insuranceNEWS.com.au - Life Insurance

Industry underwriting gain rises

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:58:15 GMT

The life industry recorded an underwriting gain of $279 million in the December quarter, up sharply from $36 million a year earlier, according to Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data...

Shed builder’s injury claim collapses on missing proof

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:58:07 GMT

A policyholder has lost a dispute over accident insurance due to a lack of medical evidence supporting his injury claim...

Analysts expect more mergers in push for scale

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:57:57 GMT

The industry can expect more strategic mergers as life insurers respond to changes in the Australian market, according to an IBISWorld report...

MBS buys Honan life operation

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:57:31 GMT

Adviser MBS Insurance has acquired Marsh-owned Honan Insurance Group’s life business for an undisclosed amount...

Streamlined ClearView makes profit gains

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:57:20 GMT

Life insurer ClearView Wealth says its simplification drive helped raise first-half earnings...

Trustee misled policyholder, but coverage cut was fair

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:46:54 GMT

A policyholder who did not understand that a total and permanent disability payment reduced his death cover has lost a dispute over the matter...

Life sales lift Challenger H1 result

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:46:46 GMT

Australian wealth manager Challenger says its life business achieved an 11% rise in sales to $5.1 billion in the December half, driven by record annuity transactions...

St Andrews enters NZ with Golden launch

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:46:38 GMT

St Andrew’s Insurance Group has started offering life products in New Zealand, with the launch of Golden Insurance...

Acenda recruits ex-bank exec for culture role

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:46:12 GMT

Acenda says former Westpac executive Ross Miller joined last week as group chief people and culture officer...

AFCA backs regulator-approved, enforceable code

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:22:30 GMT

A life insurance code that is approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission will send a “powerful signal” to consumers and key stakeholders, the financial services ombudsman says...

Insured falls short of ‘high bar’ in TPD battle

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:22:14 GMT

A concussion victim has been denied a total and permanent disability benefit after the industry ombudsman found he did not meet his insurance policy’s terms...

Noble Oak, Nib launch distribution tie-up

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:21:52 GMT

Direct life insurer Noble Oak has started offering products under a distribution partnership with health group Nib Holdings...

Acenda moves into retirement income business

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:21:37 GMT

Acenda Life has expanded into the retirement market with the launch today of its Lifestream guaranteed income product...

Court wipes out AFCA ruling in TPD tussle

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:38:09 GMT

The Federal Court has overturned an ombudsman’s decision on the date of disablement for calculating a woman’s TPD payment, finding in favour of the insurer...

Rights advocates, researcher flag flaws in genetic test ban

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:37:55 GMT

The Australian Human Rights Commission remains concerned about several aspects of the proposed ban on using genetic test results in life underwriting...

Advisers call for recovery ‘friend’ to aid compensation scheme

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:37:45 GMT

A federally funded recovery program should be created to make the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort more sustainable, financial advisers say...

Insurer told to restore cover after cancellation mix-up

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:36:58 GMT

A man who cancelled his income protection insurance without realising he would also end his critical illness cover has won a battle to have the policy reinstated...

Advisers urge senators to ‘carefully consider’ genetic test ban

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:35:49 GMT

Financial advisers say they still have doubts about proposed laws banning the use of genetic test results in life underwriting...

Insurer wrong to reject stroke survivor, ombudsman says

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:35:33 GMT

An insurer’s interpretation of its policy did not align with medical evidence when it refused to pay a crisis recovery benefit, the financial services ombudsman has ruled...

Acenda ‘consulting with our people’ on restructure

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:35:26 GMT

Acenda says it is “aligning” its business and expects to have a new structure in place by April...