Bupa to launch new products this year

Bupa promises new products will be launched in the next six months and into 2011 as it announced a steady performance for the first half of 2010.

However it is becoming more reliant on international markets but expects trading conditions to improve next year.

Announcing its half-yearly results, the provider explains that following on from the launch of its recent dental and cash plan products "further significant new product launches are planned for the second half of 2010 and 2011."

This is partly due to the addition of a new back office administration system in its Health and Wellbeing arm, which it says, "will enable the delivery of further efficiency gains and the faster roll out of new products and services."

In the UK, the private health insurance arm, Bupa Health & Wellbeing UK, saw membership decline 0.8% on year end figures, while revenues remained broadly flat, but surplus increased after restructuring costs due to lower claims and cost savings.

Its Health Assurance brand, which focuses on protection and group risk markets, increased revenues primarily as a result of new individual protection business.

However, surplus declined modestly due to higher claims in individual protection and group risk businesses and the impact of a release of claims provisions in the group risk business in the comparative period.

The revenues and profitability in Bupa Wellness decreased due to lower demand for personal health assessments, and the insurer says its costs are being closely managed.

Surplus across its Care Services division increased modestly as higher revenues were offset by increased wage and administration costs net of a reduction in energy and agency staff costs.

Bupa also notes the average local authority fee increase across England from 1 April 2010 was just 0.5%, and says it welcomed the long term care commission, adding it would "actively contribute to the consultation process."

Overall, the provider's revenues grew 10% over the same period in 2009 to £3.71bn (from £3.38bn) with pre-tax surplus down 1% to £162.1m (£163.8m), largely due to international markets which grew strongly, in contrast to Europe and North America.

Revenues and surplus from international markets both jumped markedly, and this now forms 44% of group revenues, up from 40% last year.

This revenue grew to £1.64bn (from £1.34bn), with surplus rising steeply to £88.7m (£51.3m).

It's European and North America business saw revenues increase slightly to £1.492bn (£1.488bn) but surplus almost halved to £27.3m (£43.1m).

The trend is something Ray King, chief executive of Bupa, expects to persevere for the rest of the year.

"Health insurance markets in Europe and North America continue to be affected by high levels of unemployment and UK aged care is being impacted by government funding constraints," he says.

"We do not expect trading conditions to change materially in the second half, although continuing economic growth should allow our markets to begin to recover in 2011."