Articles by Nicola Culley
PMI: Can fraud be beaten?
With PMI fraud hitting the headlines, Nicola Culley investigates the size of the problem.
The Flexible way?
Group CI has seen steady growth in the past year or so, but why? Nicola Culley investigates and assesses whether the increase is sustainable.
Public health briefing aims to reduce diabetes, heart disease and cancer
Helping local authorities to tackle obesity is the focus of a NICE local government public health briefing published today, in a bid to reduce diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancers.
Symponia adds home care group to partner panel
Long term care adviser body Symponia has added a national home care group to its panel of preferred partners for clients.
Aviva moves to improve operational ability
Aviva has moved to cloud-based systems in a bid to improve the group's finance, sales and operations.
NICE cuts funding for advanced ovarian cancer
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised the NHS against funding for a drug used for advanced ovarian cancer.
Aviva announces three-year deal with national advice firm
Aviva has announced a three-year deal with the Lighthouse Group to provide life protection products through its national adviser division, Lighthouse Financial Advice (LFA).
Suspected iPMI fraud of "considerable" size under investigation
Suspected international PMI fraud of "considerable" size is currently under investigation after increasing activity in recent years, Axa PPP has reported.
Health secretary announces £260m funding for NHS hospitals
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced £260m funding for NHS hospitals, to be invested in patient safety plans.
Care and support minister appoints chief to drive care quality
Minister for care and support has appointed a chief social worker for adults in a bid to drive up the quality of long-term care.
Employer reports high retention and morale from cash plan benefits
An employer has reported higher employee retention and morale after integrating cash plans as an employee benefit into the company.
AMII: Will 2013 be a tipping point for private healthcare?
The NHS' future following Lansley reforms and the Francis Report, and impact on private healthcare, will be top of the agenda at the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaires' annual private healthcare summit on 9 July.
SME flex growth will drive adviser group CI sales - Aviva
Adviser opportunities in the development of flex benefits systems for smaller employees are set to further encourage growing group critical illness (group CI) sales, Aviva has said.
Individual CI - Polar opposites
Nicola Culley examines recently launched individual critical illness plans that typify both poles of the market.
Broker protection business will rise to match mortgage lift - First Complete
Broker protection business will rise significantly in the next two months to catch up to a notable lift in the mortgage market, First Complete has said.
Jelf: Benefits 'commonly overlooked' by employees
Employee benefits that can be of benefit to dependents and spouses are commonly being overlooked and under-used by employees, Jelf has said.
Strong first quarter down to Groupama acquisition, says Ageas
Ageas has put a strong first quarter down to acquisition of Groupama Insurances, with business results showing a rise in profits.
F&TRC: Claims stats cannot realistically be compared
Currently published claims statistics, adviser use of them and the need for standardisation are set to be important debating points at research company F&TRC's next Protection Forum event on 23 May.
Jeremy Hunt tackles 'shockingly low' dementia diagnosis rates
Jeremy Hunt has announced NHS England will be tackling "shockingly low" dementia diagnosis rates, with plans that could identify and treat 160,000 people unknowingly living with the condition.
Stress and depression hit 7-year high in financial services
Stress, depression and anxiety has increased to a seven year high in the financial services sector, Legal and General has reported.
Provider: Asthma does not always impact life insurance
Insurance provider Endsleigh has launched support for sufferers and potential sufferers of asthma to educate on how it can affect life insurance policies.
Knee pain sufferers are being let down - Bupa
Knee pain sufferers are being let down by lack of treatment choice, Bupa has said.
GPs miss early detection of fast-growing child eye cancer
Babies and young children are facing serious delays in receiving life-saving treatment because symptoms are being missed by frontline health professionals, Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) figures have shown.
Laing & Buisson to publish care home financials
Laing & Buisson has updated its directory of long-term care facilities with financial information, following the Department of Health announcement that the Care Quality Commission will now oversee financial stability of the largest care homes.
