Individuals will be responsible for commissioning their own care services and managing their own care budgets, according to plans revealed by the government.

Doctors' failure to address awkward health issues and patients' lack of willingness to disclose problems "create a worrying trend that could exacerbate the UK's health issues," Aviva has said.

Friends Provident has reminded the public that more than 40% of Britons support the introduction of a fat tax.

WPA is launching a healthcare cash plan to the individual and corporate markets.

More than a third of European workers would willingly sacrifice some of their pay for greater financial protection in the event of illness or injury, research suggests.

Bupa is offering a partial payment to those waiting for an NHS operation and is adding more conditions to its critical illness (CI) cover.

Exeter Family Friendly is cutting premiums on its Health Cover for Me private medical insurance (PMI) plan by up to 12.5%.

Protect is holding a payment protection insurance (PPI) complaints workshop aimed at explaining the impact of the FSA's upcoming policy statement.

Canada Life has reduced the qualifying premium for group income protection (GIP) policyholders to receive its additional claims management service (CMS).

With the protection sector dominated by giants of the insurance world, Owain Thomas spoke to Cirencester friendly's Paul Hudson to hear a smaller provider's view