This brief provides a detailed study of the UK healthcare cash plan market, with information on market size and profitability, as well as developments in policy numbers. In addition, the size of the market is forecast out to 2012 under three scenarios reflecting different views on future conditions.

Scope

Data on market size, policyholder numbers of the UK healthcare cash plan market
Information on product penetration and consumer attitudes to cash plans
Forecasts of premium income until 2012 under three different scenarios, based on primary research and Datamonitor' s own models

Highlights

No company has been as active as the Simplyhealth group in consolidating the books of smaller players to achieve its present dominance in the healthcare cash plan market. The HSA Group, which later rebranded to become Simplyhealth, has consistently bought up smaller rivals in the market in order to expand cash plan numbers and regional coverage.

Reasons to Purchase

Understand product penetration trends in the market
Benchmark your market share and premium income against your competitors
Develop your future market strategy using Datamonitor' s unique forecasts

Overview
- Catalyst
- Summary
Executive Summary
- The healthcare cash plan market was worth approximately £550 million in 2007
  - The market expanded in GWP terms in 2007
  - There were an estimated 4.8 million lives covered by cash plans in 2007
  - The market features a high level of underwriting by mutual insurers
  - Some cash plans are now offering PMI-type benefits
- Cash plan providers reduced marketing outlays in 2007 with the principle market continuing to be older consumers
  - The majority of cash plan consumers are over the age of 45
  - Healthcare cash plan providers devoted less money to marketing and advertising in 2007
- Simplyhealth Group dominates the healthcare cash plan market
- The UK healthcare cash plans market is forecast to grow steadily at an average rate 2.3%
  - The market will reach a value of £615 million in 2012 with constant penetration rates
Table of Contents
Table of figures
Table of tables
Market Context
- Introduction
- The healthcare cash plan market was worth approximately £550 million in 2007
  - Healthcare cash plans differ from private medical insurance by paying out set amounts
  - The UK healthcare cash plan market was worth £550 million in premium income in 2007
  - There were an estimated 4.8 million lives covered by cash plans in 2007
  - Rising premium rates have also contributed to higher premium income
- The healthcare cash plan market was profitable in 2007
  - The market features a high level of underwriting by mutual insurers
  - Dental and optical claims remain the most common claims
- Cash plan providers have expanded benefits to offer more to corporate and individual clients
  - Many providers now offer health screening as part of their cash plan package
  - Employee assistance programs have become important benefits for the corporate scheme market
  - WPA launched mycancerdrugs
  - Some cash plans are now offering PMI-type benefits
Customer Focus
- Introduction
- The majority of cash plan consumers are over the age of 45
  - Corporate schemes remain the mainstay of the market, with all large distributors maintaining relationships with a variety of partner firms
  - The majority of cash plan consumers are over the age of 45
- Healthcare cash plan providers spent £4.0 million on advertising in 2007 with Simplyhealth companies dominating marketing
  - Healthcare cash plan advertisers spent £4.0 million in 2007
  - Simplyhealth was responsible for over 70% of advertising spend in 2007
  - The majority of large cash plan advertisers maintained press campaigns
Competitive Dynamics
- Introduction
- Simplyhealth Group dominates the healthcare cash plan market
  - Simplyhealth is the market leader with 46.3% of the market
  - Westfield Health increased its market share with a string of new policies for the corporate market
  - AIG has increased its presence in the market
  - BHSF maintained its market share of 5.4% in 2007
  - AXA saw significant growth in premium income in 2007 as it renewed former Legal & General customers
  - Medicash continued to grow its market presence though a series of corporate deals
  - Great Lakes grew its premium income in 2007
  - HSF, BUPA and Personal Assurance saw market share reductions in 2007
Future Decoded
- Introduction
- The UK healthcare cash plans market is forecast to grow steadily at an average rate 2.3%
  - The market will reach a value of £615 million in 2012 with constant penetration rates
- Increasing penetration rates can generate annual growth of 3.9%
- Falling penetration rates will result in a market contraction as premium rate increases fail to offset fewer subscribers
APPENDIX
- Supplimentary Data
- Definitions
  - Premium income measures
    - Earned premiums
    - Gross premium
    - Net premium
    - Written premiums
    - Healthcare cash plan
- Methodology
  - Ipsos MORI methodology and contacts
    - Sample design
- Further reading
- Ask the analyst
- Datamonitor consulting
- Disclaimer
List of Tables
- Table 1: UK healthcare cash plan policyholders by age, 2005−07
- Table 2: UK healthcare cash plan advertising spend, 2005−07 (£)
- Table 3: Top 10 UK healthcare cash plan advertisers, 2007
- Table 4: Top 10 UK healthcare cash plan competitors, 2007
- Table 5: Key variables affecting healthcare cash plan GWP
- Table 6: UK healthcare cash plan GWP, neutral scenario, 2007−12f
- Table 7: UK healthcare cash plan GWP, optimistic scenario, 2007−12f
- Table 8: UK healthcare cash plan GWP, pessimistic scenario, 2007−12f
- Table 9: UK healthcare cash plan competitors by premium income and market share, 2007
List of Figures
- Figure 1: Consumers over 45 form the majority of healthcare cash plan policyholders
- Figure 2: Healthcare cash plan providers spent over half of their advertising budget on TV in 2007
- Figure 3: Simplyhealth is the dominant player in the market
- Figure 4: The market will grow marginally if penetration rates remain the same
- Figure 5: Growth in penetration rates will lead to steady growth in the market
- Figure 6: The market will stagnate if penetration rates fall