Protection products recognised for excellence

COVER's inaugural Excellence Awards were presented at this year's Protection Forum in London. The awards aim to recognise groundbreaking protection and health insur- ance products, as well as rewarding outstanding service and innovative initiatives.

A shortlist of products, based on strict criteria compiled by Defaqto, was published in May this year and COVER readers then voted on the products they felt gave the best all round quality and service.

Two awards - highly commended and overall winner - were presented in each product category. Representatives of the winning insurers were presented with awards at the ceremony. Winners were as follows:

• Critical illness term assurance award - Skandia: Protect (fixed term and rolling term).

• Critical illness whole of life award - Scottish Provident: Pegasus Personal Assurance Plan Ultimate.

• Income protection award - Scottish Provident: self assurance mortgage and self assurance term personal.

• Private medical insurance award - Norwich Union Healthcare: Medios Executive Plus and Medios Healthcare.

• Group critical illness award - Swiss Life (UK): Group Critical Illness Protection Plus Scheme.

• Group income protection award - Swiss Life (UK): Group Income Protection.

• Group private medical insurance - Norwich Union Healthcare: Company Express Care and Fair + Square Company First.

The following products were highly commended:

• Liverpool Victoria: MIMI

• AXA: Lifecare.

• Scottish Equitable Protect: Personal Income Protection.

• Legal & General: Lifetime Comprehensive.