Articles by Thomas Smith
iPipeline adds business protection and WoL
IPipeline has launched the next version of its quote tool, SolutionBuilder with coverage of business protection and whole of life (WoL) cover added.
Best foot forward for IPT hike
Nick Jeal looks at how the private medical insurance industry can turn the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) hike into an opportunity.
Greatest impact of EIS is on mental health - report
Mental health conditions see the greatest impact on the reduction of employee absence from the use of early intervention services (EIS) a report for Unum has found.
Seven Families gears up for #ForAllTheCarers action day
The Seven Families campaign is preparing for its #ForAllTheCarers action day with support from firms in the protection industry.
Late cancer diagnosis variations lowering survival chances - Cancer Research UK
Regional differences between diagnosing cancers at late and early stages mean that 20,000 people could have a better chance of survival if all regions reached the level of the best.
SunLife announces CI changes
SunLife has announced changes to its critical illness cover in line with the ABI's updated best practice.
Optimal offers Simple Group Life policy
Optimal has launched a a group life policy for small businesses, underwritten in conjunction with Holloway Friendly, supported by a master trust, called Simple Group Life.
Canada Life offers day one mental health interventions
Canada Life Group Insurance has launched a day one early intervention service (EIS) for employee absences caused by mental health issues for group income protection clients.
Seven Families to hold #ForAllTheCarers action day
Seven Families will hold a social media based action day on 29 October 2015, to raise awareness of the financial impact of long term ill health.
Amii summit speakers selected
The Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (AMII) has unveiled the speakers for its Health & Wellbeing Summit to be held 16 November at the Royal College of Physicians.
Warning of 'destructive vicious circle' in health and social care
The health and social care system is under severe stress, due to a lack of high quality social care which saps the resilience of NHS services and patients, Age UK has warned in a new report.
Webline adds second Cirencester Friendly IP policy
Webline has added Cirencester Friendly's My Earnings Insurance to its portal, joining the society's other income protection (IP) product, Income Assured Plus.
Nearly three quarters of insurers offer life cover to HIV positive people
Nearly three quarters (72%) of life insurers are now offering HIV positive people some form of life assurance, a survey for Unusual Risks has found.
Allianz Worldwide Care IPMI claims by app overtake postal claims
Allianz Worldwide Care has revealed that in the first year of its MyHealth app being available for international private medical insurance (IPMI) policyholders, more claims were made by app than by post.
CQC warning about patient safety and hospital problems
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its first national assessment of health and adult social care services, warning there is poor care being provided by some.
Introductory discount in Singapore from Now Health
Now Health International and Tenet Sompo Insurance have announced a 15% introductory discount for new members until 31 December 2015.
Wesleyan appoints new chief customer and strategy officer
Wesleyan has made Vicki Wentworth its new chief customer and strategy officer, a new executive management position reporting to the group chief executive.
Bowel cancer can be divided into 'four distinct diseases' - study
Bowel cancer cases can be divided into 'four distinct diseases' with some more aggressive and with higher fatality rates than others, a study has found.
Golden Charter targets intermediaries with new hire
Golden Charter has appointed Mark Bell-Langford as senior development manager at Golden Charter to establish new long term partnerships with intermediaries.
New chairman for CS Healthcare as CEO exits
CS Healthcare has hired Andrew Johnston as its new chairman while Mark Rothery, CEO, will leave in the New Year.
'Funeral Poverty' up as funeral costs increase
The cost of a funeral has risen 3%, increasing the shortfall between average provision made by the deceased and the cost of the funeral to £2,449, the annual Cost of Dying report has found.
Exeter Family Friendly to rebrand
Exeter Family Friendly will be rebranded as The Exeter from Monday 5th October 2015.
Healthcare apps data and quality warning following study
A report looking at health apps, for diabetes, asthma and the NHS' health apps library, has found problems with all of them.
