BIBA and AMII launch industry standard PMI form

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) and the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (AMII) have launched a new industry standard template for private medical insurance (PMI) authorisation forms.

A BIBA spokesman said the form, which includes a standard review period of 90 days, is designed to address market uncertainty.

The form establishes options for customers dealing with a new intermediary or broker, and also sets out a timescale for the review period if a customer only wants a new intermediary or broker to review an existing policy.

Peter Staddon, head of technical services at BIBA, said: "We have put these documents together to address market issues of uncertainty and customer confusion where some letters of authority have been mistaken for letters of appointment. We are pleased to put this new industry standard in place to help address these issues for our members."

The new form and industry standard is the first initiative to be launched by the AMII/BIBA PMI panel, established in 2009 to bring together insurers and intermediaries to discuss common issues within the PMI industry.

Andrew Tripp, chairman of the AMII, said: "With the AMII/BIBA PMI panel we have established a forum which has allowed constructive dialogue between insurers and intermediaries within an environment of mutual respect.

"This new standard form will improve consumer confidence in our profession and bring a level of uniformity across the market in how letters of authority or appointment are handled by insurers and intermediaries."