INSURANCE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
To coincide with the coming into effect of the Disability Discrimination Act on 2
December,
the Association of British Insurers has produced a comprehensive guide, "Insurance For
Disabled People" http://www.abi.org.uk/consumer2/disabled/disab.asp>.
The Guide is being made widely available to organisations representing disabled
people,
insurance companies and other interested individuals/organisations. It follows on from
several months of work by ABI with its members on how the Act should apply to the
insurance industry.
Commenting on the publication of the Guide, Tony Baker, Deputy Director General of
the
ABI, said:
"Insurance companies are determined to ensure that they comply fully with
both the
spirit and the letter of the Disability Discrimination Act. Today, we are
publishing a
Guide on insurance for disabled people. It also outlines ways in which problems
can be resolved, advice can be received and information can be shared. A number
of new initiatives are planned which insurers hope will develop a common
understanding with disabled people which works to their mutual benefit."
The Guide contains helpful insurance advice for disabled people in the light of the
Disability
Discrimination Act. It sets out with clear examples what insurance companies can and
cannot do, with sections on some of the main types of insurance affected. It also
explains
the principles of insurance and how to go about buying insurance.
Section 7 of the Guide considers the resolution of disputes and announces the
establishment of an Insurance/Disability Advisory Forum. This will be made up of
insurers
and representatives of disability organisations. Disabled people/organisations and
insurance companies will be able to seek advice from the Forum on what is reasonable in
complying with the law and will be able to refer specific problems to the Forum for
advice and, hopefully, resolution.
ABI will also be establishing a database of information on the broad area of
disability and
risk. It is hoped that information will be provided by disability organisations and
insurance
companies, and will embrace information, statistics and data relevant to the assessment
of risk to disabled people. A regular newsletter will be produced and widely
circulated,
summarising research studies, information provided by disability organisations, the
work
of the Forum and information on case studies.
Notes
(i) A copy of the Guide is available from the Association of British
Insurers.
(ii) Enquiries to:
(iii) An ISDN line is available for broadcasts.