The Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (AMII) has revealed it is in 'serious talks' to add protection insurers to the trade body's corporate membership.
Wayne Pontin, chairman of AMII said the association was in discussion with 3 of the five biggest protection insurers but no names or timescales could be given as yet due to the ongoing talks.
He said he hoped the trade body would represent the health and protection industries, when previously its focus had been around private medical insurance.
Pontin said: "In terms of corporate members I think we're up to about 15 members now. We've had a bit of a membership surge over the last 2-3 months with a couple more that have indicated they're going to join before the end of the year.
"We are pleased with that growth and we are also in talks with some of the protection insurers. Potentially we are hoping to get those on board on well. The idea is to make it a truly representative trade body for the industry so it becomes a spokesperson for the whole health, wellbeing and protection industry. We're in serious conversations with 3 of the 5 top protection providers."
Pontin also said the association was undertaking a drive to get some of the larger employee benefit consultants involved.
AMII had previously been called the Association of Medical Insurance Intemediaries and its membership had been health insurance advisers.
Last year AMII confirmed it was opening its membership to providers. In July 2013, COVER revealed Aviva, AXA, Bupa, Health Shield, CS Healthcare, Westfield Health and Simplyhealth had signed up.
In June this year, the trade body signed up Health Assured and Beneden Health to its corporate membership.
To date, current corporate members include Aviva Health UK, AXA PPP Healthcare, AXA PPP International, Bupa, Health Shield, Westfield Health, CS Healthcare, Simplyhealth, Engage Mutual, Permanent Health Company, Benenden Health, Health Assured, April UK and Medicash.
