Personal Lines Insurance Market Assessment 2007

Transcription

1 Brochure More information from Personal Lines Insurance Market Assessment 2007 Description: Personal lines insurance, which refers to products taken out by, or for, individuals or households in a private capacity, comprises private motor insurance; buildings and contents household insurance; accident and health insurance; pet insurance; travel insurance; and insurance for domestic appliances. The insurance is divided into five formal categories: motor, property, accident and health, general liability and pecuniary loss. With the exception of niche markets, such as specialist car insurance, domestic appliance insurance or high net-worth insurance, personal lines business is viewed by the industry as being unprofitable. Companies have been consolidating and merging their commercial and personal lines businesses. Brokers, too, are consolidating, as regulations tighten and competition from supermarkets such as Tesco or Moneysupermarket.com offer speedy standard products to the increasingly competent broadband user. In 2007, it is clear that motor insurance premiums are rising faster than in the last 4 years, as Norwich Union leads the market upwards. By 2006, premiums had been driven down by fierce competition to levels where the costs allowed very little profit margin. Household insurance rates were not so heavily affected, so rates have remained steady. The personal lines insurance sector is still at the low point in the insurance cycle (low premiums and low market concentration). In the accident and health insurance market, the levels of premiums have risen to reflect the high costs of medical care, as well as the high levels of claims. Most individuals cannot afford full health insurance, but chaos in the NHS drives demand. Premium income has risen, but the number of people covered has fallen. Reinvention of private medical insurance (PMI) awaits a radical rethink of healthcare funding. Weather disasters (winds, floods and drought) have been rare during the mid-2000s, apart from localised problems, such as the Carlisle and Northampton floods. However, the growing awareness of global warming among the population means that risks are becoming more serious and insurance is generally seen to be inadequate. The localised Kent earthquake in spring 2007, like the Birmingham tornado in 2005, is likely to cost insurers in the region of 15m. In 2007, there is little sign of widespread action either to offer adequate compensation for the consequent effects of disasters, or to avert danger by improving flood defences or ceasing to build on flood plains, for example. Inadequate protection against the effects of terrorist attacks and other human-generated disasters is also a modern hazard that is yet to be addressed. Property insurance premiums are not rising appropriately. The depolarisation of financial services means that there has been a widespread consolidation of financial advisers and brokers. The insurance companies have bought, and are continuing to buy, broker and adviser networks. Often, independent brokers, owned by an insurer, offer other insurers' products. There has been considerable change in the marketplace in the last 5 years, as Royal & SunAlliance (RSA) left the long-term insurance market, and other insurers began to restructure to cut their costs and combined ratios. Over the past 5 years, IT has been increasingly employed by the major insurers in order to catch up with banks. Mergers and increasing staff costs mean that flexibility and the ability to transfer functions across borders are necessary. Insurers are increasingly aware that developing new personal lines products that meet the needs of customers before rivals can coax them away, requires high levels of IT adaptability. Products have to be cheap to service, easy to use, quick to approve and fast to implement. At the same time, staff training has to be upgraded, with closer links between insurers and the Chartered Insurance Institute. Training and experience are recognised as being necessities throughout insurers' operations, and they need to be focused on specific applications too. Several insurers have recently restructured their product lines to separate personal lines from commercial lines, or to place responsibility for the provision of insurance to small firms with the insurers' direct insurance operations. The introduction of regulations that require insurers to calculate their risk levels and introduce adequate capital reserves to cover their likely liabilities means that crises such as those that arose widely in the early 2000s with the fall of stock-market values can be better handled in the future. However, in personal lines insurance, with the high liquidity levels experienced in the mid-2000s, there is little difficulty in raising adequate market capital to cover liabilities at a low cost. Direct operations have become so widespread in personal lines insurance that, for some institutions, they

