The next frontier for employee benefits is integration
Sanlam’s Benchmark report argues that improving member outcomes increasingly depends on linking financial advice, healthcare, and risk benefits.
#lifeinsurance
Funeral insurance Bill moves to Parliament, but questions persist
The proposed reforms could require significant operational changes for insurers, but industry experts believe they address only part of the problem.
Living benefits dominate claims among under-30s
Discovery’s claims data highlights how illness and disability can disrupt a young adult’s financial future long before retirement planning begins.
Income protection dispute turns on 10% increase versus CPI cap
The Appeal Tribunal found that voluntary pre-claim benefit increases were distinct from post-claim escalation and could not be used to support a fixed 10% increase.
ASISA insurers pay out 94% of death claims in 2025
Beneficiaries received R44.2 billion last year, with most declines linked to non-disclosure, fraud, unpaid premiums or policy exclusions.
Life Division complaints rise 18.8% as funeral disputes dominate
The division recorded more formal investigations in 2025, but improved turnaround times and secured almost R300 million for complainants.
Old Mutual sees strong Q1 as life sales rise and OM Bank customers jump
New life sales rose 28% in the quarter to March, while stronger investment inflows and a better new business margin supported a broadly positive update.
Momentum lifts earnings as new business volumes rise across key divisions
Broad-based earnings growth was accompanied by tighter new business margins as the group contended with product-mix pressure across parts of the business.
Momentum’s critical illness claims top R1bn in 2025
Higher critical illness and disability payouts reflect a risk environment increasingly defined by prolonged recovery, income loss, and ongoing care costs.
Sanlam’s inflows surge as product-mix shift puts pressure on new business margins
Growth was led by investment and life business, with a continued shift towards capital-light solutions reducing short-term new business margins.
NFO rules cancer claim turns on disease, not confirmation date
The life insurer could not rely on the date of the pathology report to deny cover after premiums had already lapsed.
glu declares first member profit share after launch year
The R1.78m payout reflects both underlying performance and a founding-member booster designed to accelerate early value.
Investment performance drives PPS member payouts to record levels
The mutual insurer reports R5.56bn in investment returns compared with R1.32bn in operating profit, while higher claims put pressure on underwriting performance.
Life insurers top R5 trillion as growth masks rising risk pressures
Strong market performance lifts assets to record highs, but lapses and protection gaps persist beneath the surface.
Living benefits overtake death claims as Discovery Life payouts shift
Discovery Life’s 2025 statistics show 65% of payouts go to living benefits – advisers must rethink risk, product design, and client conversations.
Sanlam share dips after results despite strong operating growth
Sanlam reported record new business volumes and strong client inflows in 2025, but several weaker headline indicators drew investor attention following the results release.
Life cover nominations still valid despite administrative slip
A signed nomination received during the policyholder’s lifetime satisfied the contractual requirements despite an incorrect policy number.
