The amount employers spent on private medical insurance (PMI) for staff rose by 3.6% in 2005, up to £1.6bn, according to analyst firm Laing & Buisson's Health & care cover: UK market report 2006.
Overall, the number of employees receiving employer-paid PMI rose 0.1%.
The survey also revealed a sluggish growth in the number of staff enrolled in healthcare trusts.
This increased by 13% in 2004, but the 2006 report shows an increase of only 0.5% in 2005, up to 557,000 from 554,000 in 2004.
For more information see www.laingbuisson.co.uk