"There’s more to do – we want to grow the number of charities signposting to BIBA for example – but the number of customers visiting the site and seeking cover is evidence of a very real need that the industry is well placed to meet."
- Peter Hamilton, head of market engagement at Zurich UK and the industry’s disability and access ambassador
Since its launch, 30,227 enquiries have been made for protection insurance to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA)’s ‘Find Insurance’ service after providers agreed to signpost customers with medical conditions or disability to a specialist. BIBA’s ‘Find Insurance’ service, which is available both online and by phone, is recommended within the agreement as one of the solutions to help customers.
Speaking with a customer with medically managed HIV who struggled to find life insurance, she told BIBA, “It’s important for me to protect my family and have that peace of mind that life insurance brings […] unfortunately, more education is needed about my ailment as many misunderstand the condition.” Thankfully, BIBA’s ‘Find Insurance’ service was able to refer them to a specialist who was “really helpful and spent a lot of time understanding my treatment so that cover could be offered to me.”
Given the success of the Agreement on Access to Protection Insurance, it has now been renewed for a further three years, allowing more people to access support when navigating the insurance industry. Signatories include industry bodies such as BIBA, protection insurance groups, insurers, brokers, charities, stakeholders, and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) which is a new signatory, bringing additional support to the agreement.
Commenting on the agreement renewal, Graeme Trudgill, CEO of BIBA, has said:
“This agreement has made such a difference to consumers, and we are delighted with the support that it has received during the first three years and now at the renewal. BIBA is ideally positioned to help those with medical conditions or disabilities find their way to a specialist protection provider to help them access the cover they need, and we look forward to continuing to do so.”
Peter Hamilton, head of market engagement at Zurich UK and the industry’s disability and access ambassador, said:
“The renewal of the agreement is a great example of different parts of the industry coming together and collaborating to make access to insurance easier for those with more complex medical histories.
“There’s more to do – we want to grow the number of charities signposting to BIBA for example – but the number of customers visiting the site and seeking cover is evidence of a very real need that the industry is well placed to meet.”
Yvonne Braun, director of policy, health and protection at ABI, added:
“Life and protection insurance offers vital peace of mind that, should anything happen to us, our loved ones will be supported. The ABI and our members are committed to making sure this product is accessible to as many people as possible.
“That’s why we are delighted to be joining the industry’s signposting agreement, to ensure anyone who needs specialist protection is able to find it.”
Caroline Barr, chair of the Industry’s Access to Insurance Committee, concluded:
“BIBA is committed to working across the industry and with the charity sector to increase awareness of the insurance solutions available to customers with pre-existing medical conditions and disabilities. We are well-placed to provide bespoke briefings to charities to improve the information they provide to the people they support.
“We welcome early engagement to prevent misinformation and dispel myths about the availability of insurance, both of which can deter customers from accessing the insurance they need for peace of mind for them and their families.”
