The Financial Conduct Authority has published its 2026 Regulatory Priorities for insurance, replacing its old portfolio letters with a single sector plan. The plan rests on four themes: consumer understanding and claims, access to insurance, growth and innovation, and simpler regulation.
What happened
The FCA released the report in February 2026. It signals a move to being a smarter regulator, one the FCA describes as predictable, purposeful and proportionate. The four priorities cover improving how consumers understand cover and how claims are handled, widening access to insurance, supporting growth and innovation, and simplifying the rulebook. The FCA says six Consumer Duty investigations are active, which underlines a shift from setting policy to enforcing it. More than 86% of UK consumers hold at least one general insurance or protection product, so the outcomes reach almost every household.
What this means for you
If you buy cover, expect continued regulatory attention on claims handling and plain policy wording. If you work in the industry, your board must show evidence that Consumer Duty outcomes are delivered, not just assumed. Our explainer on Consumer Duty sets out what the duty requires, and our guide to the FCA and PRA covers the regulators’ roles. The Regulation hub gathers the wider picture.
Sources
- FCA, Regulatory Priorities for the Insurance Sector 2026 (February 2026).
- HCR Law and ComplianceAngle summaries of the FCA 2026 priorities (July 2026 and February 2026).