Pictures from the night of the year
It was no change at the top at the annual Health Insurance Awards last night, with Aviva UK Health retaining its crown as Health Insurance Company of the year and Jelf Employee Benefits once again taking home the biggest haul of intermediary awards.
Celebrity comic Tim Vine handed out the gongs at a black tie ceremony at the Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London's West End, attended by around 800 people.
Aviva UK Health took home awards for best private medical insurance (PMI) provider in both the group and individual categories, following a tough year in which the market remained hugely competitive and intermediaries battled to keep cost-conscious clients happy. Intermediaries voting for their favourite providers also honoured PruHealth, awarding them best use of marketing to intermediaries and most innovative new product for its Personal Healthcare and Business Healthcare suite of products.
Unum, currently targeting consumers with a £15m advertising campaign, retained its poll position for group risk provision while PruProtect once again secure the award for best critical illness provider, suggesting that brokers value its innovative approach to product design.
Brokers also paid tribute to Groupama Healthcare’s contribution to the market, in the wake of its acquisition by Simplyhealth. The company secured the best customer service award for the third year in a row and also picked up the best online service prize.
Jelf Employee Benefits picked up four awards in total, including intermediary of the year while Chris Horlick, managing director of care at Partnership was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award.
Look out for pictures and footage of the event, both on http://www.hi-mag.com/ and in the next issue of the magazine, out in the first week of November.
The full list of award winners is as follows:
HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER AWARDS
Health Insurance Company of the Year
Aviva UK Health
Best Group PMI provider
Aviva UK Health
Best Individual PMI Provider
Aviva UK Health
Best International Private Medical Insurance Provider
AXA PPP International
Best Healthcare Cash Plan Provider
Health Shield
Best Group Risk Provider
Unum
Best Workplace Wellbeing Provider
Bupa Wellness
Best Provider of Healthcare Trusts
Healix Health Services
Best Provider of Dental Plans
Denplan
Best Individual Income Protection Provider
Exeter Family Friendly
Best Individual Critical Illness Provider
PruProtect
Best Long-term Care Provider
Partnership
Best Customer Service by a Provider
Groupama Healthcare
Best Online Intermediary Service
Groupama Healthcare
Best Use of Marketing to Intermediaries
PruHealth
Most Innovative New Product
PruHealth for its Personal Healthcare and Business Healthcare suite of products
HEALTH INSURANCE INTERMEDIARY AWARDS
Health Insurance Intermediary of the Year
WINNER: Jelf Employee Benefits
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Chris Horlick, managing director of care, Partnership
Best Group PMI Intermediary Award
WINNER: PMI Health Group
Best Individual PMI Intermediary
WINNER: Proactive Medical & Life
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Benefits for Business
Best International PMI Intermediary
WINNER: Jelf Employee Benefits
HIGHLY COMMENDED: APRIL Medibroker
Best Use of Cash Plans by an Intermediary
WINNER: Private Health Partnership
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Health Matters (UK) Ltd
Best Group Risk Intermediary
WINNER: Jelf Employee Benefits
HIGHLY COMMENDED: ENRICH
Best Healthcare Trust Intermediary
WINNER: Private Healthcare Partnership
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jelf Employee Benefits
Best Use of Dental Plans by an Intermediary
WINNER: Chase Templeton
Best Protection Intermediary
WINNER: Plan Money
HIGHLY COMMENDED: OVISO Financial Services
Best Long-term Care Intermediary
WINNER: The Wealth Care Partnership