"This is the first time that new-to-market business has been tracked, and it represents a significant reporting development."
- Katharine Moxham - GRiD
The number of in-force group risk policies has grown from 63,590 in 2006 to 96,007, an increase of 51%, according to Swiss Re’s new Group Watch – Brand New Schemes 2026 report.
The report includes new-to-market scheme data for the first time and covers 72% of all in-force schemes, tracking policy uptake of group long-term disability income (GLTDI), group death benefits and group critical illness (CI) coverage. Swiss Re also states that the number of new schemes should be regarded as a minimum.
The data found that, in 2025, at least 170,732 more employees received access to GLTDI, group death benefits and group CI after employers purchased brand new schemes.
Group CI was the largest of the three products covered in the report, with the number of in-force schemes in 2025 growing to 5.9%. 433 of these were brand-new schemes, covering 18,912 employees.
The report says that this "highlights growing recognition by employers of the value employees place on choice," which "feeds through into greater awareness of the financial risks associated with serious illness and the appeal of products that provide tangible, immediate support at the point of diagnosis."
Meanwhile, 4.6% of in-force GLTDI schemes were new to insurance in 2025, the equivalent of 961 schemes covering 36,416 employees. According to the report, these figures suggest that the number of employers aware of the impact of long-term disability income is steadily increasing, as issues such as workforce health, absence management and financial security remain "key concerns."
Group death benefit schemes saw a slightly lower percentage rate for new-to-market schemes at 4.3%, covering 115,404 employees. The report describes this figure as "relatively modest," but recognises that it is the result of "a more mature market, with 11,987,781 people already enjoying the benefit of cover."
READ MORE: PMI searches rise by 150% year-on-year
"The importance of the number of new-to-market group risk schemes should not be underestimated," Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for group risk development (GRiD), said.
"With growth ranging from 4.3% to 6.1% for the different products, this categorically shows the increased appreciation from employers about how group risk benefits provide tangible support to their business and their employees: for financial, physical and mental health.
"This is the first time that new-to-market business has been tracked, and it represents a significant reporting development. New business is the ultimate litmus test for the industry: it demonstrates that the sector isn't churning the same clients between insurers but is actively growing the market and ultimately reducing the protection gap.
"This is particularly pertinent given the direction of travel of the Keep Britain Working review, focused on driving 'a fundamental rebalancing in how health and disability are supported in the workplace.' The support services embedded within group risk products directly help employers meet their obligations coming out of the review, i.e. enabling them to support their employees to remain in and return to work."
