The Conservatives are considering plans to use financial incentives to encourage people to take out private medical insurance, shadow health secretary Liam Fox said yesterday.

Forum Response: General Insurance Standards Council

A spokeswoman for the General Insurance Standards Council told ePolitix.com: "With the possibility of even more consumers buying medical expenses insurance it is even more important that intermediaries who advise on and sell such products are regulated.

"At present regulation of intermediaries is on a voluntary basis. Many such intermediaries are members of the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries which greatly encourages membership of the regulator, the General Insurance Standards Council.

"GISC strongly recommends consumers to check that their medical insurance advisers are GISC members."