Swiss Re Suspends New Life Insurance Operations in Australia
Swiss Re Suspends New Life Insurance Operations in Australia
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Swiss Re Life & Health Australia has announced a suspension of new life insurance business activities in the country, effective October 2025.
This decision stems from concerns over the sustainability of Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance products, which have seen a significant rise in claims, particularly related to mental health.
In 2024, Australian insurers paid over AU$2.2 billion in mental health-related TPD claims, nearly doubling the figures from five years prior. This surge has prompted Swiss Re to advocate for a comprehensive redesign of TPD products to ensure long-term viability and affordability for consumers.
Paul Murray, CEO of Life & Health Reinsurance at Swiss Re, emphasised the need for industry-wide collaboration to balance consumer protection with economic sustainability. He stated that the goal is to preserve the social value of TPD insurance while creating a model that can endure economic cycles and demographic shifts.
During this pause, Swiss Re will not seek new clients in the life insurance segment but will continue to support existing retail clients. The company plans to work closely with industry stakeholders and regulators to develop products that better reflect evolving societal needs and provide consumers with greater certainty for future planning.
This move underscores the pressing need for the Australian life insurance industry to address the challenges posed by rising TPD claims and to innovate product offerings to meet the changing demands of the market.
In June 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) provided an update on their joint review of life insurance premium practices. This initiative was prompted by concerns over frequent and substantial premium increases that may not align with policy terms or policyholder expectations. - read more
In August 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released findings from a review of direct life insurance sales practices, uncovering persistent deficiencies despite previous regulatory interventions. - read more
Swiss Re Life & Health Australia has announced a suspension of new life insurance business activities in the country, effective October 2025. This decision stems from concerns over the sustainability of Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance products, which have seen a significant rise in claims, particularly related to mental health. - read more
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Knowledgebase
Underwriting: The process by which an insurer determines the risk of insuring a client and decides the terms of coverage.
