The Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (AMII) has announced the speakers for its AGM set to take place on 2 May 2019 in Milton Keynes.

Tracy Garrad, Chief Executive of AXA PPP Healthcare, in one of her first public addresses to healthcare intermediaries since taking on the CEO role at AXA PPP in January, will outline her view of the current healthcare market; the challenges and opportunities in the sector; and an indication on what future direction for AXA PPP looks like. 

Ted Townsend, Strategy Consultant in Private Healthcare and Author of the LaingBuisson Report: Private Acute Medical Care in Central London, will share the latest healthcare market statistics from LaingBuisson; give his thoughts on what is driving growth in the private healthcare sector, and asks whether this creates opportunities for specialist healthcare intermediaries to tap into this growing sector.

AMII Executive Chairman Stuart Scullion said: “The theme of this year’s AGM is Creating Certainty in an Uncertain World. Whilst there is continuing uncertainty around Brexit and what our future relationship with the EU and beyond will look like, there are also some certainties that lie ahead which we will all have to tackle, as well as continuing to advise our clients as their policies come up for renewal.

“An ageing population coupled with financial pressures on the NHS means waiting time targets are being missed while waiting lists continue to grow. According to the Kings Fund, the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard for elective care was missed for the full year 2016/17.

“Meanwhile the total elective waiting list in April 2012 was 2.5 million but by August 2017 this had leapt to more than 4 million – the highest level since 2007. The Chief Executive of NHS England Simon Stevens has even suggested the NHS Constitution right to access elective treatment within 18 weeks may have to be abolished unless more funding is provided.

“All of this leads to increasing demand for private alternatives, generating growth in self-pay and the rising availability of private GP services. 

“Plus, with the number of people employed in the economy at its highest level, an inevitable tightening of the labour market could feed through into an increasing demand for employee benefits, as employers compete to hire the best talent in a diminishing pool of available workers.”

Carl Laidler, Director of Screening Programmes at Health Shield, will present on Occupational Health and the role intermediaries can play in promoting and establishing occupational health programmes in the workplace, especially focusing on smaller and mid-sized companies.

Branko Bjelobaba, Director of Branko Ltd and AMII Compliance Consulant, will also provide an overview of recent changes to FCA Regulations, and an insight into what intermediaries need to do in preparation for the forthcoming Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR), which replaces the Approved Persons Regime in December.

The AGM is a free event for AMII member firms to attend, featuring presentations from key health insurance industry figures – to be announced over the coming weeks – on topics including the current healthcare insurance market; opportunities for business growth; preparing for the next wave of intermediary regulation; Brexit and international PMI; and opportunities for intermediaries in workplace health screening.

The event will also be an opportunity to update AMII members on recent activities and the year ahead for the Association, which is a not-for-profit body representing approximately 140 members across the health and wellbeing market.

Delegate registration is now open for the AGM at Hilton Conference Centre, Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes. Doors open from 9.45am for registration and networking, with the meeting commencing at 10.30am and finishing at approximately 3pm. 

For more information or to register a place at the AGM contact AMII General Secretary, Michael Payne on 07971 231869, or via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/amii-agm-conference-2019-registration-56326565273