The number of people with private medical insurance (PMI) policies in the UK is up 1% on the previous year.
According to figures released by Laing & Buisson, 3714 000 policies were sold by 31 December 2001, which follows a 3.5% growth in 2000 after an essentially flat demand period between 1991 and 1999.
Laing & Buisson's annual survey of the sector also showed that in 2001, an additional 398,000 employees were enrolled in medical cover schemes that was self-insured by employers. The number of employees on these schemes grew by
20% in 2001.
The rise in PMI demand in 2001 was up 3% in company paid business and individual PMI subscribers were down 2%.
Author of the report, economist Phillip Blackburn said: "Expansion in corporate PMI demand continues to compensate for a prolonged fall in demand for PMI by individuals. Also, the growing popularity of self-insuring private medical cover by companies, particularly schemes written to a trust fund and therefore exempt of insurance premium tax, is a key trend to emerge in recent years."
