Foundation to the early NHS

The first element of what is now Simplyhealth was the separate formation of the Manchester & Salford Hospital Saturday Fund and the Leeds Hospital Fund, which were both constituted in 1872.^[1] Both organisations followed a similar 'hospital Saturday' approach in fundraising for their local hospital.^[2][3] These were named Saturday funds, as this was traditionally payday for workers, when they could make their contributions to the hospital.^[4]

The Hospital Saving Association (HSA) was founded in London on 11 July 1922,^[5] focused on providing cover for working people, with both member and their employer contributing.^[6][7][8] The association was formed as limited liability, but non-profit.^[9] Those taking part in the scheme were exempted from charges at the London Hospital (now the Royal London Hospital) and other voluntary hospitals taking part in the scheme.^[10]

By 1944, the HSA had distributed over ten million pounds to hospitals in London.^[11]

Following the launch of the National Health Service (NHS) in England in 1948, the schemes evolved, but continued their system of membership and payments.^[12] The Health Saving Association was one of only 30, out of more than 250, contributory schemes which continued following the founding of the NHS,^[13] albeit with a 30% drop in membership in the following year, down to £1 million.^[14]

From 1947, the HSA offered scholarships for trained nurses to improve their skills in areas such as public health, dietician training, and health visiting.^[15]

As a non-profit association, the HSA had Queen Elizabeth II as its patron.^[16]

Mergers and rebranding

In 1999, the Manchester & Salford Hospital Saturday Fund merged with the Healthcare Insurance Alliance, and began to trade as HealthSure.^[3][17]

The Health Savings Association (HSA), merged with the Leeds Hospital Fund in 2002.^[18][19]

In 2005, HSA (including the LHF) and HealthSure (including the Manchester & Salford Hospital Saturday Fund and Healthcare Insurance Alliance) all merged,^[20][21][22] but remained trading as separate companies.

The merger was subject to scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority, but was passed, as it was not expected to result in a substantial reduction in competition in the market.^[23]

The Simplyhealth brand was introduced in 2009, resulting in the retirement of the legacy brand names such as HSA and HealthSure.^[24][25][26]

Dental health plan provider Denplan was acquired from AXA in 2011, for the sum of £115m.^[27][28][29]

The private medical insurance operation of Simplyhealth (as opposed to the cash plans which form the majority of Simplyhealth's business) was sold to AXA PPP in May 2015, along with the Bristol operations of the business,^[30][31] following regulatory approval.^[32][33]

The company took a majority stake in eyecare-specific provider Ocuplan in May 2022.^[34][35]