Consumer groups reject ‘backward step’ on mental health
18 May 2026
Consumer advocates have pushed back on life insurers’ bid to lift a code restriction on blanket exclusions for mental health cover...
Life Insurance
Diabetic claimant ‘confused, not fraudulent’
18 May 2026
A claimant has secured an additional benefit payment of $1.46 million under his total and permanent disability group cover despite not disclosing his diabetes on an application form...
Advisers press for red tape cuts
18 May 2026
Financial Advice Association Australia has repeated its plea for action to reduce regulatory costs, in a response to last week’s federal budget...
Code breaches fall, but monitor flags IP payment delays
11 May 2026
The number of breaches related to the timely payment of income protection benefits rose 67% in 2024-25, prompting concern at the Life Code Compliance Committee...
Surge in numbers relying on safety net
11 May 2026
A surge in mental illness has led to 8.5 million Australians receiving $78.9 billion in “income support” in the past year as demand rises across government, employer and insurer sources, according to a new report...
Heart attack survivor entitled to kind words
11 May 2026
The financial services ombudsman has told an insurer to pay income protection benefits after finding a man suffered a heart attack...
Investment fund failures ‘could hit adviser PI market’
11 May 2026
Advisers fear professional indemnity insurance impacts from the recent spate of failures in managed investment schemes...
Advisers flag ‘growing disconnect’ in compo scheme
11 May 2026
Financial Advice Association Australian has renewed its push for changes to the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort amid a Treasury consultation on ways to improve the system...
Engagement with group cover inspires confidence, study finds
11 May 2026
Super fund members who are engaged with and knowledgeable about their insurance arrangements report a higher level of financial confidence, research by TAL has revealed...
‘Highly respected’ actuary joins St Andrew’s board
11 May 2026
St Andrew’s Insurance Group says Andrew Mead has joined as a director...
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...