Protection

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

Debra Bradley assesses the impact of worldwide travel,smoking and cannabis use on respiratory diseases and theunderwriting of those conditions

TREATING CUSTOMERS FAIRLY

Prudential has reduced its guaranteed critical illness cover and protection rates by an average 8-13%, in a bid to put its back towards the top of the pricing table.

Provision of long-term care funding should be tackled as part of the Pensions Commission's remit along with improved financial advice as initial research suggests a variety of solutions need to be deployed, suggests the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Axa PPP Healthcare is launching a new type of lower-cost private medical insurance targeted at the over 55s to cover ailments which hinder quality of life.

Around three-quarters of Brits who travel abroad for medical treatment are doing so because they are fed up with UK waiting lists, however, this could affect consumer non-disclosure, suggests a report published by Norwich Union Healthcare.

Standard Life has reduced the rates on its protection products with sums assured of between £100,000 and £250,000 to see level term and mortgage cover with accelerated CIC decrease by an average 6%.

Putting life policies in trust - it's common sense but not common practice. If the experience of other companies is anything like our own, less than 10% of life policies are written in trust. And yet the need is greater than ever.

The Association of British Insurers has backed FSA plans to alter variation clauses as its own legal advice suggests the use of current contracts could be challenged by the Financial Ombudsman Service.