Why insurer changed its mind after declining a claim
The question of full disclosure at the time of application, as well as during the term of a policy, came to the fore in a recent article published in Rapport. After first repudiating […]
Insurance
Santam phasing out BI cover for power cuts
Santam, South Africa’s leading non-life insurer, issued an “operational circular” on 15 March that could have a significant impact on commercial clients’ existing cover for business interruption resulting from extended cover for losses […]
Insurers making increasing use of ‘reckless driving’ clause to reject claims
Insurers are disputing or rejecting an increasing number of motor vehicle accident claims on the grounds that the insured was speeding, and consumers should be made aware of the implications of the reasonable […]
Will loyalty programme devices be used to refute claims?
My colleague Mark Bechard’s article on the increase in rejected claims because of reckless driving raises a few interesting questions about the possible use of technology when investigating such claims. The Ombudsman for Short-term […]
Adviser obligations regarding disclosure of material terms and conditions of a policy
The need to explain material terms was never more clearly illustrated than during the pandemic outbreak in February 2020 and the subsequent lawsuits that really harmed the industry’s reputation. Of course, if we […]
FSCA extends exemption on payment for collecting premiums
The FSCA has extended for 12 months, to 31 January 2023, the exemption that allows independent intermediaries to receive compensation, over and above commission, for performing activities that support the direct collection of […]
FSCA wants to know number of personal lines claims in 2021
The FSCA has told all licensed non-life insurers that belong to the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (Osti) to provide the authority with the number of personal lines claims reported in the 2021 calendar […]
What constitutes “access-controlled” premises?
What does “access control” mean for the purposes of an insurance policy? The answer to this question was at the heart of a complaint that came before the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (Osti). […]
What constitutes “access-controlled” premises?
What does “access control” mean for the purposes of an insurance policy? The answer to this question was at the heart of a complaint that came before the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (Osti). […]
Did Sasria underestimate the scale of looting claims?
An article in last Thursday’s Moonstone Monitor made mention of claims by the MD of state-owned Sasria that it had more than sufficient cash reserves to honour claims. He is also quoted as […]
Progress report on claims processing under Business Interruption Insurance
Feedback from a Whatsapp group of policyholders affected by the drawn-out saga around business interruption as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic indicates that there is widespread confusion and dissatisfaction about how the […]
Add-on insurance policies review – Extension for submission of requested information
As a result of increasing concerns that consumers are potentially experiencing poor outcomes emanating from the sale of add-on insurance policies at point of sale through motor dealerships or as part of vehicle […]
Santam loses Business Insurance case – Helpers out, round number two?
On 17 November, the Cape High Court delivered a rather damning blow to the insurance giant’s hope of escaping liability under the business interruption clause, specifically as it relates to losses resulting from […]
Retirement – Why people have no plans in place
The annual 10X Retirement Reality Report indicates that saving for retirement is effectively insurance against outliving working life. Although this is a valid argument, why does such a high percentage of respondents not […]
Insurance fraud – Global spike due to COVID-19
Insurance fraud is a world-wide phenomenon, especially during times of economic collapse. The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) launched its own fraud bureau last year, and, according to its 2019 data, $688 […]
Insurance fraud – Broker gets seven year prison sentence
“Following years of delaying tactics by the accused, designed to avoid prosecution, an insurance broker has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for insurance fraud and related crimes,” the Insurance Crime Bureau (SAICB) recently […]
Momentum’s 2019 Life Insurance claims statistics – Increase of 30% in claims paid
At its 2020 Risk Summit, Momentum Life Insurance shared the latest claims statistics. The 2019 claims pay-outs were the highest to date at R4.6bn. The 2019 pay-outs were made up of R3.3bn in […]
