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Misrepresentation, Non-Disclosure and Breach ... - Law Commission

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Section 6 Case Study - Critical Illness Cover<br />

6.1.2 Consumer policies<br />

The information on the number of policies sold annually varies depending on<br />

the source. For instance, CRA (2006) estimate that there are 275,000 new<br />

critical illness policies sold annually, while information from the ABI<br />

indicates that there were approximately 403,000 policies in force in the United<br />

Kingdom in 2005. Information from a survey (Norwich Union, 2005) indicates<br />

that the number of critical illness policies sold in 2005 stood at 511,984. In our<br />

case study below, we have assumed that the proposed changes to nondisclosure<br />

<strong>and</strong> misrepresentation will apply to the 511,984 policies that were<br />

sold in the last year for which information exists.<br />

6.1.3 Firms<br />

Information from the ABI indicates that in the critical illness market, the top 5<br />

providers account for approximately 60% of sales. The top 10 providers<br />

account for almost 79% of sales <strong>and</strong> the top 20 providers account for<br />

approximately 93% of sales (or 476,145 policies). For the purposes of this<br />

analysis <strong>and</strong> subject to the previous caveats, we have assumed that 93% of<br />

policies are sold by firms that are Type 1 firms with the remaining 7% of<br />

policies (or 35,839) being administered by Type 2 firms.<br />

6.1.4 Average Premiums<br />

We have not been able to access accurate information on the average critical<br />

illness premium in the market given the very wide range of products<br />

available. However, given the fact that the average claim paid is<br />

approximately £73,000 <strong>and</strong> that premiums broadly range from £20 to £35 per<br />

month (per £100,000 insured), we have estimated that the average monthly<br />

premium for critical illness insurance is £27.92 per month per £100,000<br />

insured, which is equivalent to £244.58 per annum to insure the average claim<br />

size of £73,000 15. We also assume that Type 2 firms on average offer<br />

premiums that undercut those premiums offered by Type 1 firms by 5% all<br />

other factors being equal (£232.35 per annum).<br />

15 From information presented in Cockburn, (2006), we have taken the average monthly premium paid by<br />

individuals presented in Tables 4 <strong>and</strong> 5. The annual premium for Type 1 firms is calculated as follows:<br />

£27.92 * (0.73) *12 = £244.58<br />

London Economics<br />

June 2007 41

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