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Efforts to drive down non-disclosure have led to an 11 per cent increase in critical illness payments by Norwich Union in the past two years, according to the insurer’s latest claims report.

The Critical Insurance Claims Report reveals that 86 per cent of critical insurance claims were paid during the first half of 2007, compared to 80 per cent in 2006 and 75 per cent in 2005.
A campaign to educate consumers on the importance of full disclosure has been run over the last 12 months.

In addition, Norwich Union has undertaken a review of 5,000 existing protection policyholders, requesting they review the information submitted in their application for insurance cover.

Risk products director Willie Mowatt told ifaonline.co.uk that non-disclosure is a "huge concern" and "early indications from our pilot have shown an excellent response rate from existing customers providing extra information to ensure they have a valid policy".

"By taking the time and care that protection applications deserve and providing their insurer with full, accurate medical information, customers can be sure that they have a valid policy which will provide a payment in the event of a legitimate claim," he added.

Ever smaller and easier to use insulin inhalers are revolutionising the lifestyle and health of diabetes sufferers.

Pfizer is now developing next generation inhalers, new and improved versions of what is a breakthrough treatment for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

This is a follow up to Pfizer’s Exubera, which was launched last year.

Inhaled insulin is a better way of controlling blood sugar levels and releases people with diabetes from a lifetime of injections.

A one per cent reduction in a diabetic’s A1C blood sugar level can reduce the risk of eye, kidney, nerve and heart damage by up to 43 per cent, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Pfizer says: "Exubera [is] the world’s first form of inhaled insulin for the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which offers life-altering treatment options to patients.

"Although this is a breakthrough in diabetes treatment and delivery technology, we are now working on the next generation of inhaler to make the management of diabetes even easier."

Eli Lilly is also working on an even smaller and easier to use inhaled insulin device, based on air technology, due to be released in 2009.