Jisc - Bolstering Wellbeing Excellence with Medicash

Jisc, a leading data and technology agency which serves the UK’s tertiary education and research fields, considered employee health as a main element of its Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

Recognising the limitations of its budget as a publicly funded organisation, Jisc sought a comprehensive and cost-effective healthcare solution, which would meet the diverse requirements of its 1,300-strong workforce.

Employee Wellbeing at Jisc

Jisc’s commitment to employee wellbeing was clear from its existing benefits package, which included flexible working arrangements, enhanced parental leave, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and financial wellbeing support. However, the organisation recognised the need for a more inclusive healthcare solution that would provide useful benefits to employees, no matter what their individual circumstances.

Andrew West, Reward Consultant at Jisc, emphasised the importance of accessible healthcare coverage, stating:

“It’s about access to wide healthcare coverage, and providing a great benefit to our staff that takes care of something that’s really important – our everyday healthcare needs.”

Jisc’s research into potential healthcare benefits focused on key criteria such as scope of coverage, inclusivity, practical application, and genuine wellbeing support.

This led them to consider a health cash plan as a viable option, enabling them to offer a comprehensive and affordable solution for their workforce.
Having previously offered a voluntary health cash plan with limited impact, Jisc decided to implement a company-paid cash plan on an opt-out basis, aiming to maximise employee participation.

“We wanted something that was inclusive, full coverage, and that offered good value for money, while being able to maximise our employees’ health and wellbeing and offer them a choice.”

Why Medicash?

Jisc casestudy image two colleagues in an office environment looking at a computer

Jisc’s top priorities in a service partner for their health cash plan included:

Matching their ESG values and outlook on holistic wellbeing
Fitting within their budget as a not-for-profit organisation
Catering to their diverse workforce’s various needs
Supporting their high standards for technology

A Range of Services in a Single Plan

After a thorough market review, Jisc selected Medicash as their health cash plan provider, citing their comprehensive offerings, in particular, pioneering services such as SkinVision and Phio, as key factors in their decision given their workforce’s diverse needs and technological expertise.

“After a full market review, we found that there were a number of reasons to choose Medicash, including the product, the service offering, and the initial account management… The integrated approach to the products and the digital service were both key things that swung us.”

The Road to a Medicash Scheme – Supporting Onboarding

Taking out a Level 2 Proactive plan for all eligible employees, Jisc presented Medicash with an administrative and communications challenge. Medicash’s approach to onboarding Jisc involved gaining a deep understanding of the organisation’s unique needs, values, and communication channels, so Medicash worked closely with Jisc’s Reward & Benefits team, ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation process.

Collaborative educational sessions were conducted to familiarise employees with the details of the cash plan, addressing any questions or concerns they might have. The insights gained allowed Medicash to assist Jisc in developing a robust communication strategy, leveraging online platforms and
internal wellbeing communities to promote the benefits of the cash plan and encourage employee engagement.

Jisc’s implementation of the Medicash health cash plan has been a resounding success, achieving a remarkable 95% employee participation rate in its second year, up from 86% in the first year. The digital accessibility and data security of Medicash’s offerings have been particularly well-received by Jisc’s technology-focused workforce.

Jisc have also recommended Medicash to other companies within their sector, highlighting Medicash’s ESG-driven values and ethos of accessibility and affordability, as well as the support provided during their onboarding process. They have noted Medicash as “a key part of their Employee Value Proposition” and have proudly declared their Medicash scheme as “a resounding success”.

“Of all the things that we’ve put in as extra benefits, I would say it’s by far and above the resounding success. We’re so happy we chose Medicash – I really feel they’re a partner. They’re not just a product or service, but a partner to us in our health and wellbeing benefits.”

“Our Business Development Manager was instrumental in understanding our requirements as an organisation, as well as how we communicate and the tools we use – it was a seamless onboarding.”

A Proactive plan not only covers your employees’ everyday healthcare costs, but also offers a wide range of digital and virtual wellbeing tools to support both your employees’ health and the people they care about. Get in touch to find out how Medicash can help you achieve your wellbeing strategy goals.