Reforms Expand Women Athletes’ Insurance

Major reforms to insurance coverage for female athletes are set to be introduced following the implementation of key recommendations from the Carney review, marking a significant step forward in addressing long-standing gaps in protection within women’s sport.

Under the changes, athletes will benefit from enhanced insurance provisions covering pregnancy, contraception, menopause, and a range of health conditions that have historically been excluded or inadequately addressed in standard policies. The initiative also targets conditions that disproportionately affect sportswomen, including relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), a complex syndrome linked to insufficient energy intake relative to training demands, often resulting in hormonal disruption, stress fractures, and menstrual irregularities.

The reforms are being driven by the Women’s Football Taskforce, which commissioned Loughborough University—recently recognised as the world’s leading institution for sports-related studies for the tenth consecutive year—to collaborate with insurers and brokers in redesigning coverage frameworks.

Former England international turned broadcaster Karen Carney, whose independent review of women’s football informed the reforms, welcomed the progress, stating that the practical implementation of recommendations demonstrates the growing commitment to improving conditions for women in sport.

Sport Minister and Taskforce Chair Stephanie Peacock described the developments as a “welcome and tangible improvement”, praising insurers and academic partners for translating policy into meaningful change.

The initiative forms part of a broader government strategy aimed at delivering a “decade of change” for women’s and girls’ sport. It follows wider investments in grassroots infrastructure, including upgraded facilities, improved floodlighting, and expanded access to community pitches across the United Kingdom. It also aligns with ongoing reforms in professional football, including structural and governance changes within the Women's Super League.

Industry bodies such as the British Insurance Brokers’ Association are coordinating with major firms including Aon, Willis, Miller, Howden, and Marsh to review and revise exclusion clauses in existing policies. Notably, Aon has become the first provider to extend personal accident cover to include miscarriage resulting from sporting activity as a standard inclusion.

Key Insurance Changes for Female Athletes

The reforms are expected to set a new benchmark in sports insurance, ensuring that female athletes are no longer disadvantaged by outdated policy structures that fail to reflect their physiological and health-related needs.