Insights

6th August 2024

National Friendly’s new Friendly Shield policy has been designed to support stretched household finances from unexpected accidents in an affordable way. 

Spotting the market gap 

By listening closely to what both advisers and policyholders have to say, National Friendly has created an innovative product that’s easy to buy and even easier to understand, making insurance more accessible for everyone.  

Friendly Shield is straightforward, with no medical underwriting, a single pricing structure, and benefits for each family member. It’s the refreshingly simple solution the industry needs right now. 

With cost-of-living pressures still very much apparent for the majority of the UK, with ONS reporting that 55% of adults in May 2024* felt an increase in their household expenses compared to the month before, Friendly Shield can help bridge any protection gaps in an affordable and accessible way.  

Who’s it for? 

Friendly Shield is perfect for a wide range of customers. It can complement traditional life or protection policies or be an affordable first insurance product for young buyers and renters. It’s ideal for people in jobs where accidental injuries are more likely and who might find traditional income protection too expensive. Small business owners could also find it valuable for protecting their employees in a hassle-free way. 

Advisers, this one’s for you!  

Whether you’re doing a simple or detailed fact find, you can use Friendly Shield to address your clients’ main concerns, without breaking the bank. It’s flexible enough to be added as a rider to existing life, health, or protection policies, making it a great addition to your sales toolkit. 

Benefits for your clients 

Friendly Shield offers a range of protection. No one likes to think about accidents, but they happen. Friendly Shield provides a generous accidental death benefit and a smaller benefit for non-accidental deaths to help with unexpected expenses.  

For the first three months after an accident, when someone might be unable to work, they’ve got a solution with the short-term income benefit. The policy also provides a cash benefit for hospital stays, which can help to cover parking and childcare costs, plus a helpful cash benefit for bone fractures. 

But that’s not all! With a virtual GP service which is provided for the whole family from day one, Friendly GP, clients can manage their health and rehabilitation, providing them with access to private treatment to get them back on their feet.  

With over 155 years of experience, National Friendly knows how to take care of your clients. 

How to talk about Friendly Shield 

Not every client can get cover if they have poor health, or a limited budget, but everyone is vulnerable to having accidents. This policy should be offered to all who would suffer a financial loss, and don’t have the time, budget or medical history to apply for comprehensive, underwritten cover. 

When discussing Friendly Shield with clients, the policy can be presented as an exciting, innovative new option from a trusted name in protection.  

Why National Friendly? 

National Friendly has been helping customers with their healthcare and life cover needs for over 155 years. As a mutual, their customers and brokers are at the heart of what they do.   

Relationships are key to their ongoing success, and they focus on providing a personal, friendly service to both brokers and customers while offering a fresh approach and innovation to the protection industry. 

Looking Ahead 

Friendly Shield offers more than just insurance; it provides peace of mind and affordable protection for when it’s needed most.   

It’s the simple, affordable and quick option for your client. 

Sources:

*Rising cost of living in the UK - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)

This article was originally published on IRESS.

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