ALC Health taking claims by e-mail
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ALC Health taking claims by e-mail
ALC Health has announced that it has taken steps to help speed up the claims process by accepting claims from corporate clients submitted as scanned email attachments.
This will cut out the necessity of requesting original documentation by post and thereby greatly reduce the time needed for a claim to be fully processed.
It also has the [...]
Higos launches PPI for tenants
by Gill Montia
Story link: Higos launches PPI for tenants
Somerset-based Higos Insurance Services has launched a payment protection plan aimed at tenants.
The new policy covers rental payments in the event of unemployment or sickness and is available to private and social tenants, plus those still living at home and paying rent to parents.
Cover can be extended to embrace a range of monthly outgoings [...]
Six year old to be the Face of Childsure
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Six year old to be the Face of Childsure
The winner of the competition to star in 2010 Childsure’s Children’s Health Insurance, in association with Aviva, has been won by Isabel Tate, a six year old girl from Cornwall.
Globally renowned shoe designer Jimmy Choo and model agency Elliott Brown selected Isabel after four rounds of competition.
Anyone aged 18 or under was able to enter [...]
Zurich UK Life sees rise in critical illness pay-outs
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Zurich UK Life sees rise in critical illness pay-outs
Zurich UK Life has released figures revealing that the number of critical illness claims paid out has risen by more than a quarter from 2005 to 2009.
The total sum paid out is also up, rising from £58.5m in 2008 to £62.3m for 2009, with cancer, heart attacks and strokes the most common causes for claiming.
The [...]
ALC Health centralises European operations
by Gill Montia
Story link: ALC Health centralises European operations
Ex-pat medical insurer, ALC Health, has announced that it has expanded the remit of its Spanish office to manage its business across Southern Europe.
The new European centre, which is based in Marbella, will support the firm’s ambitious growth plans by dealing with all client sales, enquiries and broker support across the region.
It is headed by [...]
Bupa tele-interview lauded by industry
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Bupa tele-interview lauded by industry
The tele-interview service Bupa operates for critical illness, income protection and life insurance applicants has been lauded by a survey of more than 800 independent financial advisers.
The service, part of Bupa Individual Protection, is confidential and allows customers to ask personal or sensitive questions to the firm’s trained staff.
Of those surveyed, nine out of ten [...]
Health exclusions should equal premium cuts
by Gill Montia
Story link: Health exclusions should equal premium cuts
LifeSearch is advising consumers to seek premium reductions when health conditions are excluded from their protection insurance.
The price comparison website estimates that one or more illnesses are excluded in around 15% of critical illness and income protection applications.
In such cases, the extent of the policy is reduced but not necessarily the premium.
According to the [...]
ALC Health and Ibex form partnership
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ALC Health and Ibex form partnership
ALC Health, the international medical insurance firm, has announced it has entered into a partnership with Ibex Insurance Services, the leading provider of insurance to expatriates on the Iberian peninsula.
British expats in Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar can now directly access ALC Health’s Prima product range, availing them of highly flexible insurance products.
As a result of [...]
Bupa expands Individual Protection professions
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Bupa expands Individual Protection professions
Bupa Individual Protection has enhanced its individual income protection proposition by adding an extra 130 occupation definitions, enabling professionals suchs as dentists, surgeons and college lecturers to protect their income based upon their specific profession.
Product development head Steve Casey explained that customers would feel more comfortable having their own profession covered, and gives them a [...]
90% of critical illness claims paid out
by Gill Montia
Story link: 90% of critical illness claims paid out
New figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show over 100 families and individuals a day claiming on their life or critical illness insurance, during 2008.
According to the ABI, the average claim stood at £52,000 or double the average UK annual salary.
In addition, the number of critical illness claims paid out rose to 90% [...]
MPPI sales soar at Select & Protect
by Gill Montia
Story link: MPPI sales soar at Select & Protect
Select & Protect has reported a surge in sales of Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI) with sales increasing by over 90% since the launch of its new offering, in July.
The firm’s sales director, Paul Firkins, says: “Our MPPI product boasts a number of market leading selling points including the option to sell unemployment only cover [...]
Bupa enhances group income protection offering
by Gill Montia
Story link: Bupa enhances group income protection offering
Bupa is “significantly enhancing” its group income protection offering from 1st January 2010.
The healthcare company has been studying customer and intermediary feedback and in future will provide early intervention and return-to-work support on all group income protection schemes, with no increase to premiums.
Dedicated claims assessors and nurses will be allocated to each case to enable [...]
Thornside partners Assurant in pet insurance deal
by Gill Montia
Story link: Thornside partners Assurant in pet insurance deal
Thornside has announced that it has been appointed by US-based Assurant to provide and administer the latter’s new pet insurance product, for the next three years.
The firm, which forms part of the Capita group, will provide dedicated sales, fulfilment services and claims handling to Assurant’s Protect your Bubble brand, which is underwritten by Agria International [...]
Bupa reveals critical illness claims figures
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Bupa reveals critical illness claims figures
Bupa has released figures showing that just two percent of critical illness claims were turned down due to non-disclosure, and less than ten percent were declined for not complying with the policy definition.
Bupa Individual Protection’s product development chief, Steve Casey, described the figures as good news for customers and an improvement on the numbers from [...]
PruProtect launches Essentials life products
by Gill Montia
Story link: PruProtect launches Essentials life products
PruProtect is launching a new “Essentials” range comprising life only and life with serious illness cover.
The plans are being made available online only to all UK intermediaries and includes the option to upgrade to the provider’s existing PruProtect plan.
With the new products, some features (including automatic children’s cover, guaranteed insurability options and immediate cover) have [...]
Thornside secures Aviva pet insurance deal
by Gill Montia
Story link: Thornside secures Aviva pet insurance deal
Thornside has been appointed by Aviva to provide and administer its new pet insurance product.
The firm, which is the pet insurance division of Capita Insurance Distribution, will be providing the service for the next three year.
Aviva says it has been working closely with Thornside to refine the new policy, which was launched on 5th [...]
Heath Lambert scoops PHI ward
by Gill Montia
Story link: Heath Lambert scoops PHI ward
Heath Lambert has won an award for its health cash plan cover, which aims to reduce the cost of permanent health insurance for employers.
The broker worked with not-for-profit health cover specialist, BHSF, to create its offering and has received the “Best Use of Cash Plans by an Intermediary” accolade at the 2009 Health Insurance Awards.
The [...]
Swinton fined £770,000 for PPI mis-selling racket
by Gill Montia
Story link: Swinton fined £770,000 for PPI mis-selling racket
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined Swinton Group £770,000 for serious failings in the sale of single premium payment protection insurance (PPI).
The high street broker will also be contacting over 350,000 customers who paid for the cover and offer a full refund.
The regulator found that between December 2006 and March 2008 the firm’s PPI [...]
Heath Lambert launches health plan for diabetics
by Gill Montia
Story link: Heath Lambert launches health plan for diabetics
Heath Lambert has launched a bespoke health cash plan for people with diabetes.
The new policy, which is provided by not-for-profit health insurer, BHSF, has been commissioned by Diabetes UK.
It should allow those living with the condition to apply for cover without the concern that they will be refused, or face having claims denied on the [...]
Competition Commission to reconsider PPI sales ban
by Gill Montia
Story link: Competition Commission to reconsider PPI sales ban
The Competition Commission has been told to rethink plans to introduce a total ban on the sale of sale of payment protection insurance (PPI) alongside consumer credit agreements.
The insurance, which is intended to cover repayments on unsecured loans should the borrower lose their job or become too ill to work, is notorious for being mis-sold [...]
