The Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (AMII) has officially confirmed Bupa as a corporate member with other major providers soon to join the trade body.
At today's AMII summit, it was revealed Aviva, AXA, Bupa, Health Shield, CS Healthcare, Westfield Health, Simplyhealth and PruHealth are all at various stages of signing up to corporate membership.
AMII added that it will be undertaking a new "membership review" of its constitution with the potential for the organisation to change its name.
Earlier this year, AMII members voted for the trade body's constitution, which previously had only allowed intermediaries to join, to be changed to allow insurer membership.
Previously Cover revealed AMII had been in discussions with Bupa for some time about membership with a verbal agreement made.
Wayne Pontin, chairman at AMII said delivering "affordable premiums" was the focus for its partnership with provider members.
He said: "Our industry is experiencing many challenges in delivering the healthcare needs of an ageing population amidst escalating costs.
"Working with Bupa and other corporate members to grow the private medical insurance market and deliver affordable premiums is our number one priority. We look forward to working with Bupa to this end."
Tony Wood, sales director at Bupa Health Funding UK, said: "AMII plays a key role in the intermediary health insurance market, and we are committed to working with them to meet customers' and intermediaries' needs.
"Intermediaries are critically important to our business, and we are dedicated to supporting this channel. Our corporate membership will enable us to build closer links with intermediaries, and to establish ways of working more closely with AMII in the future."
