According to new research, health benefits are becoming an increasingly important part in peoples jobs and many want their employer to be more responsible for their wellbeing.

Health insurer BUPA reports that it has seen a continued rise in the number of workers who are taking up private medical insurance (PMI). They argue that people are looking for more personal control over their healthcare and are also worried about hospital cleanliness.

BUPA claim that health benefits and particularly health insurance are becoming as important to workers as pensions.

Ann Greenwood from BUPA commented:
"They want faster access to specialists and no waiting lists, but most of all they are concerned about hospital cleanliness, with almost three in every four citing clean hospitals as a key reason for buying PMI – up 8% on 2007."

The company also found that health-related benefits like health assessments and free gym membership were becoming gradually more important.