Owain Thomas

Editor of Health and Protection @HandPnews

[Ben Chu @BenChu_]

What the Chancellor did in the #AutumnStatement in one chart 👇

- Received a £59bn windfall from higher tax receipts
- Spent £32bn of this on higher welfare and debt interest (not public services)
- The rest, £25bn, spent on tax cuts

Result: total borrowing in 2027/28 unchanged

[Paul Johnson @PJTheEconomist]

1% per year increase in resource spending is incredibly tight. If that's what happens a lot of public services will see cuts.

Here's one we prepared earlier. Another year of 1% increase means another year of cuts for many,

[Paul Johnson @PJTheEconomist]

NB - chancellor just announced a long term cash freeze in investment spending. That's a significant real cut of course.

We already have public sector investment well below that in most comparable countries. That is not good for growth.

[Johnny Timpson @johnnytimpson1]

@OTJournalist @HandPnews @ScottishWidows The ambition of the Consumer Duty to improve outcomes would have chimed with him, particularly in relation to improving customer understanding and support…

[Johnny Timpson @johnnytimpson1]

@OTJournalist @HandPnews Thankyou @OTJournalist and @HandPnews for the opportunity to contribute to your CI at 40 articles.
Colleagues please see this video https://t.co/0e4Zf3aFFL that Marius, my former @ScottishWidows colleagues and I made in 2007 for professional development and educational purposes.

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

@HandPnews @johnnytimpson1 And finally, what do the newest advisers in the market think of critical illness?
Is it really the "hardest product to sell"?
What do young adults need from protection coverage today and where can CI fit into that?

https://t.co/WjSliAEi2W

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

40th anniversary of CI: Simpler definitions, severity-based pots of cover and tailored add-ons key for next generation https://t.co/exSTqCV6Hu

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

Sunday 6 August brings the 40th anniversary of launching the first critical illness policy.

@HandPnews has produced a series of articles exploring the origins, evolution and future for a product which has become a mainstay of the protection market.

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

@HandPnews @johnnytimpson1 Next, some of the most experienced members of the UK market explain how CI evolved to be a necessary element of protection over the last four decades, it's ups and downs including the great conditions race, and why it is now in a much better place.

https://t.co/tpOivFH5oh

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

40th anniversary of CI: Four decades of evolution from the first policy https://t.co/5NjcVP3cuH

[simon read @simonnread]

The cost of living crisis is being compounded by a cost of money crisis, says Rachelle Earwaker, Senior Economist for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

After years of soaring regulatory fees and levies, some positive news for advisers in the health and protection markets.

Also there seems little prospect of the retail pool levy needing to be enacted.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

Health and protection advisers escape FSCS levy fees https://t.co/ooFcVSFnit

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

This is one of those heartbreaking stories that we wish we didn't have to write, but is so important to tell.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

‘I’d love to say I wasn’t made aware of CI cover… it just seems ridiculous I didn’t take it out’ – Jonnie Irwin https://t.co/WJOUt80SGO

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

In total Aviva has refunded £128m to PMI policyholders following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on private healthcare availability and claims.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

Aviva makes further £47m PMI Covid refund https://t.co/kWFFYzqsNy

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

Fallout for the CBI continues as Zurich, Legal & General and Lloyds Banking Group all distancing themselves from the organisation.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

Zurich ends CBI membership as Legal & General and Lloyds Bank pause activity https://t.co/PJYUMicjBP

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

And this is the best part of it... raising some much needed cash for a well-deserving charity. @WolframSyndUK

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

IPMI football match makes ‘big difference’ raising £1,100 for Wolfram Syndrome https://t.co/lKvMqSe4QN

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

Here's our round-up of a very competitive and entertaining FJN Cup match with some terrific action shots.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

FJN Cup photo gallery: Team GBG Vs Team Health & Protection https://t.co/HpbPmlvngk

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

FCA's increased funding requirement of £684m includes £5.3m for implementing the Consumer Duty.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

FCA increases adviser fees by 10% as budget hits £684m https://t.co/VNuiGBMYxG

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

Its National Stress Awareness Month.
Here's some of the ways advisers in the Health & Proection sector decompress and fight the stresses of life.
I think there's more than enough talented people for the sector's own arts and music festival!

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

Music, meditation, martial arts and painting orks – advisers’ reveal their top stress busting techniques https://t.co/9Wayordt5F

[Paul Johnson @PJTheEconomist]

Getting rid of work capability assessment for incapacity benefits is a genuinely big change. Will wait to see details.

[Owain Thomas @OTJournalist]

Big move in the PMI insurer space as @AXAHealth CEO Tracy Garrad is stepping down.

[Health&Protection @HandPnews]

Exclusive: Axa Health CEO Garrad steps down https://t.co/VeqyZyGcVI