Until about 2000, there was little awareness of healthcare fraud in the UK. This started to change as the NHS Counter-Fraud and Security Management Services began to highlight cases of fraud in the public sector and to obtain prosecutions. In 2003, AXA PPP healthcare conducted an audit of 650 medical insurance claims across the UK which concluded that there was a small but definite level of fraud in claims for private healthcare at a level which would affect customer premiums. They set up a full time dedicated healthcare counter-fraud unit and other insurers quickly followed suit.

The health insurers counter fraud group was started in July 2001 as an informal group of interested individuals who met to discuss issues of common interest and to exchange information and suspicions about potential frauds under some agreed terms of reference. Initially only Norwich Union and AXA PPP healthcare conducted joint investigations but cooperation has increased and as a result of other joint working and sharing of intelligence, a number of other cases are now being considered by the General Medical Council – who license and regulate doctors.

 In 2008 under the chair of Ray Collins from PruHealth, the group decided to substantially increase its profile and level of activity. It is now much more formalised and this year will be hosting training sessions and an annual conference. A number of bodies such as the Association of British Insurers, the NHS Counter Fraud Service and the City of London Police attend the group and we now actively assists with investigations of doctors in the public sector.