Insurer cannot diagnose non-disclosure with hindsight
The doctor’s medical knowledge did not allow Discovery Life to rely on developments he could not reasonably have known about when applying for cover.
#lifeinsurance
Families’ post-death pressures widen the estate planning conversation
Capital Legacy’s research shows how liquidity gaps, complex administration, and inadequate information can affect families after a death.
Old Mutual’s new-business growth masks mixed trends
Large corporate risk sales boosted the headline figures, while Wealth Management recorded higher living annuity and endowment sales and guaranteed annuity sales declined.
Behind the rewards, a much bigger Vitality business
What began as a programme rewarding healthier behaviour now spans insurance, healthcare, technology and more than 50 million members worldwide.
Old Mutual earnings set to fall despite operating growth
Life APE sales and gross flows rose 21%, while results from operations are expected to increase, but investment returns have put pressure on profitability.
Insurer cannot rely on policy terms after adviser’s misrepresentation
A policyholder’s godfather was recorded as her father despite the adviser knowing the true relationship, leading to a ruling that the insurer must pay the claim.
Not every medical non-disclosure justifies claim rejection
The Appeal Tribunal found that an undisclosed diagnostic test was not material to the insurer’s assessment of the risk and ordered the claim to be paid.
Planning for survival: How medical advances are reshaping insurance claims
Old Mutual says advisers should focus more on the financial impact of surviving illness, as recovery increasingly brings prolonged income and healthcare pressures.
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.
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.
