Why might an intermediary that sells Private Medical Insurance (PMI) need to repay an insurer for early cancellation?

The reason an intermediary might need to repay an insurer for early cancellation is linked to the indemnity commission terms of their compensation. Under these terms, the intermediary typically receives a commission based on the premiums they collect from policyholders. If a policyholder cancels their Private Medical Insurance (PMI) policy early, it often means that the insurer has not collected the full premium amount that was anticipated when the commission was calculated. As a result, the intermediary may need to repay a portion of the commission to reflect the reduced income to the insurer due to the early cancellation. This mechanism ensures that commissions are aligned with the actual business that remains on the books and prevents intermediaries from benefiting financially from short-lived policies.