insuranceNEWS.com.au - Life Insurance

Industry profit down amid investment slump

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:20:28 GMT

The life industry made a profit of $121 million from continuing operations after income tax in the March quarter, down from $332 million a year earlier...

Watchdog rules out TPD intervention – for now

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:19:55 GMT

The prudential regulator has no immediate plans to act on the total and permanent disability line, even as worsening mental health claim losses raise questions over its viability...

Stakeholders weigh fixes for disability cover ‘limitations’

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:19:42 GMT

A shake-up of disability insurance product design was among the topics discussed at a Zurich roundtable on mental health challenges...

Insurer rapped over sales practices and payment chase

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:19:21 GMT

The industry ombudsman has ordered Hannover Life Re to give a full premium refund to a man who was sold funeral cover and was then harassed when he failed to pay the fees...

MetLife makes case for trauma cover

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:18:57 GMT

Critical illness protection offers flexibility that “makes a real difference”, yet many Australians overlook it, according to MetLife...

Regulators warn industry on TPD challenges

Mon, 25 May 2026 05:13:35 GMT

“Decisive action” is needed to tackle sustainability pressures on total and permanent disability cover, regulators told a recent roundtable with life insurers and Treasury...

Advisers call for crackdown on misconduct in CSLR shake-up

Mon, 25 May 2026 05:08:43 GMT

Financial Advice Association Australia has called for “vigorous pursuit of wrongdoers” in a submission on ways to reform the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort...

Court orders ‘gold standard’ medical check in TPD row

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:39:57 GMT

The NSW Supreme Court has told a Zurich claimant to undergo a neuropsychological assessment after the insurer applied for the order in a dispute over a total and permanent disability payout...

Policyholder misled over back injury exclusion

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:39:50 GMT

A policyholder with a history of backaches was misled when he bought income protection and total and permanent disability covers in 2019, the industry ombudsman has ruled...

TAL hails AustralianSuper claims upgrade

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:39:29 GMT

A digital claims overhaul launched in May last year has improved outcomes for AustralianSuper members, according to TAL...

Consumer groups reject ‘backward step’ on mental health

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:38:22 GMT

Consumer advocates have pushed back on life insurers’ bid to lift a code restriction on blanket exclusions for mental health cover...

Diabetic claimant ‘confused, not fraudulent’

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:38:13 GMT

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

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:37:57 GMT

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

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:50:29 GMT

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

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:10:27 GMT

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

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:10:12 GMT

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’

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:10:05 GMT

Advisers fear professional indemnity insurance impacts from the recent spate of failures in managed investment schemes...

Advisers flag ‘growing disconnect’ in compo scheme

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:09:07 GMT

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

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:08:57 GMT

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

Mon, 11 May 2026 03:29:37 GMT

St Andrew’s Insurance Group says Andrew Mead has joined as a director...