Disparities in employee out-of-pocket spending on health

Every two years, the Deloitte Health Institute runs an employee health survey in the UK. Our last survey from 2023 revealed significant gender differences in out-of-pocket expenditure for employed women. We concluded that not only are women spending more out-of-pocket because they care more about their health, but also because the current health system caters less to their needs in important ways. This report highlights the results of a deeper dive into the 2023 analysis that explores the differences in responses on out-of-pocket spending between respondents from white and ethnic minority backgrounds.

This report reveals significant disparities in out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare spending between ethnic minority and white employees in the UK. Ethnic minority employees spend 1.4x more out-of-pocket than those employed in the UK from white backgrounds, driven by higher expenses across several key categories.

This disparity is further amplified by socioeconomic status and gender, with women from ethnic minority backgrounds exhibiting particularly high spending in certain areas. Furthermore, ethnic minority employees demonstrate a greater awareness of and are more influenced by employer-provided women's health benefits when selecting employment opportunities, suggesting a higher value placed on such offerings. These findings highlight the need for further evaluation and a requirement for changes within both the NHS and private healthcare sectors to address these inequalities.