Aviva

True Potential has agreed a partnership with insurance giant Aviva to allow quotes and online applications for a wider range of the provider's products, including protection plans.

Protection products will be ‘pivotal' to adviser firms' future prosperity, according to Sesame Bankhall.

Doctors' failure to address awkward health issues and patients' lack of willingness to disclose problems "create a worrying trend that could exacerbate the UK's health issues," Aviva has said.

With the effects of the government spending review yet to take place, doctors are feeling the pressure of increasing patient numbers and responsibility.

Aviva has launched an online resource for advisers intended to smooth the application process for life, critical illness and income protection insurance.

Aviva UK Health has launched an intermediary marketing campaign on the benefits of selling international private medical insurance.

Suncorp group chief executive Patrick Snowball, the man who previously ran Aviva's UK operation, has warned life insurers they could die out unless they innovate and change.

Aviva is now accepting faxed and emailed copies of application and claims forms for its international private medical insurance (IPMI) offering.

Adviser networks had half of the complaints against them referred to Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) upheld in the first six months of the year.

International private medical insurance has moved much more to the fore of many advisers minds in recent months. Teresa Rogers gives a primer for those considering entering this potentially lucrative market sector