Price war? CI premiums lower than pre G-Day
Price wars between providers are "as full on as ever", CIExpert has stated following reports that some critical illness (CI) premiums are lower than pre-G-Day rates.
Network hosts events for advisers and protection providers
Adviser network Pink is set to host a series of business development conferences across the UK in a drive to build relationships between advisers, lenders and protection providers.
Care Bill: 'independent financial advice' is a must
Local authorities must provide care funders with information regarding access to independent financial advice, the Care Bill has stipulated, published in Parliament today.
Bright Grey/Scot Prov MD Roger Edwards steps down after 12 years
Roger Edwards, managing director of Scottish Provident and Bright grey, is leaving the Royal London Group after 12 years amid a restructure in the intermediary division.
Aviva launches core PMI benefit
Aviva has launched a core benefit for its large corporate private medical insurance clients.
WOL sales plummet after loss of investment-linked products
Whole of life sales have plummeted following a change in non-investment linked marketing emphasis among providers, Swiss Re's Term and Health Watch 2013 has shown.
Physiotherapy network launches to improve PMI claimant outcomes
A national physiotherapy network aimed at insurers, solicitors, employers and occupational health professionals has been launched to maximise clinical outcomes for injured parties.
NFU Mutual calls for life policies review to tackle 'unnecessary' IHT bill
NFU Mutual has called for a review of life insurance policies to tackle high inheritance tax bills for bereaved families.
Advisers call for claims statistics clarity
Advisers have called for more detail and clarity around claims statistics, following the publication of income protection (IP) figures from Friends Life earlier today.
Friends Life publishes IP claims stats for the first time
Friends Life has announced its income protection (IP) claims statistics for the first time.
PruProtect sponsors charity bike ride led by Michael Vaughan
PruProtect has been confirmed as the title sponsor for a charity bike ride led by a former England cricket captain.
Product news: Bupa reworks D2C PMI
Bupa has enhanced its direct-to-consumer health insurance product.
L&G launches business protection campaign with Unbiased
Legal & General has partnered with Unbiased.co.uk to form a campaign to tackle the UK's business protection gap with the help of advisers.
Growing expat numbers return home due to inadequate iPMI
Employers need to fully research the healthcare system in destinations where employees are being relocated, as increasing numbers of expats return home after failing to budget adequately, Jelf Employee Benefits has warned.
Ageas Protect launches business protection plan
Ageas Protect has launched a business protection product range that aims to cater for all business sizes.
Product news: Simplyhealth introduces SME private medical insurance
Simplyhealth has launched a private medical insurance (PMI) proposition for small to medium sized businesses.
Businesses struggle with increased debt risk, yet protection gap grows
Businesses are struggling with debt structure and day-to-day cash flow management, yet the amount of businesses underinsured has grown, Legal and General has reported.
Insurers need alternative data focus or risk competitive edge - analyst
Insurers need to focus on creative initiatives that draw data from alternative sources including social media, third parties and machine-to-machine communications, or else risk their competitive position, Ovum has warned.
FOS: 'Pragmatic, commonsense' FCA will re-balance PPI issues
FOS has said the more "pragmatic, commonsense" approach of the new regulator will fill the need to re-balance past industry issues like the extensive PPI mis-selling.
Drugs discovered to reduce breast cancer in women by 38%
Four drug types have been found to reduce breast cancer incidence by 38% in women at an increased risk of the disease, according to a Cancer Research UK study published in The Lancet.
LTC advice seekers turn increasingly to advisers
Financial advisers and the internet are the fastest growing avenues for those seeking long-term care funding advice, Partnership has reported.
Cirencester reports strong 2012 despite RDR Holloway confusion
Cirencester friendly's annual results show increases in membership and premium income with reduced operating costs, despite confusion around RDR and Holloway products.
Simplyhealth chief exec steps down
Chief executive officer of Simplyhealth, Des Benjamin, has stepped down after 13 years at the company.
Aviva pays 93.5% of IP claims
Aviva paid 93.5% of income protection claims in 2012, the insurer's claims statistics have shown.