Accident, Sickness and Unemployment cover - past, present and future

Significant shifts in usage and design

clock • 6 min read

Ian Sawyer, commercial director at Assured Futures, takes a closer look at the changing face of Accident, Sickness and Unemployment (ASU) cover and asks what role it could play in the future protection landscape.

The first fire, accident and life insurance companies were set up in the UK in the 1700s. In an industry with a 300-year heritage, it is tempting to assume little changes. However, while the concept of insurance goes back centuries, how and why customers want and need it has evolved hugely as has the shape of those products and how they are viewed. Even products with much shorter histories like Accident, Sickness and Unemployment (ASU) cover have seen significant shifts in their usage and design, even across just this century. ASU is a form of income protection that pays a tax-free propo...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Individual Protection

The COVER Review: Protection sales, fit notes and long-term care

The COVER Review: Protection sales, fit notes and long-term care

Week commencing 18 May 2026

COVER
clock 22 May 2026 • 1 min read
Decline in new sales for most protection lines: Swiss Re Term & Health Watch

Decline in new sales for most protection lines: Swiss Re Term & Health Watch

L&G overtakes Aviva in term assurance sales

Jaskeet Briah
clock 21 May 2026 • 3 min read
Mental Health Awareness Week is not just for clients

Mental Health Awareness Week is not just for clients

Mental health resources and opinion

Cameron Roberts
clock 15 May 2026 • 4 min read