BUPA is once again increasing its market share in the private medical insurance (PMI) market, accord...
BUPA is once again increasing its market share in the private medical insurance (PMI) market, according to William Laing, director of Laing & Buisson.
In his opening speech at the Laing & Buisson private healthcare insurance conference, Laing said BUPA and AXA PPP healthcare have a 60% share of the market. Although AXA's share has decreased since 2001, BUPA's has increased by 1.5%.
"The market is still dominated by two providers," said Laing. "And BUPA is increasing its market share once again."
BUPA increased its market share in 2001 - the first rise in a decade. Until then its share had been steadily decreasing from 44% in 1992. In 2002, the share had risen again to 38.5%, the highest since 1996. The provider has, in the past, been invest-igated by the Competition Commission, when it attempted to buy further hospital groups. As an illustration of BUPA's continuing market dominance, the Office of Fair Trading warned that further mergers may be adverse to public interest.
