Protection

Changes in the treatment of protection claims where medical information has not been fully revealed will not mean consumers can be more relaxed in their disclosure, AEGON warns.

Insurance companies have made a landmark agreement to pay more claims where customers have unintentionally not disclosed medical information, following guidance from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Friends Provident has relaxed evidence requirements on claims for life cover, life cover with critical illness and standalone critical illness cover as part of a raft of changes to its underwriting processes.

Now the credit crunch is here, everyone has hindsight and is lamenting, "How on earth could lenders be so risky in extending credit more and more to those who present a poor risk?"

Zurich has boosted its mortgage and family protection offering by updating its underwriting system.

Mental health problems including anxiety and stress were the biggest cause of Group Income Protection (GIP) claims in the UK in 2007, research suggests.

Industry not shocked by new ICOB rules but some classification issues raised

A much misunderstood area, phobias can make sufferers' lives unbearable. Rachel Hanslope outlines the various forms phobias can take and details the implications for underwriters.

Outlook 2008