Disability income insurance new business sinks to 11-year low 

Report proposes 'self-funding' insurance model for export industries

Disability income insurance new business sinks to 11-year low 

30 January 2023

Disability income insurance (DII) new business declined to an 11-year low, falling 2.6% to $388 million in the 12-month period to September, research house Dexx&r says in a new report. 

Among the top-five DII providers only MLC and OnePath recorded increases, at 27.9% to $105.87 million and 4.84% to $37.24 million respectively. 

The Dexx&r report comes as the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) cautions the worst is not over for the individual DII product line despite a recent swing back to profitability. 

Individual DII posted profit for five consecutive quarters from mid-2021 to September last year but the regulator says the improvements have been partially brought about by cyclical events such as favourable changes in financial markets. 

The Dexx&r report also provided an update on how the overall life industry performed. 

Total in-force premium increased by 3.1% to $16.3 billion led by TAL ($4.2 billion), AIA ($2.3 billion), MLC ($1.88 billion) and OnePath ($1.5 billion). 

Individual lump sum in-force premium rose 1.29% to $6.45 billion and group risk business went up 4.95% to $6.96 billion. 

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