This Month
At nearly $2000 a year, TPD insurance in a ‘death spiral’
A financial adviser exodus and rising total and permanent disability insurance premiums mean fewer people have cover.
Surge in mental health claims spurred by flaws in workers’ compo
Life insurers’ increased mental health claims is partly the result of tightened and unattractive workers’ compensation schemes, say psychologists and actuaries.
Rise in mental health claims a symptom of a bigger malaise
Mental health and insurance providers must fix the system’s entrenched flaws to avoid the worst of the sustainability and affordability crisis ahead.
Millennial mental health claims help push life insurers to $2.2b crisis
Insurers say stress, burnout and bullying – especially among young people – are among the reasons claimants give for being unable to return to the workforce.
August 2024
My wife can’t work any more – how do we handle her insurance payout?
The tax rules on super policy payments are complicated when you’re younger – this is how they work.
August 2023
Labor inaction leaves customers wasting money on insurance
The delays by Stephen Jones are leaving Australians stranded in unnecessarily expensive life insurance products or without cover they need, industry warns.
March 2021
Infrabuild key as Gupta scrambles to refinance
As billionaire Sanjeev Gupta pushes desperately to keep his empire afloat, former Cleanaway chief executive Vik Bansal has been approached to be the next boss of structural steel business Infrabuild.
February 2021
How to reduce income protection costs as premiums soar
If you’re facing an increase of up to 70 per cent, you’re not alone. We outline ways to save by working out which features are essential.
December 2020
'Paying for junk': Super insurance gets mixed review
Australians fork out more than $4.1b a year from their super for insurance, APRA says, but value for money can be very hit and miss.
September 2020
Why am I paying insurance commissions and getting no advice?
Reputable firms should be cutting premiums under a fee-for-service arrangement, writes John Wasiliev who answers your questions on super.
August 2020
Lawyers turn to AI to make judgments on workplace claims
Maurice Blackburn says using AI software to judge whether to take on workers' insurance claims means it can give clients a decision in minutes instead of days.
March 2020
Call for delay to automatic removal of insurance in super
Consumer rights lawyer John Berrill is worried workers will be incapacitated or killed by COVID-19, only to find their insurance has been terminated.
February 2020
Disability insurance market poised for total failure
The disability income insurance market faces total failure unless sweeping changes are made to the design and sale of products.
October 2019
Veterans' bitter battle to win insurance claim for injuries
The veterans, some of whom witnessed mates killed during tours of duty, also attacked insurers' efforts to have them retrained as “burger flippers”.
April 2019
More work to be done to stop super fee gouging
The sole purpose test should be updated to make it unlawful for super funds to offer disability and income protection insurance, former Labor minister Nick Sherry says.