Allianz has embedded a whiplash care program in its compulsory third party case management process after finding it can help people recover faster.

MyWhiplash Navigator is a self-guided online tool designed to help patients and health professionals manage such injuries. 

It was developed by the University of Sydney and University of Queensland, in partnership with the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority and Queensland Motor Accidents Insurance Commission. 

Allianz says whiplash injuries are costly, affecting about 75,000 Australians a year and accounting for 75% of all survivable car crash injuries. About half of sufferers do not fully recover. 

The insurer’s data shows NSW claims cost $286 million between 2020 and 2024. 

Allianz has run a pilot project with 300 customers over the past year. Case managers tailored support based on the customers’ prognostic risk profiles and encouraged people to access MyWhiplash Navigator. 

The insurer’s national medical manager for CTP injury and programs Joshua Ho says customers reported high satisfaction and “we’re seeing real behavioural shifts that align with best practice care”. 

The lead investigator for MyWhiplash Navigator, University of Sydney professor Trudy Rebbeck, expects faster recoveries, shorter claims and reduced care and wage replacement costs.

She says one striking finding from the study is how effectively case managers have adopted clinical guideline principles – an area that was considered challenging.

The trial shows behaviour can be changed in a relatively short time, and insurers can play a critical role providing the right information to people with whiplash, she says.

The MyWhiplash tool is available here.