Life Insurance
APRA data sheds light on dispute outcomes
04 May 2026
Life insurers resolved up to 95% of claims disputes, kept initial decisions in more than half of resolved accident cases and reversed outcomes in 4% of trauma complaint files last year, according to prudential data...
AFCA in no rush on AI tools
04 May 2026
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority is “taking a very slow approach” to using artificial intelligence to support handling life insurance disputes...
‘Pre-invasive’ melanoma falls short of trauma payout threshold
04 May 2026
A skin cancer survivor seeking a trauma benefit under a TAL life policy has lost a dispute because her tumour was not in an advanced stage...
‘Continued shift’: more NZ consumers seek digital advice
04 May 2026
Uptake of digital advice in New Zealand surged 90% in 2024-25, according to a Financial Markets Authority report...
Call for insurance warnings under super product ad ban
04 May 2026
Superannuation groups have pressed federal Treasury to require insurance coverage warnings under regulations banning advertisements of certain super products to new employees...
AIA shakes up NZ adviser set-up, distribution team
04 May 2026
AIA New Zealand has changed its adviser model and made appointments to its distribution leadership team...
MetLife expands 360Health with mental wellbeing support
04 May 2026
MetLife has added a virtual early intervention mental wellness service to its 360Health offering...
Competition commission probes Zurich-ClearView deal
27 April 2026
Zurich Financial Services’ move to buy listed life insurer ClearView Wealth is being assessed by the competition watchdog...
Insurer wrong to apply tumour exclusion, ombudsman says
27 April 2026
A policy exclusion for pituitary gland tumours does not apply to a man who had brain surgery, the financial services ombudsman has ruled...
Advisers back education revamp with call for quick change
27 April 2026
Financial advisers want the federal government to move “as soon as possible” on a revamp of the profession’s education requirements...
APRA consults on reporting standard updates
27 April 2026
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority is seeking feedback on proposed changes to three life reporting standards as part of its move to a new data collection system...
ALUCA reveals awards finalists
27 April 2026
Contenders for the Australasian Life Underwriting and Claims Association’s annual excellence awards have been chosen...
Challenger sees ‘strong momentum’ in Q3
27 April 2026
Wealth manager Challenger’s life business delivered a 19% rise in sales to $1.7 billion for the third quarter...
TAL to ‘accelerate’ cloud, AI use with Microsoft
27 April 2026
TAL has made more investments in artificial intelligence under a new five-year partnership with Microsoft, expanding the two companies’ working relationship...
Lawyers warn of rise in sport concussion claims
20 April 2026
Insurers face “evolving implications” as medical understanding of head injuries linked to contact sports improves, Barry Nilsson says...
Customer told to settle overpayment after double dip
20 April 2026
An insurer was correct to pause income protection payments once it discovered a policyholder was also receiving compulsory third party benefits, the industry ombudsman has ruled...
Financial services bodies back adviser education overhaul
20 April 2026
The federal government’s proposed reform of adviser education requirements has won the backing of the Joint Associations Working Group – a bloc of 11 financial services and advice peak bodies...
Future2 programs ‘making a real difference’
20 April 2026
The Future2 Foundation says its annual grant program supported more than 1200 people last year...
Upper house gives final nod to genetic testing law
13 April 2026
Life insurers will be banned from using genetic test results for underwriting purposes after the Senate voted to pass legislation implementing the reform...
Industry mental health stance a backwards step, reviewer says
13 April 2026
Life insurers’ proposed changes to mental health cover represent “a step back” from the industry’s current commitments, code reviewer Peter Kell says in an interim report...