- Court ruling puts TPD work-hours conditions under the microscope
A recent Queensland Court of Appeal decision has put fresh attention on how work-hours conditions operate in total and permanent disablement insurance, particularly where cover is held through a superannuation fund.
- New Genetic Test Rules Change Life Insurance Underwriting
Australia’s new genetic testing protections are now in force, marking one of the more practical changes to life insurance underwriting in recent years.
- New Claims Data Highlights the Importance of Choosing the Right Life Cover
The latest life insurance claims and disputes data from Australia’s regulators is a useful reminder that buying cover is not just about finding the lowest premium. For households comparing policies, the more important question is whether the cover is likely to work as expected at claim time.
- New APRA rules put insurer systems under the spotlight
Australia’s tougher operational risk regime is sharpening the focus on how life insurers manage the systems, partners and processes that sit behind every policy. APRA’s CPS 230 standard requires regulated insurers to identify critical operations, set clear disruption tolerances and strengthen oversight of material service providers.
- Automation Is Changing Life Cover Decisions
Recent industry reporting has put renewed attention on how artificial intelligence and automated decision-making are being used across insurance. For life insurance customers, the issue is not whether technology is good or bad. It is whether faster systems are being used in ways that remain fair, explainable and properly supervised.
- What Simpler Advice Rules May Mean for Life Insurance
The latest stage of Australia’s financial advice reform debate has direct implications for life insurance, particularly for people who hold cover through superannuation or have avoided seeking advice because of cost and complexity.
- Life Insurance Code Review Puts Customer Treatment Back in Focus
The review of Australia’s Life Insurance Code of Practice has moved from a broad governance discussion into a more practical question for households: what should good insurer behaviour look like when people apply for cover, update a policy or make a claim?
- What the Life Insurance Code review means for policyholders
The continuing review of Australia's Life Insurance Code of Practice has become more than an industry governance exercise. For policyholders, it is a timely reminder that the real value of life insurance depends on what happens at underwriting, at renewal, and especially when a claim is made.
- What APRA’s Latest Life Insurance Data Means for Policyholders
APRA’s latest life insurance performance data has again drawn attention to the balancing act facing Australian life insurers: keeping products financially sustainable while maintaining cover that households can understand and afford. For consumers, the headline is not simply whether insurers are profitable.
- Why Life Insurance Complaints Matter Before You Claim
The latest complaints snapshot across financial services has again underlined a simple but important lesson for Australian households: life insurance is not just about having a policy in place. It is also about understanding how that policy works when a claim is made.
- Advice Reform Push Highlights Australia’s Life Cover Knowledge Gap
A fresh push from the Council of Australian Life Insurers has put a familiar consumer problem back in the spotlight: many Australians have life insurance in place, but far fewer clearly understand what it does and does not cover.
- Longer Lives, Longer Illnesses: What It Means for Cover
New research from Zurich has put a fresh spotlight on a challenge many Australian households already feel in practical terms: living longer does not always mean living healthier.
- Mercer Super Fine Shows Why Life Cover Needs Regular Checks
A new Federal Court penalty against Mercer Super has put another spotlight on the systems that sit behind insurance held through superannuation. Mercer Super has been ordered to pay $10.
- HCF Life Appeal Decision Puts Policy Wording Back in Focus
A recent Full Federal Court decision involving HCF Life has put renewed attention on one of the most important parts of any life insurance policy: how pre-existing conditions are described, limited and explained to customers.
- ASIC Warning Highlights Ongoing Delays in Super Death Benefit Claims
ASIC’s latest warning to superannuation trustees is a timely reminder that life insurance is only as valuable as the claims process behind it.
- Life Insurers Under Scrutiny for Rising Delays in Claim Payments
Recent findings from the Life Insurance Code Compliance Committee (Life CCC) have revealed a concerning 67% increase in violations related to delayed income protection and Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claim payments by Australian life insurers.
- Addressing Australia's Life Insurance Underinsurance Crisis: Calls for Regulatory Change
Australia's life insurance industry is currently grappling with a significant underinsurance gap, described by industry leaders as a 'perfect storm' of challenges. This situation arises from a combination of social, economic, and regulatory factors that have led to decreased engagement with life insurance products, particularly among younger Australians.
- Regulators Call for Immediate Reforms in TPD Insurance Amid Rising Mental Health Claims
In a recent joint roundtable, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have emphasised the pressing need for reforms in Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance.
- APRA Enforces Capital Add-On and Licence Conditions on KeyInvest After Risk Management Review
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has recently imposed an additional $5.5 million capital requirement on KeyInvest Limited, a life insurance company and friendly society primarily offering funeral bonds.
- Consumer Advocates Challenge Proposed Changes to Mental Health Exclusions in Life Insurance Policies
Consumer advocacy groups have recently expressed strong opposition to life insurers' proposals to lift existing code restrictions on blanket exclusions for mental health coverage. This move by insurers aims to modify the Life Insurance Code of Practice to allow for broader exclusions related to mental health conditions.