2 have become lead operations: for example, Direct Line has been instrumental in changing The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) into a leading bancassurer. Even AXA has become a direct insurer with its purchase of Swiftcover, a highly successful start-up in 2005 funded with private-equity capital. No significant personal lines insurer now lacks the direct distribution channel. Future change in the UK market will be driven by regulatory considerations, as the regulator seeks greater fairness and clarity, as well as equity in insurers' dealings with their customers. The opportunity for the UK personal lines retail model to repeat its success in other countries depends on similar regulatory reform in partner countries in the EU. In addition, insurers are looking at Asian and US markets to achieve the returns they are unlikely to see again in the UK. Contents: Executive Summary 1. Introduction OVERVIEW Research DEFINITION 2. Strategic Overview MARKET DYNAMICS AND SEGMENTATION Market Segmentation Current Status of the Market The General Insurance Market Personal Lines General Insurance Total Industry Value and Growth Table 1: The Total UK General Insurance Market by Sector by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 1: The Total UK General Insurance Market by Net Written Premiums ( m), Largest Sector and Market Share Figure 2: The Total UK General Insurance Market UK Risks by Sector by Net Written Premiums ( m), Table 2: UK General Insurance Premiums UK Risks by Source of Personal-Lines Business (%), Figure 3: UK General Insurance Premiums UK Risks by Source of Personal-Lines Business (%), Channels Large, Well-Known Insurers Basic, Cheap Insurers Specialist Insurers The Post Office Supermarkets Clubs and Associations COMPETITIVE STRUCTURE Table 3: Links With Insurers, 2007 Table 4: The Top Ten General Insurers in the UK Ranked by Net Premium Income ( m), 2005 Table 5: Main Media Expenditure by Leading General Insurers ( 000), Year Ending December 2006 THE CONSUMER The Economy Population Table 6: UK Resident Population Estimates by Sex (000), Mid-Years Gross Domestic Product Table 7: UK Gross Domestic Product at Current and Annual Chain-Linked Prices ( m), Inflation Table 8: UK Rate of Inflation (%), Unemployment Table 9: Actual Number of Unemployed Persons in the UK (million), Household Disposable Income Table 10: UK Household Disposable Income Per Capita ( ), Who is the Consumer?

3 Table 11: Average Annual Household Expenditure on General Insurance by Type ( and %), 2003/2004 Figure 4: Percentage of Households Purchasing General Insurance by Type, 2003/2004 Consumer Loyalty Consumer Factors Affecting the Sector Consumer Dynamics REGULATION Unfair Commercial Practices Directive Solvency 2 Directive Insurance Guarantee Schemes Directive Consumer Reactions to Regulation Financial Ombudsman Service Table 12: Number of Complaints About General Insurance to the Financial Ombudsman Service, 2002/ /2006 Figure 5: Number of Complaints About General Insurance to the Financial Ombudsman Service, 2005/2006 MARKET FORECASTS Future Prospects for Direct Insurance Future Impact of Regulatory Changes and Growth in E-Business 3. Motor Insurance MARKET SIZE Table 13: UK Domestic Motor Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 6: UK Domestic Motor Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m), Claims Table 14: UK Net Claims Incurred for Domestic Motor Policies ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 7: UK Net Claims Incurred for Domestic Motor Policies ( m), MARKET SHARE Table 15: UK Companies' Share of Total Net Premium Income from Motor Insurance Business (%), Table 16: Market Shares of the Largest Five UK Motor Insurers by Gross Premium Income (%), 2006 Misleading Prices Rising Costs of Claims Consumer Dynamics I Like to Shop Around for My Motor Insurance Table 17: Main Media Expenditure on Motor Insurance ( 000), Year Ending December 2006 Table 18: UK Personal Motor Insurance Premiums by Source of Business (%), Household Insurance MARKET SIZE Table 19: UK Domestic Property Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 8: UK Domestic Property Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m), Claims Table 20: UK Net Claims Incurred for Domestic Property Policies ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 9: UK Net Claims Incurred for Domestic Property Policies ( m), MARKET SHARE Table 21: Market Shares of the Largest Five UK Property Insurers by Gross Premium Income (%), 2006 Spending on Household Insurance Consumer Dynamics I Like to Shop Around for My Household Insurance I Get My Buildings Insurance from My Mortgage Lender I Get My Contents Insurance from My Mortgage Lender MARKETING ACTIVITY Table 22: Main Media Expenditure on Household Insurance ( 000), Year Ending December 2006 Table 23: UK Property Insurance Premiums by Source of Business (%), Travel Insurance