L&G Early Warning System leads to payments of £23.4m in 2015
Legal & General's (L&G) Early Warning System has led to pay outs of £23.4m in 2015 so far, with £125.3m of pay outs since it began in 2010.
Four in ten female CI claims for breast cancer
Breast cancer is the was the common cause of female Critical Illness (CI) claims from Aviva and Friends Life, accounting for 44% of all claims by females in 2014, the insurer has revealed.
AXA PPP healthcare rolls out video GP service
AXA PPP healthcare has rolled out a video GP service for large corporates, called [email protected], provided by Doctor Care anywhere.
REVEALED: Jobs with highest 'heart age'
The careers with the highest 'heart age', which calculates how old a person's heart is compared to their actual age, have been revealed by research by Bupa to coincide with World Heart Day.
Insurers launch 'Income Protection Matters' campaign
Aviva and Friends Life have launched a campaign to promote income protection called 'Income Protection Matters'.
Westfield Health launches health and wellbeing toolkit
Westfield Health has launched a health and wellbeing toolkit for HR managers.
Now Health launches app
Now Health International has launched a mobile app for IOS, android will follow, with functions including finding a medical provider and submitting reimbursement claims.
Less than 1 week to go: Cover Summit and Awards 2015
The Cover Protection and Health Summit 2015 will be held Thursday 1st October 2015 at the Victoria Park Plaza, London.
Aon warns on employee benefits segmentation
Generational segmentation in employee benefits is too simplistic and not necessarily meeting employers' and employees needs, analysis from Martha How for Aon Employee Benefits has found.
Now Health launches in Indonesia
Now Health International has announced the opening of their new operation in Indonesia.
NHS Health Checks 'waste £450m' a year - report
The NHS Health Check programme is spending up to £450,000 per death avoided, which could be better spent, a report from the London School of Economics and University of Liverpool has said.
AIG launches new IPMI policy
AIG has launched a new International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) product, called Expatriate Care, for companies with five employees or more, with previous medical history disregarded.
Less than half of mortgage holders have life cover
Less than half (48%) of homeowners have a policy and four in five renting households do not have life insurance, and research by Aviva has found.
LV= reveals details of business protection range
LV= has revealed the details of its business protection range as it launches the key person, shareholder and partnership insurance, as well as loan protection.
BMI Healthcare to offer oncology e-prescribing
BMI Healthcare is to offer e-prescribing for its oncology patients, with rollout over the next 12 months, paving the way for it to be rolled to other specialities.
Now Health adds no claims bonus to IPMI in Singapore
Now Health International and Tenet Sompo will offer a no claims bonus to their members in Singapore.
Profits up and new business down for Vitality
Vitality has seen a 16% rise in profits to £42.8m for its life and health insurance businesses, while combined new business sales declined 2% to £105m in the 12 months to June 2015.
Bupa launches healthcare app
Bupa UK has partnered with Babylon to provide a healthcare app offering bookings for video GP consultations, as well as the ability to organise referrals.
Bright Grey upgrades critical illness cover
Bright Grey, part of the Royal London Group has upgraded its critical illness cover (CI), alongside incorporating the ABI's statement of best practice for CI.
Aegon to leave ABI
Aegon will leave the Association of British Insurers at the end of the year, the insurer has announced.
Pink to host conferences for ARs
Pink Network has launched a series of business conferences for its appointed representatives (ARs).
JLT Speciality CEO to step down
John Lloyd, CEO of JLT Specialty, will step down at the end of 2015, although he will remain with the group, it has been announced.
Cirencester Friendly offers RedArc services to policyholders
Cirencester Friendly has partnered with RedArc to offer ‘Friendly Voice', a telephone help and support service to policyholders.
Premier League injury pay costing £123m a season
Premier League football clubs pay £123m per season in wages to injured players, JLT Speciality has calculated, with Manchester United paying the most.
UK workforce 'optimistic' about long term sickness
Half of UK workers believe they have a less than one in ten chance of being unable to work through disability, a survey for Zurich has found.