Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
News review: July 2010
A review of July's industry news.
News round-up: July/August 2010
A brief round up of news from the secto.
Heath Lambert loses director to Argo International
Argo International has appointed James Russell as underwriter to its professional indemnity (PI) team.
Westfield Health launches consumer focused online offering
Westfield Health has launched Health365 in a move which it claims will shake-up the health insurance industry.
The British Insurance Awards 2010 - winners round up
1800 people saw Allianz become general insurer of the year at the annual British Insurance Awards.
Heath Lambert creates London (Commercial) team
Heath Lambert has created a specialist commercial division called London (Commercial) as it aims to capture SME business within the M25.
Scheme news: Recent product launches home in on over-50s sector
Recent product enhancements and launches indicate industry appetite in the over-50s sector is increasing.
Health Shield appoints chief risk officer
Health cash plan provider, Health Shield, has appointed Courtney Marsh as its first chief risk officer.
Heath Lambert retains Diabetes UK affinity scheme
Heath Lambert has won the tender to provide personal lines and life insurance products for leading health charity Diabetes UK.
Emergency Budget 2010: PMI costs set to soar due to IPT rise, claims Healix
Healix has warned that the increase in insurance premium tax (IPT) will result in even higher costs for employers offering private medical insurance (PMI) or health cash plans to their staff.
Alpha Underwriting launched
Alpha Underwriting has announced the launch of its accident, health and travel sector offering to handle corporate travel and personal accident cover utilising underwriting capacity from Lloyd’s of London.
AMII warns Government off IPT increase
Any rise in insurance premium tax (IPT) will severely hit an NHS already under pressure, according to the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (AMII).
Management changes at Heath Lambert in Leeds
Heath Lambert has announced that Leeds head of office John Dakin is moving to its national corporate team to focus on large accounts in Yorkshire and corporate relationships in the surrounding Leeds area.
Survey shows employee absence costs UK economy £17bn
Employees took 180 million sick days last year, averaging 6.4 days each, according to the latest CBI/Pfizer Absence and Workplace Health Survey.
Reportage - specialist lines: Freedom of movement
InsureCancer's award-winning approach to providing travel insurance for cancer sufferers is changing perceptions of this sensitive market. Dr Krish Shastri tells Liz McMahon how the company manages to underwrite the majority of cases and about plans to…
Reportage - market share: Survival tactics
The birth of the direct line in 1985 left many predicting the death of the personal lines broker - but 25 years is a long time and, in true entrepreneurial spirit, brokers have defied the sceptics by adapting to survive. The struggle has produced many…
Schemes: Scheme boom to drive down rates
Commercial affinity schemes are growing in popularity but increased competition could have a detrimental impact on rates.
Health news: Medical database add-on gives brokers PMI edge
Brokers looking to stand out in the private medical insurance (PMI) arena can now offer an add-on product independently from insurers.
Health news: Launch of hybrid PMI products test traditional cash plan waters
Traditional private medical insurance (PMI) providers National Friendly and Bupa are set to challenge the cash plan market with the launch of hybrid products, following a surge in intermediated sales in the sector.
Heath Lambert merges two divisions
Heath Lambert is merging its commercial affinity and small business division (CASB) into its personal lines division, Heath Lambert Insurance Services.
Europ Assistance announces rise in turnover and profits
Europ Assistance Group has announced a 6.6% rise in turnover in 2009 to €1.288bn (up 7.6% in constant euros) despite the economic crisis hitting its two traditional markets of automotive and travel.
Heath Lambert wins insurance contract
Heath Lambert has won the contract to provide all general insurance cover for industrial and domestic services giant BSS Group.
Market Watch: Staying afloat
Marine insurance is tricky at best. Add a global recession, laid-up vessels and some soft sectors and you have a market in which only the most exacting will prosper, writes Jane Bernstein.
Solicitors' PI: Quinn: the warning signs
Edward Murray traces Quinn Insurance's somewhat chequered history and asks why regulators allowed it to remain an approved insurer for so long before finally forcing it into administration last month.