Employer schemes, salary sacrifice and insurer discounts: the premium club at half price

Most people paying full price for a premium club could pay less through a benefit they already have. How corporate rates, salary sacrifice, Wellhub and health insurer schemes work, what each typically saves, and how to ask HR without it being awkward.

Updated September 2026 · Prices and facilities are illustrative and need verification

The routes

Route	Typical saving	How it works	Which clubs	Catch
Corporate membership rate	10 to 30%	Employer has a negotiated rate; you show a work email or payslip	David Lloyd, Nuffield, Virgin Active, Third Space, Bannatyne	Employer must have the deal; ask
Salary sacrifice gym benefit	20 to 40% (tax and NI)	Membership deducted pre-tax via a benefits platform	Whichever the platform lists; often the big chains	Tax treatment changed in 2017; only some arrangements still qualify; verify
Wellhub (Gympass) via employer	30 to 70%	Employer subsidises tiered access	Nuffield, Virgin Active on higher tiers; studios	Tier limits; employer must offer it
Vitality health insurance	Up to 50% off Virgin Active, Nuffield, David Lloyd	Discount unlocked and maintained by activity points	Virgin Active, Nuffield Health, David Lloyd (verify)	Must keep earning points; insurance premium
Other insurers (Bupa, AXA Health)	10 to 25%	Member perks portals	Nuffield (Bupa), varies	Small; changes yearly
NHS and public sector discounts	10 to 20%	Blue Light Card, NHS discounts	Nuffield, David Lloyd, PureGym	Verify current participation
Annual upfront payment	5 to 15%	Pay 12 months at once	Most chains	Cash flow; cancellation harder

Typical savings and participation, September 2026; schemes change frequently and tax rules are complex. Verify with the provider and HR.

Start with HR

Ask two questions: do we have corporate gym rates, and do we offer a wellbeing platform (Wellhub, or similar) or salary sacrifice for gym membership. Many employers have one or both and under-communicate them. If the answer is no, a request from a few employees is often enough to start one; providers make it easy for HR.

Vitality specifically

Vitality’s gym discount is the biggest single saving on a premium club for people who would buy health insurance anyway. The mechanic is activity points: hit a weekly target (tracked by a wearable) and the discount holds. Miss it and the price rises. It suits the already-active; it punishes the intermittent. Read the terms and check which clubs currently participate before switching insurer for it.

Salary sacrifice, honestly

Since 2017 most gym membership salary sacrifice no longer saves income tax, only in limited arrangements; some platforms still offer a saving through employer NI or bulk rates. Ask the platform exactly what the saving is and how it is calculated. Do not assume 40 percent.

Stacking

Corporate rate plus annual upfront is common. Insurer discount plus corporate rate usually is not. Wellhub replaces, rather than discounts, a direct membership. Work out the effective monthly price for each route with the cost calculator (not yet available).

FAQs

Common questions

Can I get a gym membership through salary sacrifice?

Some employers offer it via benefits platforms, but since 2017 the income tax saving is limited. Ask the platform for the exact saving.

Does Vitality pay for my gym?

It discounts memberships at partner chains, typically up to 50 percent, as long as you keep hitting weekly activity targets. Participation and terms change; verify.

Know the true monthly cost before you commit.

Guide not yet available