Health insurance as benefit not paid by employer....

SourChocolate

My sister has been employed at the same company for a few years now. It's been quite good initially but recently things have gone (sharply) south. Most of the employees have left or been made redundant, there are just a few people left, there have been issues with salary payments with longer and longer delays etc.. She'd have left too but is currently on maternity leave so awaiting when it ends and then will probably call it a day.

One of the benefits she has listed in her employment contract is private medical insurance which we understand the employer pays for on a monthly basis. This is actually very important element as her kids have some medical conditions and have to see doctors on a regular basis, which cost is covered by the policy & insurer.

A few weeks ago, when she tried to get an authorisation for another appointment, she learnt the policy was suspended as hadn't been paid for (she was not informed by the employer about this fact). Now, the insurer says there are three months until someone either continues to pay for it or the policy expires. The latter is not really an option, since getting a new policy would mean number of not covered (pre)existing conditions. The insurer advised she can take it over as a personal policy and keep paying herself (minimum cost is about £200+/month depending on cover level).

We wonder what the best option is in terms of chasing the employer? There is about a month left until the policy expires so she cannot really risk and wait for too long for the employer to start paying again and on the other hand it's a rather significant expense which she has guaranteed in the contract.

We've been thinking about sending a letter to the employer and notifying them:
- the policy will be taken over and paid privately to ensure the cover is maintained as there is an ongoing medical treatment required
- she will submit expense claims going forward for the contributions made which the employer will be requested to reimburse according to her employment contract

There is no guarantee they'll pay of course but she cannot afford to lose this policy.

Can anyone please advise what is the best way of approaching this company?

On a separate note, private pension scheme contributions have not been paid either for quite a while, however we cannot find a word mentioned about pension scheme benefit in her contract at all?

What a pickle - any advice would be more than welcome...

phill99

Looks like her employer is going under. If they have made loads of people redundant and have topped paying pension and healthcare payments, then the writing is on he wall.

getmore4less

As above,

The chances of getting this paid is minimal and the job will be likely be gone very soon.

Kick up a stink and mke sure everyone left knows the heath cover is not being paid.

Do you want to be comitting to this cost which could go up, might be time for NHS.

Might also be time for an employment lawer to look at option like breach of contract, but if they have no money enforcing any judgment will be a futile exercise.

DVardysShadow

getmore4less wrote: »

.... Might also be time for an employment lawyer to look at option like breach of contract, but if they have no money enforcing any judgment will be a futile exercise.

Agree. Although beware that this may be a non contractual benefit rather than a contractual benefit. Fro the description in the Op it seems to be contractual, but this could be undermined by some weasel words,