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Insurance News from Life Insurance Online

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Insurance News
Year: Month:

Claims Handling Scrutiny Offers Income Protection Lessons Claims Handling Scrutiny Offers Income Protection Lessons
05 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent industry attention on insurance claims handling has put a practical issue back in front of Australian households: a policy is only as valuable as the support it provides when a claim is made. For income protection insurance, that moment often arrives during illness, injury, stress and reduced cash flow, so clear communication and timely assessment matter enormously. - read more
What Fresh Life Insurance Data Means for Australian Families What Fresh Life Insurance Data Means for Australian Families
05 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh industry data has again put the spotlight on the financial health of Australia's life insurance sector, with the latest APRA reporting indicating that insurers remain in a more stable position than during the most difficult years of claims volatility and pandemic disruption. For households, however, the important message is not simply whether insurers are profitable. It is whether the cover sitting behind a mortgage, young family, business loan or superannuation account is still suitable, affordable and clearly understood. - read more
Underinsurance Warning Lands at a Critical Time for Farms Underinsurance Warning Lands at a Critical Time for Farms
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh insurance industry concern about underinsurance is especially relevant for Australian farmers as rebuilding and replacement costs remain stubbornly high. While the issue is often discussed in relation to houses, the same pressure applies across rural assets: sheds, fencing, pumps, tanks, grain storage, livestock yards, irrigation equipment and machinery can all cost significantly more to replace than they did when a policy was first arranged. - read more
ASIC Breach Reporting Trends Put Professional Risk Back Under the Microscope ASIC Breach Reporting Trends Put Professional Risk Back Under the Microscope
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Following recent complaints data, fresh industry attention on ASIC’s reportable situations regime is another reminder that professional risk rarely appears without warning. Breach reporting, client complaints, remediation delays and internal control failures can all become early indicators of a larger professional indemnity exposure, particularly for firms that provide financial advice, credit assistance, compliance support, accounting, consulting or outsourced professional services. - read more
Insurance Complaints Put Policy Clarity Back on the Agenda Insurance Complaints Put Policy Clarity Back on the Agenda
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s insurance complaints environment remains a useful warning sign for real estate agencies, particularly those relying on multiple policies across professional indemnity, public liability, cyber, office contents, business interruption and commercial motor cover. Recent dispute trends reported through the financial complaints system continue to show that customers are most likely to become frustrated when claims are delayed, declined, poorly explained or affected by policy exclusions they did not fully understand at the outset. - read more
Bali Flight Disruptions Put Natural Disaster Cover in the Spotlight Bali Flight Disruptions Put Natural Disaster Cover in the Spotlight
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Renewed flight disruption around Bali has put natural disaster cover back in focus for Australian travellers, after volcanic ash activity in Indonesia again showed how quickly a straightforward holiday can become a logistical and financial problem. When airlines delay, cancel or reroute services, travellers may face extra accommodation, meals, transport, missed tours and rearranged connections, often before they have a clear answer on what their insurer will pay. - read more
What the Latest SME Insurance Index Means for Liability Cover What the Latest SME Insurance Index Means for Liability Cover
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Vero’s latest SME Insurance Index has put a familiar small business challenge back in focus: many Australian operators know insurance is essential, but still find it difficult to judge whether their cover matches the risks they face. For businesses with public interaction, contractors, deliveries, site visits or customer premises exposure, that uncertainty can be especially costly if a third-party injury or property damage claim arises. - read more
What Cyclone Alfred Recovery Means for Restaurant Insurance What Cyclone Alfred Recovery Means for Restaurant Insurance
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s ongoing recovery from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is a timely reminder that severe weather losses are not limited to homes and large infrastructure. Restaurants, cafés and takeaway venues can face a difficult combination of water damage, spoiled stock, damaged equipment, power outages, access issues and interrupted trading after a major storm event. - read more
Insurer Results Improve, but Truck Premium Pressure Remains Insurer Results Improve, but Truck Premium Pressure Remains
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent industry attention on APRA’s latest general insurance performance data points to a market that is in better financial shape than it was during the peak of inflation, catastrophe losses and repair cost volatility. For truck operators, however, the message is not that premiums will automatically fall. It is that renewals may become more negotiable for well-managed risks, while poorly documented fleets could still face tough pricing and tighter conditions. - read more
Why the Latest Insurance Tax Debate Matters for Australian Tradies Why the Latest Insurance Tax Debate Matters for Australian Tradies
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

A renewed industry push to reduce insurance taxes has put affordability back on the agenda for Australian households and businesses, including tradies who already face rising operating costs. The core argument is straightforward: when taxes and levies are added to premiums, the final bill can become harder to absorb, particularly for sole traders and small teams managing vehicles, tools, public liability and workshop risks. - read more
What APRA’s Latest Insurance Data Means for Strata Renewals What APRA’s Latest Insurance Data Means for Strata Renewals
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

