More businesses are getting rid of health insurance for their employees as a bid to save money, it has been revealed.

According to the recent survey, called Discovery Small Business Watch, there is a growing number of businesses that are removing health insurance plans provided for their employees to cut costs.

Figures found that 85 per cent of businesses are now removing health insurance as a bid to save, compared to 77 per cent last year and 74 per cent in 2007.

According to the report, over a half of the businesses surveyed are finding it “difficult” in “obtaining affordable healthcare.”

It said: "a third of small business owners say health care costs have a major impact on their ability to grow their business: 69 percent say that obtaining affordable health care for themselves and their employees is 'very' or 'somewhat' difficult ..."

The study also found that 36 per cent of those who do offer the insurance have considered removing the benefit during the past year.

Ryan Scully, Director of Discover’s business credit card said: "Over the last two years, the number of small business owners who offer health insurance to their employees has fallen significantly.

While small business owners are finding ways to stay afloat in this tough economy, eliminating healthcare benefits could be another measure of the cost of that resiliency."