Group protection growth a positive but further evolution required

"We need to break down the silos that operate in this market."

Hemma Visavadia
clock • 5 min read

Following Swiss Re’s Group Watch Report 2021, COVER talks to the reinsurer's technical manager and report co-author, Ron Wheatcroft, about the decision to include gender splits for the first time and where group protection products fit in with the wider industry.

The Group Risk 2021 report, published last week, revealed three main things: The continuous upwards trend in terms of the amount of people being covered which rose by 5.9% to a total 14,106,854; concerns over the decreased use for dependants death-in-service pensions, which has been gradually falling; and the need to evolve the processes around schemes and new deals, which is viewed as somewhat outdated. In this year's report, Swiss Re chose to include gender split demographics for each group protection product for the first time. The reason behind this goes back to the reinsurer's ot...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Group Protection

Government to create Workplace Health Intelligence Unit as part of Keep Britain Working Review

Government to create Workplace Health Intelligence Unit as part of Keep Britain Working Review

Making workplace health performance visible

Jaskeet Briah
clock 06 July 2026 • 2 min read
Unum UK adds personalised cancer navigation service

Unum UK adds personalised cancer navigation service

Partnership with Reframe Cancer

Jaskeet Briah
clock 03 July 2026 • 2 min read
Canada Life appoints group protection head of distribution

Canada Life appoints group protection head of distribution

Antonio Ribeiro takes the role

Cameron Roberts
clock 01 July 2026 • 1 min read