BIK on my Bupa

I pay almost e40 a month in BIK on my Bupa scheme thanks to the very unpopular Fianna Fail party as it is my job who pay for the actual scheme.
Would I be better off just going and paying for the scheme myself so I don't have to pay into the greedy coffers that is the so called Irish Government.

Where total gross income in the two alternative scenarios (including any BIK element) is the same then I thought that it was much of a muchness. If you pay it yourself then you are paying it out of income already subject to tax and PRSI deductions. If your employer pays it on your behalf then you will be charged income tax and PRSI on the BIK. In the first case you also benefit from the 20% tax relief at source on the premium. I'm not sure if this also applies in the case where the employer pays it. The whole point of BIK tax/PRSI deductions is to level the playing pitch with respect to those who simply receive income rather than certain benefits as far as I know.

re BIK

Not worth a lot nowadays but there is the cash flow to consider i.e. paying it yourself up front or having it paid over 12 months.