The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is renewing its industry agreement to signpost customers with medical conditions to specialists after it helped more than 30,000 consumers seek life and protection insurance.
Since its launch in January 2020, 30,227 enquiries have been made for protection insurance to BIBA’s Find Insurance Service following the requirement in the agreement for providers to signpost customers that they cannot help – because of their medical condition or disability – towards a firm that can.
BIBA’s Find Insurance Service, available both online and by phone, is recommended within the agreement as one of the solutions to help customers.
The agreement has been renewed for a further three years and includes 39 signatories including industry bodies such as BIBA, new signatory the Association of British Insurers (ABI), protection insurance groups, insurers, brokers, charities and other stakeholders.
Graeme Trudgill, chief executive of BIBA, (pictured) 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, Zurich’s head of market engagement 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 the 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, chairwoman 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.”