4 MARKET SIZE MARKET SHARE Table 24: The Largest Five UK Travel Insurers by Gross Premium Income, 2006 I Take Out Travel Insurance Each Time I Travel I Take Out Annual Travel Insurance MARKETING ACTIVITY Table 25: Main Media Expenditure on Travel Insurance ( 000), Year Ending December Home Appliances, Emergency, and Income and Mortgage Protection Payment Protection Insurance MARKET SIZE MARKET SHARE Table 26: Market Shares of the Largest Five UK Miscellaneous and Pecuniary Loss Insurers by Gross Premium Income (%), 2006 I Generally Insure My Loans in Case I Lose My Job or Cannot Work I Generally Insure My Domestic Appliances I Have Insurance Covering My Plumbing and Drains MARKETING ACTIVITY Table 27: Main Media Expenditure on Home Appliance, Emergency, Income Protection and Mortgage Repayment Protection Insurance ( 000), Year Ending December Pet Insurance MARKET SIZE Table 28: UK Pet Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 10: UK Pet Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m), It is Worthwhile Insuring a Pet MARKETING ACTIVITY Table 29: Main Media Expenditure on Pet and Livestock Insurance ( 000), Year Ending December Private Healthcare and Accident Insurance Table 30: Percentage of Households with Health Insurance, 2004/2005 MARKET SIZE Table 31: UK Accident and Health Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 11: UK Accident and Health Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m), Private Medical Insurance Table 32: UK Health Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2002=100), Claims Table 33: UK Net Claims Incurred for Health Policies ( m and index 2002=100), Figure 12: UK Net Claims Incurred for Health Policies ( m), MARKET SHARE Table 34: Market Shares of the Largest Five UK Medical Insurers by Gross Premium Income (%), 2006 I Take Out Insurance Against Accidents I Take Out Personal Medical Insurance MARKETING ACTIVITY Table 35: Main Media Expenditure on Accident and Healthcare Insurance ( 000), Year Ending December An International Perspective

5 MARKET SIZE Belgium France Germany Spain Italy Portugal 10. PEST Analysis POLITICAL FACTORS ECONOMIC FACTORS SOCIAL FACTORS TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS 11. Consumer Dynamics OVERVIEW Summary of Results Table 36: Summary of Responses Relating to Personal Lines Insurance (% of respondents), 2007 SHOPPING AROUND FOR MOTOR AND HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE I Like to Shop Around for My Motor Insurance I Like to Shop Around for My Household Insurance Table 37: Shopping Around for Motor and Household Insurance (% of respondents), 2007 PURCHASING BUILDINGS AND CONTENTS INSURANCE I Get My Buildings Insurance from My Mortgage Lender I Get My Contents Insurance from My Mortgage Lender Table 38: Purchasing Buildings and Contents Insurance (% of respondents), 2007 TAKING OUT ACCIDENT AND PERSONAL MEDICAL INSURANCE I Take Out Insurance Against Accidents I Take Out Personal Medical Insurance Table 39: Taking out Accident and Personal Medical Insurance (% of respondents), 2007 TAKING OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE I Take Out Annual Travel Insurance I Take Out Travel Insurance Each Time I Travel Table 40: Taking Out Travel Insurance (% of respondents), 2007 TAKING OUT INSURANCE FOR LOANS AND FOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES I Generally Insure My Loans in Case I Lose My Job or Cannot Work I Generally Insure My Domestic Appliances Table 41: Taking Out Insurance for Loans and for Domestic Appliances (% of respondents), 2007 ATTITUDE TOWARDS PET INSURANCE AND TAKING OUT INSURANCE FOR PLUMBING AND DRAINS It is Worthwhile Insuring a Pet I Have Insurance Covering My Plumbing and Drains Table 42: Attitude Towards Pet Insurance and Taking Out Insurance for Plumbing and Drains (% of respondents), 2007 CHOOSING INSURANCE COMPANIES I Like to Use a Large Well-Known Insurer I Usually Choose the Cheapest and Most Basic Insurance I Prefer to Go to Specialist Companies for Cover Table 43: Choosing Insurance Companies (% of respondents), 2007 ATTITUDES TOWARDS ALTERNATIVE INSURANCE PROVIDERS I Would Be Happy to Insure Through the Post Office I Would Be Happy to Insure Through a Supermarket I Would Be Happy to Insure Through a Club or Professional Association of Which I Am a Member Table 44: Attitudes Towards Alternative Insurance Providers (% of respondents), 2007 INVESTIGATING INSURERS AND UNDERSTANDING POLICIES I Would Be Happy to Investigate Insurers on the Internet, Then Visit a Broker It is Easier to Understand Insurance Policies Than It Used to Be Table 45: Investigating Insurers and Understanding Policies (% of respondents), Company/Supplier Profiles ALLIANZ INSURANCE PLC

