Personal
Roundtable: Innovation in pricing: the need to adapt
As insurers innovate, those at the core of insurers’ pricing and underwriting strategies face a growing need to adapt. Post held a roundtable, in association with Sas, to examine what is driving innovation in pricing and what challenges those changes…
Whiplash portal 'being built in a rules vacuum'
The Litigants in Person whiplash portal build may be progressing well, but fraud and a lack of clarity from the government could jeopardise its effectiveness, according to Sabre CEO Geoff Carter.
Sabre GWP drops in H1 from ‘intense competitive pressure’
Sabre’s combined operating ratio remained in its target of within the mid-70s range, while premiums shrank 7% in the first half of 2019.
Bupa's Alex Perry on prioritising mental health in the insurance sector
One in four people experience poor mental health each year, writes Alex Perry, CEO of Bupa Insurance UK, arguing that with a quarter of customers affected by the issue it's important that addressing mental health is a priority for the whole insurance…
Insurers warn of rise in motor premiums following the discount rate decision
Government changes to personal injury calculations are set to add to motor insurance costs going forward, insurers have warned.
Analysis: Impact of smart home technology on escape of water claims
In 2018 insurers dealt with 228,000 escape of water claims, at a cost of £617m – an increase from £529m paid out five years ago, according to statistics from the Association of British Insurers. With the rising cost of claims, can technology help reduce…
This week: Rolling in it
Thursday seemed an appropriate day for insurtech Hippo to announce the outcome of its latest funding round – with temperatures reaching 38°C in places, the urge to emulate the mud-wallowing tendencies of its namesake animal became more and more tempting.
Lemonade rival Hippo picks up $100m in latest funding round
Lemonade competitor Hippo has raised $100m in a Series D funding round, led by Bond Capital.
BLM wins fundamental dishonesty case against opportunistic fraudster
BLM has won a fundamental dishonesty case against a fraudster who claimed for whiplash from an accident where she was not in the vehicle.
Go Compare profits continue to fall
Go Compare parent, Goco Group, saw its pre-tax profits fall 52% year-on-year to £7.6m, as revenues from its core price comparison site also slumped.
More than half of global insurtech investment in Q2 came from four deals
Global insurtech investment hit $1.41bn in Q2 2019, with more than half of this coming from four transactions.
FCA flexes muscles over unauthorised claims firm
The Financial Conduct Authority has named a personal injury claims management company as operating without authorisation.
Confused appoints ex-Wonga exec as COO
Confused has hired Stephen Dukes, former boss at the Commuter Club and Wonga, as its chief operating officer.
FCA announces crackdown over treatment of vulnerable customers
The regulator has vowed to “take action” against insurers that do not treat vulnerable customers fairly.
Blog: Home insurance - the rise of non-standard
The way we live continues to change. The nature of risk evolves. And so does the way we understand the UK home insurance market. Mark Eastham, CEO, Avantia argues non-standard is no longer exceptional – and that has significant implications both for…
30,000 Alpha policyholders to be moved to new insurer
More than 30,000 property policyholders affected by the collapse of Alpha have been thrown a lifeline in the form of alternative cover arranged by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Half of industry growth over next five years to be driven by M&A, say insurers
A majority of insurers believe that mergers & acquisitions will drive more than half of the growth in the industry over the next five years, research by Deloitte has found.
This week: Gaukward moment for insurers following Ogden change
It was around Spring when office chat turned to the trend of insurers bolstering full year accounts through claims reserve releases.
Insurers attack 'misleading and wholly disingenuous' discount rate impact assessment
The impact assessment issued to parliament in relation to Lord Chancellor David Gauke’s decision to set the discount rate at minus 0.25% has been called “misleading and wholly disingenuous” by Huw Evans, director general of the Association of British…
Blog: Diversity in insurance - how far have we come?
The 2019 Gay Pride march brought central London’s streets to a colourful standstill recently, and it was a reminder how much progress we have made towards becoming a society at ease with diversity of all forms writes Sharon Bishop, CEO of Close Brothers…
Aviva's Neos hopes to double UK customer base by year end
Neos intends to double its UK direct customer numbers this year, amid international expansion plans and the launch of an add-on product for the UK market.
Young driver curfew plans 'could have deadly consequences'
Introducing graduated licensing for young drivers could have unintended adverse effects, warns Mike Brockman, CEO and founder of ThingCo.
Blog: Fires and cars - spontaneous combustion is 'use'
The legal definition of when a car is in use and how it affects an insurance claim has long been contentious. Alistair Kinley, director of policy and government affairs at BLM, takes a look at the latest ruling and its likely impact on the insurance…
Hastings reveals Ogden rate hit
Hastings shares fell this morning after saying the Ogden rate change to minus 0.25% would result in a one-off £8.4m blow.