AIA has been named Best Insurer at Super Review’s Super Fund of the Year Awards following an assessment of claims management, market credentials, readiness for upcoming legislative and regulatory change, technology support and trustee services
The Heron judging panel pointed to the insurer’s 90 per cent success rate for claimants returning to work following an occupational rehabilitation program, which was well above industry average of 60 per cent.
Chief group insurance officer, Stephanie Phillips, said given 60 per cent of claims staff were allied health professionals and 17 were rehab consultants, outperformance was embedded into the team.
“All the staff are really trained to have those positive conversations,” she said.
The panel noted the insurer sought to make a difference in customers’ life, health and wellness through its strong focus on member engagement with life insurance and breadth of coverage.
Phillips said the goal was to create a wellness focus, which she said was important in terms of the vitality proposition.
“Rehabilitation is part of that … so it’s about saying, “there is hope, and rehab is part of that hope”. It’s part of saying ‘life’s not over, it’s just changed’ and having positive conversations around that.”
AIA’s detailed customer analytics, propensity modelling and claims experience reporting was also a driving factor behind the insurer’s category win.
The panel referred to the insurer’s ability to leverage its capabilities and assist trustees in their decision-making on insurance as a feature that placed them above fellow finalists Hannover, MetLife, MLC Life Insurance, OnePath and TAL.
The regulator has fined two super funds for misleading sustainability and investment claims, citing ongoing efforts to curb greenwashing across the sector.
Super funds have extended their winning streak, with balanced options rising 1.3 per cent in October amid broad market optimism.
Introducing a cooling off period in the process of switching super funds or moving money out of the sector could mitigate the potential loss to fraudulent behaviour, the outgoing ASIC Chair said.
Widespread member disengagement is having a detrimental impact on retirement confidence, AMP research has found.