6 Table 46: Financial Results for Allianz Insurance PLC ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st December AVIVA PLC Table 47: Financial Results for Aviva PLC ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st December AXA INSURANCE UK PLC Table 48: Financial Results for AXA Insurance UK PLC ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st December BUPA INSURANCE LTD International Insurance Care Homes Hospitals Table 49: Financial Results for BUPA Insurance Ltd ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st December ROYAL AND SUNALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC Table 50: Financial Results for Royal & SunAlliance Insurance PLC ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st December THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC Table 51: Financial Results for The Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st December ZURICH FINANCIAL SERVICES (UKISA) LTD Table 52: Financial Results for Zurich Financial Services (UKISA) Ltd ( 000, % and ), Years Ending 31st

7 December The Future THE ECONOMY Population Table 53: Forecast UK Resident Population by Sex (000), Mid-Years Gross Domestic Product Table 54: Forecast UK Growth in Gross Domestic Product in Real Terms (%), Inflation Table 55: Forecast UK Rate of Inflation (%), Unemployment Table 56: Forecast Actual Number of Unemployed Persons in the UK (million), FORECASTS Motor Insurance Table 57: Forecast UK Domestic Motor Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2007=100), Household Insurance Table 58: Forecast UK Domestic Property Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2007=100), Travel Insurance Home Appliances, Emergency, and Income and Mortgage Protection Pet Insurance Table 59: Forecast UK Pet Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2007=100), Private Healthcare and Accident Insurance Table 60: Forecast UK Accident and Health Insurance by Net Written Premiums ( m and index 2007=100), CONCLUSION 14. Consumer Confidence METHODOLOGY KEY FINDINGS THIS QUARTER THE WILLINGNESS TO BORROW Confidence Improves Table A: The Average Amount Consumers Are Willing to Borrow in Order to Purchase Expensive Items at Current and Constant November 2004 Prices ( and bn), February Willingness to Borrow Slips Slightly Table B: The Number of Adults Willing to Borrow in Order to Purchase Expensive Items (000 and %), February SPENDING FROM SAVINGS Slight Increase in Spending from Savings Table C: The Average Amount Consumers Are Willing to Spend from Savings in Order to Purchase Expensive Items at Current and Constant November 2004 Prices ( and bn), February Saving Grows in Relative Importance Table D: The Average Amounts Adults Are Confident Spending to Purchase Expensive Items ( and %), February Further Sources Associations Publications General Sources Government Publications Other Sources Bisnode Sources Ordering: Order Online - Order by Fax - using the form below Order by Post - print the order form below and send to

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