APRA’s latest general insurance performance data has added a useful layer to the conversation about strata insurance affordability. The figures point to a sector that is financially stronger than it was during the most volatile phase of recent weather, claims inflation and reinsurance pressure. However, for owners corporations and body corporates, this should not be read as a signal that premiums will automatically ease at the next renewal. - read more
Strata Technology Is Becoming an Insurance Advantage Strata Technology Is Becoming an Insurance Advantage
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Urbanise’s latest market update has put another spotlight on the growing role of digital systems in strata and facilities management. While the announcement is not an insurance product launch, it is highly relevant to owners corporations, strata committees and body corporates because the quality of building data is increasingly connected to the way insurance risks are assessed, priced and managed. - read more
Insurance Tax Reform Push Puts Premium Pressure Back in Focus Insurance Tax Reform Push Puts Premium Pressure Back in Focus
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Insurance taxes are back in industry headlines, with renewed pressure on Australian governments to address the levies, duties and charges that can add to the cost of keeping cover in place. For tradies, this is not just a policy debate in Canberra or state parliament. It can flow through to the real cost of protecting tools, vehicles, workshops, stock, public liability exposures and business interruption risks. - read more
What APRA’s Latest Life Insurance Data Means for Policyholders What APRA’s Latest Life Insurance Data Means for Policyholders
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

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. It is whether that performance flows through to more stable premiums, clearer products and better long-term claims support. - read more
BOM Website Backlash Shows Weather Data Is a Farm Risk Issue BOM Website Backlash Shows Weather Data Is a Farm Risk Issue
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Farmer criticism of the Bureau of Meteorology’s redesigned website is more than a technology complaint. For rural businesses, fast and familiar access to weather information can influence decisions about spraying, harvesting, moving livestock, protecting machinery and preparing for severe events. When that information becomes harder to navigate, even temporarily, the practical impact can be felt at the farm gate. - read more
What Stronger Insurer Results Could Mean for SMEs What Stronger Insurer Results Could Mean for SMEs
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent industry reporting on APRA’s latest general insurance performance data points to a healthier operating environment for Australian insurers. Underwriting results have improved, investment income has supported profitability, and the sector remains strongly capitalised. For small and medium-sized businesses, the headline is encouraging, but it should not be read as a simple promise of cheaper cover across every policy class. - read more
Retail Crime Pressures Are a Reminder to Check Your Shop Cover Retail Crime Pressures Are a Reminder to Check Your Shop Cover
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh industry discussion around retail crime is a timely reminder that shop insurance is not only about large-scale disasters. For many Australian retailers, the more immediate risks are break-ins, shoplifting, vandalism, smashed glass, damaged fixtures and the trading disruption that follows. These incidents may be smaller than a flood or fire, but repeated losses can still put pressure on cash flow and margins. - read more
AFCA Complaints Trends Are a Timely Reminder for Office-Based SMEs AFCA Complaints Trends Are a Timely Reminder for Office-Based SMEs
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh complaints data from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority has again placed insurance claims handling under scrutiny, with disputes commonly linked to delays, claim decisions, communication breakdowns and disagreement over settlement amounts. For office-based small and medium businesses, the message is not simply that disputes can happen. It is that the quality of preparation before a claim often determines how smoothly the claim can be assessed. - read more
What Asteron Life’s ownership shift means for cover reviews What Asteron Life’s ownership shift means for cover reviews
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Asteron Life’s ownership transition from Suncorp to Resolution Life has put another spotlight on a practical question for New Zealand life insurance customers: what should you do when the company behind your policy changes? For most existing policyholders, an ownership change does not automatically rewrite the promises in a current contract. - read more
Fair conduct focus puts income cover quality back on the agenda Fair conduct focus puts income cover quality back on the agenda
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent industry coverage of New Zealand’s financial conduct settings is a timely reminder that insurance is not just about having a policy document in place. The wider conduct regime for financial institutions has shifted attention from one-off sales processes to the ongoing treatment of customers, including whether products are suitable, clearly explained and supported when people need help. - read more
What Insurance Contract Reform Means for Income Protection Customers What Insurance Contract Reform Means for Income Protection Customers
04 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

New Zealand’s long-running insurance contract law reform is shifting from a technical legal issue into something everyday policyholders need to understand. The Contracts of Insurance Act modernises rules that have sat behind insurance policies for generations, including how customers disclose information, how insurers respond to non-disclosure, and how certain policy terms are treated. - read more
What NSW Emergency Services Levy Reform Could Mean for Strata Communities What NSW Emergency Services Levy Reform Could Mean for Strata Communities
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

