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.
#lifeinsurance
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.
Judgment sheds light on beneficiary changes in living annuities
Was a beneficiary nomination signed under a power of attorney and submitted after death valid?
Affordability pressures to drive innovation as insurance gap hits R50 trillion
The Insurance Gap Study finds SA’s life and disability shortfall has swelled to R50.4 trillion, with the average earner holding only 39% of the cover their dependants would need.
Huge shortfall in critical illness protection leaves most income earners exposed
ASISA’s research shows formally employed South Africans face a major liquidity risk: R4 trillion in earnings versus only R1.1 trillion in critical illness cover.
Income protection leads Bidvest claims as clients face higher short-term risks
According to Bidvest Life’s 2024 Claims Report, younger clients and women accounted for most income protection claims – signalling where advisers’ risk focus may need to shift.
