UK Protection Insurance 2024: Critical Illness

UK Protection Insurance 2024: Critical Illness


Summary

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
  • Appendix

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