benefit, a lump sum accident benefit and a hospital stay benefit.

  • Cover for everyone in your business aged between 16 - 69
  • No medicals required
  • Also covers accidental death
  • Benefits can be paid to your business or the covered person

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We're big on fairness. So if you find a lower price for a comparable quote, we won't just match it — we'll go one better and beat it.

So even better than apples to apples, apples to better apples. We're talking Galas to Braeburns.

As you'd expect, T&Cs apply.

What does accident and sickness insurance cover?

You and your employees

Accident and sickness insurance can pay out a benefit if you or someone working for your business under the age of 69 suffers an accident. This includes employees, directors, work experience and contractors.

The cover comes in three parts, detailed below.

Weekly sickness and accident benefit

This is payable while a covered person is signed off work by a doctor due to an accident or illness other than mental health. Payments will be made for up to 50 weeks, after the first 14 days which are not covered.

The weekly amount is calculated based on the age of the employee at the time of the accident or sickness.

You choose who receives the benefit:

  • Your business to offset the cost of enhanced sick pay
  • Directly to the covered person to supplement statutory sick pay

Claims cannot be made on pre-existing medical conditions or for sickness within the first six months. Pre-existing medical conditions are covered at 50% of the benefit amount.

Lump sum accident benefit

If a covered person — or their dependent child — dies as a result of an accident, a lump sum benefit of up to £25,000 will be paid out. Should they suffer a serious permanent injury, a lump sum benefit of up to £50,000 will be paid out.

You choose who receives the benefit:

  • Directly to the covered person or their estate as an employee benefit
  • Your business to offset lost profits or the cost of hiring a replacement

Hospital stay benefit

If an employee has to stay in hospital overnight, this policy will pay up to £75 for each night spent in hospital. Payments will be made for up to 180 nights after the first night, which is not covered. Employees with pre-existing medical conditions will receive £37.50 per night — after you’ve had the cover for six months.

This is generally offered as an employee benefit to assist with the cost of transport or childcare.

Once you've completed a quote, you'll be able to view a summary of cover. Please always refer to your policy documents for full details around exclusions, terms and limits of your customised cover. Read our guide to understanding your policy documents.

What's not included in this cover?

Accident and sickness insurance includes a range of features, but as with all policies, there are some limitations, which, for example, include:

  • The benefit you select will be paid for up to 50 weeks after the first 14 days, which are not covered
  • The policy will also pay £75 for each night spent in hospital (£37.50 per night for pre-existing conditions) for up to 180 nights after the first night, which is not covered
  • A lump sum of up to £50,000 will be paid if a covered person — or their dependant child — is permanently injured from an accident. A lump sum benefit of up to £25,000 will be paid out should they die.
  • Pre-existing medical conditions are covered at 50% of the benefit amount under the weekly sickness and accident benefit
  • You can't claim for pre-existing medical conditions during the first six months or sickness during the first month

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Accident and sickness insurance FAQs

What kind of accidents are covered?

Accident and sickness insurance covers all kinds of accidents both in and out of the workplace.

For each day an employee is signed off by a doctor due to sickness or an accident — regardless of whether it's work-related or not — they'll receive a cash benefit for up to 50 weeks.

It will also pay up to £75 for each night spent in hospital (£37.50 per night for pre-existing conditions — after you’ve had the cover for six months) and a lump sum of up to £50,000 if they’re permanently injured or die from an accident.

Is accident and sickness insurance an 'add on' cover?

Yes, accident and sickness cover is an optional additional cover that you can add to your policy when you get a quote from us. In order to take out accident and sickness cover, you'll need to also take out another policy with Superscript across our range of covers, excluding our landlord insurance.

Who receives the payment in the event of an accident or sickness insurance claim?

You get to choose who receives the weekly sickness and accident and the lump sum accident benefit.

Payment can either go to your business to offset the cost of enhanced sick pay or lost profits or the cost of hiring a replacement, or directly to the covered person or their estate.

The hospital benefit is generally offered as an employee benefit to assist with the cost of transport or childcare.

How much will be paid in the event of an accident or sickness claim?

Under the weekly sickness and accident benefit, the weekly amount you will receive is calculated based on the age of the employee at the time of the accident or sickness.

Under the lump sum accident benefit, if a covered person — or their dependent child — dies as a result of an accident, a benefit of up to £25,000 can be paid out. If they suffer a serious permanent injury, a benefit of up to £50,000 can be paid out.

How much will be paid in the event of hospitalisation?

If an employee has to stay in hospital overnight, this policy will pay up to £75 for each night spent in hospital. Payments will be made for up to 180 nights after the first night, which is not covered. Employees with pre-existing medical conditions will receive £37.50 per night — after you’ve had the cover for six months.

What kind of industries is this cover designed for?

Accident and sickness insurance is designed to cover a wide range of industries, including:

  • Fitness
  • Hair and beauty
  • Healthcare and healthcare technicians
  • Hospitality
  • Leisure
  • Manufacturers
  • Media
  • Online services
  • Professional services
  • Shops and retail services
  • Tech firms
  • Tradespeople
  • Transport
  • Wholesalers

What if the accident took place outside of the workplace?

Accident and sickness insurance covers accidents wherever they take place, whether it is in the course of carrying out business duties or not, and whether the accident occurs in the office or out and about.

Is accident and sickness insurance the same as life and critical illness insurance?

No, these two covers are sometimes confused for each other but they are distinct.

The most important difference is that accident and sickness insurance can pay out to the business (or the covered individual) while a life and critical illness insurance policy would pay out to an individual or their family in the event of severe illness or death.

Are accidents that injure a member of staff covered by employers' liability insurance?

Employers' liability insurance can cover the legal and compensation costs associated with a claim made by a member of staff against the business if they were injured at work. It doesn't cover sick pay or hospitalisation.

Why choose Superscript?

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Cover for over 1,000 types of business

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Five-star customer service and claims support

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Flexibility to adjust your policy without fees

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