- Surge in Mental Health Claims Challenges Australia's Income Support System
Recent data indicates a substantial increase in mental health-related claims, exerting considerable pressure on Australia's income support safety net. This trend underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to address the growing demand for mental health support and the sustainability of income protection mechanisms.
- Australian Life Insurers Support Review of Life Insurance Code of Practice
The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) has announced an independent review of the Life Insurance Code of Practice, a move welcomed by industry stakeholders aiming to bolster consumer trust and protections.
- Australia Bans Use of Genetic Test Results in Life Insurance Underwriting
The Australian Senate has recently passed groundbreaking legislation that prohibits life insurers from using genetic test results in their underwriting processes. This landmark decision aims to protect consumers from potential discrimination based on their genetic information and to ensure fairness in the assessment of life insurance policies.
- APRA's New Capital Framework for Longevity Products
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has recently finalised amendments to its prudential standards concerning the capital treatment of longevity products, including annuities. These reforms aim to bolster the market for retirement income products, providing Australians with more robust financial security in their later years.
- Swiss Re's Strategic Pause on New Life Insurance Business
Swiss Re Life & Health Australia Limited has announced a temporary suspension of new life insurance business in Australia, effective from October 2025. This decision stems from growing concerns over the sustainability of Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) products within the Australian market.
- Australian Life Insurers' New Mental Health Action Plan
In response to the escalating mental health crisis, Australian life insurers have committed to developing a comprehensive industry action plan aimed at supporting long-term affordability and sustainability. This initiative seeks to deliver greater clarity, fairness, and transparency for customers dealing with mental health conditions.
- Hostplus and MetLife Australia Strengthen Ties with Extended Partnership
Hostplus, a prominent Australian superannuation fund, has announced the extension of its group insurance partnership with MetLife Australia until June 2028. This collaboration, which began in 2013, aims to provide comprehensive insurance coverage to Hostplus members, including Death, Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD), and Income Protection insurance.
- APRA and ASIC Publish December 2025 Life Insurance Claims and Disputes Data
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have jointly released the Life Insurance Claims and Disputes Statistics publication, covering the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
- TAL Recognized as 2026 Life Insurer of the Year by Money Magazine
Money magazine has announced its 2026 Life Insurance Awards, with TAL being named Life Insurer of the Year across both group and direct insurance categories. This prestigious recognition underscores TAL's commitment to providing exceptional life insurance services to Australians.
- Australian Senate Prohibits Use of Genetic Test Results in Life Insurance Underwriting
The Australian Senate has recently passed legislation that prohibits life insurers from using genetic test results in their underwriting processes. This landmark decision aims to protect consumers from potential discrimination based on their genetic information and to ensure fairness in the assessment of life insurance policies.
- Life Insurers Advocate for Updated Code of Practice
The Australian life insurance industry is actively supporting revisions to the Life Insurance Code of Practice, aiming to align with evolving regulatory requirements and consumer expectations. This initiative underscores the sector's commitment to maintaining trust and relevance in a dynamic environment.
- AIA Australia Highlights Need for Industry Adaptation
AIA Australia has raised concerns about impending structural changes in the life insurance sector, driven by increasing mental health claims and economic volatility. CEO Damien Mu emphasized the necessity for the industry to adapt to these evolving challenges to ensure sustainability.
- Australian Life Insurers Report Significant Underwriting Profit
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has reported a substantial underwriting gain of $279 million for the life insurance sector in the December quarter of 2025. This marks a significant improvement from the $36 million recorded in the same period the previous year, highlighting the industry's resilience and adaptability.
- How Rising Insurance Premiums Are Impacting Australian Retirees
Recent reports have highlighted a concerning trend: Australian retirees are increasingly burdened by soaring insurance premiums, with some experiencing hikes as steep as 400%. This surge poses a significant threat to their financial stability, especially for those on fixed incomes.
- Regulators Push for Stability in Life Insurance Premiums
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) have jointly called on life insurers to address issues related to premium volatility.
- Regulatory Hurdles Impede Expansion of Life Insurance Advice in Australia
The Australian life insurance advice sector is facing significant growth challenges due to complex regulatory requirements. Industry leaders have highlighted that the current compliance landscape is deterring new entrants and limiting the capacity of existing advisors to serve a broader client base.
- ASIC Identifies Ongoing Issues in Direct Life Insurance Sales Practices
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has recently conducted a comprehensive review of direct life insurance sales practices, uncovering persistent deficiencies that continue to compromise consumer protection. This scrutiny comes in the wake of the Hayne Royal Commission's recommendations, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance in the industry.
- Swiss Re Suspends New Life Insurance Business Over TPD Product Sustainability
Swiss Re, a leading global reinsurer, has recently announced a temporary suspension of new life insurance business in Australia. This decision stems from growing concerns over the sustainability of Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) products, which have been under increasing scrutiny due to rising claim costs and evolving societal expectations.
- APRA Collaborates with Life Insurers to Address TPD Product Sustainability
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is actively engaging with life insurers to address the growing challenges associated with Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) products. This collaborative effort aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of TPD offerings, which have been under pressure due to increasing claims and evolving market dynamics.