New South Wales strata communities should keep a close watch on renewed efforts to reform the way emergency services are funded through insurance premiums. The long-running concern is that adding emergency services charges to insurance bills can make cover look more expensive, particularly for apartment buildings, mixed-use schemes and larger owners corporations already managing high rebuilding values and complex risk profiles. - read more
Insurance Complaints Put Claims Preparation Back in Focus Insurance Complaints Put Claims Preparation Back in Focus
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority’s latest reporting has again highlighted insurance as a major source of disputes, with claim delays, communication breakdowns and disagreements over policy outcomes remaining common pressure points. For domestic and home service businesses, the message is practical: the strength of a policy is often tested not when it is bought, but when a claim is made. - read more
What Storm Claims Teach Freelancers About Cover What Storm Claims Teach Freelancers About Cover
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

The insurance fallout from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is a timely reminder that severe weather is not just a household issue. For Australian freelancers, consultants and sole traders, a storm can interrupt work, damage essential equipment, delay client delivery and expose gaps in cover that only become obvious at claim time. - read more
Why Trainers Should Recheck Cover as Costs Rise Why Trainers Should Recheck Cover as Costs Rise
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh industry commentary on business underinsurance is a timely reminder for personal trainers, fitness instructors and small studio owners to look beyond the headline price of a policy. While parts of the commercial insurance market have become more competitive, rising replacement costs and changing business models can still leave fitness operators exposed if their cover has not kept pace. - read more
What APRA’s Latest Numbers Mean for Life Insurance Buyers What APRA’s Latest Numbers Mean for Life Insurance Buyers
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

The latest quarterly life insurance performance update from APRA points to a sector that appears more stable than it was during the difficult income protection years, but still faces the familiar challenge of keeping cover sustainable and affordable for Australian households. - read more
Rental Vacancy Signals Put Portfolio Resilience Back on the Agenda Rental Vacancy Signals Put Portfolio Resilience Back on the Agenda
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Domain’s latest rental market coverage points to a familiar but important message for Australian landlords: national averages are becoming less useful as a guide to day-to-day portfolio risk. Tight vacancy conditions continue to shape many rental markets, but the pressure is not uniform. Some suburbs remain highly competitive for tenants, while others are showing signs of slower enquiry, affordability strain or changing demand between houses and units. - read more
Rising Rebuild Costs Put Landlord Cover Back in Focus Rising Rebuild Costs Put Landlord Cover Back in Focus
01 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh industry commentary on home and property insurance affordability has renewed attention on a problem that can quietly build in the background for landlords: underinsurance. While premium increases often receive the most attention, the larger financial risk for rental property owners may be discovering after a loss that the policy limit no longer reflects the real cost of reinstating the property. - read more
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Life Insurance Articles

Life Insurance for Entrepreneurs: Protecting Your Business and Family
Life Insurance for Entrepreneurs: Protecting Your Business and Family
Life insurance is a financial product designed to provide a safety net for your loved ones and business in the event of your passing. At its core, life insurance aims to deliver financial protection by paying out a lump sum or ongoing payments to a designated beneficiary upon the insured's death. - read more
How Life Insurance Premiums Are Calculated in Australia
How Life Insurance Premiums Are Calculated in Australia
Life insurance premiums in Australia are shaped by a mix of personal, health, lifestyle and policy choices. This guide explains the main cost factors, how underwriting works, and why quotes can vary between insurers. - read more
How Life Insurance and Estate Planning Work Together for Your Benefit
How Life Insurance and Estate Planning Work Together for Your Benefit
For many Australian families, the concept of estate planning might evoke imagery of vast wealth and complex legal documents, reserved for the very affluent. However, this misconception overshadows the universal importance of having an estate plan, which at its core, is about ensuring your loved ones are cared for and your wishes are honored upon your passing—even if you don't consider yourself wealthy. - read more
How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need? A Family's Guide to Assessment
How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need? A Family's Guide to Assessment
Life insurance is one of those cornerstones of financial planning that often gets overlooked. Yet, the importance of life insurance in safeguarding your family's future cannot be overstated. It's a robust financial instrument that provides peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones will be financially secure in the event of your untimely passing. This introductory section lays the groundwork for understanding why life insurance is pivotal in your family's financial health. - read more
How Much Life Insurance Does Your Family Actually Need?
How Much Life Insurance Does Your Family Actually Need?
Financial security for families is an essential consideration in any household. Life can be unpredictable, and ensuring that your loved ones are protected from financial hardship in your absence is a critical part of financial planning. - read more

Knowledgebase
Insurance Deductible:
the amount that an insured is required to contribute toward an insurance claim as stipulated in an insurance policy. Otherwise known as the "policy excess".

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