Norwich Union Healthcare announced it is one of three main sponsors for the next three years of The Protection Review, a new publication from Bank House Communications.
Norwich Union Healthcare announced it is one of three main sponsors for the next three years of The Protection Review, a new publication from Bank House Communications. The first issue reveals the results of what will be an annual survey of market trends comprising the opinions of key market players on a number of issues.
Although respondents were optimistic about growth prospects for the protection insurance sector in 2003, the survey highlighted the four most important issues facing the industry today:
- Concerns over regulation and compliance
- Reduction of capacity and the approach to pricing in reinsurance
- Critical illness design and stability
- The need to improve the industry image and customer confidence.
Of the four issues, regulation received more votes than the other three issues combined and was raised by almost half of all respondents.
The Protection Review, which is co-edited by Andy Couchman and Peter Le Beau, also provides an overview of the protection market and looks at past, present and likely future trends. It has evolved in response to demand from industry commentators and providers. Commenting on the launch Andy Couchman said: “The annual survey of market trends was undertaken to ascertain the views of key market people. An important element of any market is what those who operate in the market think about it. Clearly, concern over the impact of regulation is enormous and dominates other issues.”
Tim Baker, Director of Business Development at Norwich Union Healthcare, commenting on the sponsorship said: “I believe The Protection Review fills a gap in the market. I hope its publication will open up the debate on the strategic approach to protection and it is the ideal forum for us to get our message across to decision makers.”
The Protection Review is published on Thursday May 22 2003. To order contact Andy Couchman at Bank House Communications, tel: 01451 821982 or e-mail info@andycouchman.com.
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Press office contacts:
James Evans, Norwich Union Life 08703 66 68 78
Out of hours 07790 487105
Lorna Wiltshire, Norwich Union Life 08703 66 68 78
Out of hours 07788 471849
Ian Beggs, Norwich Union Life 08703 66 68 71
Out of hours 07790 487533
Louise Goffee, Norwich Union Life 08703 66 68 70
Out of hours 07810 057362
Notes to editors
1. The Protection Review was launched on Thursday May 22 2003. It costs Ł250 for single copies (discounts apply to bulk orders). To order copies contact Andy Couchman at Bank House Communications, tel: 01451 821982 or info@andycouchman.com.
2. The survey involved a postal questionnaire to leading individuals in the protection insurance markets, these included;
- insurers
- reinsurers
- intermediaries
- consultants
- hospital and care homes groups
- specialist service providers
3. Andy Couchman is a leading commentator on the healthcare market and is widely known and respected in the healthcare industry. Andy edits a regular newsletter, HealthCare Insurance Report. Peter Le Beau runs a consultancy specialising in differentiation, Le Beau Visage, and has an extensive network of senior contacts in the protection industry.
- Norwich Union Healthcare recruited a panel of 150 GPs in January 2003 to take part in a comprehensive online survey carried out by health research experts at Dr Foster.
- Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products to around 750,000 customers. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
- Norwich Union’s news releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com/media.
- Norwich Union Healthcare is a member if the General Insurance Standards Council and the Association of British Insurers.