Health care cash plans: back to the future? - The healtheare cash plan market has doubled in the last seven years, driven by a growing public realisation that most people believe they are likely to pay for some "non-clinical" healtheare services. Last year, just over three million participants paid GBP 322 million in subscriptions. Whilst many funds have their roots in Victorian philanthropy, employers are now introducing cash plan schemes to support modern HR strategies, particularly absence management. employee wellbeing and recruitment. Healtheare schemes are flexible, low-cost, are not age-related and encourage positive attitudes to good health across the whole workforce. Our feature examines HR and scheme benefits through interviews with providers, and case studies at First Direct and Virgin Megastores.