The impact of Ebola, the general election and private GPs are all likely to be felt in 2015, Jelf Employee benefits has predicted.
For IPMI the impact of Ebola has been predicted to have a big impact as those countries affected try to rebuild their economies, while the impact of the changes in legislation are likely to increase the number of firms taking action to avoid fines.
Another prediction is for the possibility of an expansion of the companies involved in OPEC countries as they try to diversify their economies.
The General Election is predicted to have an impact in the group risk market where the impact of group income protection possibly being included in party manifestos following ABI lobbying.
For PMI a bigger role for private GPs is predicted with the relationship between insurers and private hospitals possibly resulting in "robust negotiations" as insurers try to reduce costs and providers look for more attempts to stimulate the insured patient market.
Iain Laws, managing director, healthcare and group risk at Jelf Employee Benefits said: "it is a General Election year so the NHS will be high profile, as will the Government's yet to fully roll out Fit for Work scheme. I'm sure there are going to be a number of new issues to tackle depending on the manifestos of the political parties."
Steve Herbert, head of benefits strategy at Jelf Employee Benefits, added: "Employers dipping their toes in the benefits waters for the first time should look to Group Risk as a vital protection tool for employers and employees alike, it is too often overlooked, misunderstood or deemed not an important enough product. However there are a number of developments in this area which could mean that Group Risk's time in the spotlight is finally approaching."
