This report provides an in-depth assessment of the critical illness insurance market, looking at current and historical market size with regards to changes in contracts and premiums. It examines how critical illness products are distributed and highlights notable changes in the competitive landscape, as well as the propositions of key market players. The report provides five-year forecasts of contracts and premiums to 2028 and discusses how the market, distribution, and products offered are likely to change in the future (as well as the reasons for these changes).In 2023, the standalone critical illness market witnessed an increase in the number of contracts sold, totaling 75,700. Conversely, critical illness as a rider for term assurance saw a decrease in contracts and premiums during the same period. Advisors accounted for the majority of contracts sold and premiums, with intermediary firms being the most prevalent within the advised channel. Insurers should focus on targeting young individuals with critical illness insurance products, as many in this demographic are currently unaware of the product's benefits, leading to low uptake rates.
Scope
52.1% of individuals aged 18 to 24 express comfort with using an AI-powered chatbot for resolving a policy issue, compared to only 12.6% of those aged 70 and above.
The transition toward online purchasing is clearly visible, with 58.4% of critical illness policies now being bought online or digitally, up from 52.6% in 2022.
Younger individuals, especially those under 35, are more willing to share biometric data with insurers for financial incentives compared to older age groups.
Reasons to Buy
Examine the size of the standalone critical illness insurance market
Identify the leading providers of critical illness
Learn about the implications of the cost-of-living crisis on the market
Understand the influence of a variety of factors on market growth
Executive summary
Background: The Protection Market
Contracts in the protection market declined for a second year
The standalone CI market experienced growth in 2023
The advised channel leads the protection market
The Critical Illness Market
CI contracts increased by 7.3% in 2023
The market for riders continued to shrink in 2023
The majority of CI policies are sold through advice
Market Drivers
Insurers can set themselves apart by providing coverage for a diverse array of illnesses
Mortgage lending fell in 2023, contributing to a drop in CI as a rider of term assurance
Insurers should focus on increasing awareness and understanding of CI cover
Insurers should innovate product offerings, such as severity-based cover
AI chatbots can be leveraged to provide a seamless consumer experience
Businesses are yet to start with the first Consumer Duty board report
Consumers are increasingly purchasing CI online or digitally
Product Launches and Innovation
Zurich has introduced a CI offering with modular options and updated definitions
Vitality introduced a new serious illness proposition
Other partnerships and innovations
Competitive Landscape
Aviva overtakes L&G to lead the CI market
Table Critical illness market share by number of new contracts/lives insured, 2023
Company Profile: Aviva
Company Profile: Legal & General
Company Profile: AIG
Forecasts
The CI market is expected to reach GBP41.2 million in premiums by 2028
Standalone CI will grow consistently to 2028
Customer attitudes toward sharing genetic testing results differ between products
The NHS backlog remains fairly stagnant as a result of industrial action
Wearables can help identify underlying health conditions and incentivize consumers
Low uptake among young adults in the UK presents an opportunity for insurers