The latest sector to come under the FCA microscope is pure protection. Insurers, brokers and anyone else in the specialised area is invited to submit comments to the FCA before the deadline next year. Here’s the word;
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) intends to launch a market study into how pure protection insurance products are sold following concerns that competition is not working well in the market. The study will be launched later in 2024/25.
Pure protection products are designed to help individuals and their families with their finances should the policyholder die or become unable to meet their financial commitments. Around £4 billion was paid out in claims in 2022. The products are mainly sold through intermediaries like independent financial advisers or mortgage brokers.
The FCA has concerns that the design of commission arrangements may not allow firms to deliver good outcomes to policyholders. The regulator is also concerned that some products may be providing poor value, for example if the total premiums paid over a lifetime far exceed the maximum conceivable payout.
In order to understand how the market is working the FCA will explore consumers’ engagement with and understanding of the products they are buying, the competitive constraints on insurers and intermediaries, and potential conflicts of interest in the structure of commission.
The FCA will focus primarily on the sale of four specific types of products – term assurance, critical illness cover, income protection insurance and whole of life insurance including policies for over 50s that offer guaranteed acceptance.
Sheldon Mills, Executive Director of Consumers and Competition at the FCA, said:
“Pure protection can offer peace of mind and financial security, often when people are at their most vulnerable. Consumers should be able to buy products which meet their needs and provide fair value.
“We have seen indications that this may not be the case across the pure protection market and we will act if we find that the market is not working well.”
The FCA is keen to hear any feedback on its Terms of Reference and, ahead of launching the market study, will engage with firms, industry groups and others to gather views on the market and the issues we propose to examine.
COMMENT
Cara Spinks, Head of Life and Health at leading independent financial services consultancy Broadstone following the FCA’s investigation into the protection market.
She says: “The FCA is delivering a firm message to the financial services industry with yet another probe into whether a segment of the market is delivering good outcomes to members.
“This investigation into the distribution of protection products is focused on commission arrangements, fair value for consumers and competition in the market. These products provide vital cover for policyholders in the case of death and serious illness or injury, delivering protection at a vulnerable or stressful period in people’s lives.
“Ensuring the market is providing a fair and competitive service to policyholders is central to the regulator’s Consumer Duty objectives.”
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