Term Life Insurance: A life insurance that provides a cover for a specific period of time - usually one to five years or until the insured reaches age 65 or 70.
For two consecutive days, the flood-affected residents of Queensland have been voicing their concerns during the ongoing deliberations of a federal inquiry, tasked with examining insurers' responses to the catastrophes of 2022. The inquiry, in its concluding phase, conducted its second public hearing in the Logan area on April 10th, 2024. - read more
The undeniable escalation in weather-related calamities has thrust insurers and governmental bodies into the spotlight, urging a tactical shift in Australia's fight against nature's fury. A recent assessment by prominent insurance broker Aon sheds light on the nation's susceptibility to meteorological mishaps. - read more
The Life Code Compliance Committee (Life CCC) has recently published findings indicating an upsurge in code obligation breaches among industry participants, marking this as the third year of escalating incidents. Their report, 'Annual Industry Data and Compliance Report,' highlights a notable 9% overall inflation in the quantity of breaches during the period spanning from the 1st of July, 2022 to the 30th of June, 2023. - read more
Following a detailed review by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), it has been determined that the insurance giant QBE must compensate a policyholder to the tune of an additional $65,000. This ruling emerged on account of identified delays, by the insurer's assigned loss adjuster, that stalled crucial repairs to a fire-damaged bed and breakfast in Tasmania. - read more
New South Wales' prolific construction sector recently came under scrutiny after a regulatory check by the state's insurance watchdog. The recent audit zeroed in on a regrettable pattern where several builders skipped procuring legally required home building compensation insurance (HBC), putting the financial stability of various homeowners in jeopardy. - read more
The professional services industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, largely due to the integration of digital technology into everyday business operations. From cloud computing to mobile applications, the digital landscape for professional practices has expanded, offering new avenues of efficiency and connectivity. - read more
Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) remains one of the keystones of risk management for professionals across Australia. Yet, misconceptions and lack of awareness can lead to inadequate coverage, leaving individuals and businesses vulnerable in a litigious environment. - read more
Professional indemnity insurance is an essential safeguard for practitioners and businesses that provide expert advice or services. This type of insurance helps to protect professionals against legal costs and claims for damages from an act, omission, or breach of professional duty in the course of their work. For Australian professionals, where litigation is increasingly common, it's a pivotal component of risk management. - read more
If you're an Australian consultant, you understand that your advice is a valuable commodity. But with that value comes responsibility, and a level of risk that you could be held liable if your guidance results in financial loss to a client. This is where professional indemnity insurance comes into play, serving as a vital shield, providing protection and peace of mind for both you and your clients. - read more
In an era dominated by digital innovation, understanding the crossroads of cybersecurity and indemnity insurance is more critical than ever for IT professionals. As cyber threats evolve with increasing sophistication, the concept of cyber liability has come into sharp focus, pinpointing the potential legal and financial risks associated with data breaches and cyber-attacks that professionals in the information technology sector may face. - read more
Just because your insurer has rejected your claim, does not necessarily mean that your case is closed.
If you think that you have been unfairly treated, here are some ways to get the insurer decision overturned.
What to do
Inform the insurance company as soon as you can following the event. It is sometimes a good idea to write the details of the event as soon as you can, and then use that as a reference to make the written claim.
Be consistent. Remember, it will be awkward if you want to change your story later on.
Keep all documents that are relevant to the claim.
Make sure the staff of the insurance company can get in touch with you.
If the claim is rejected?
Insuring your most valuable asset
While many people would consider their home or their car to be their most valuable asset, it's your ability to earn an income that is most important in shaping your financial future.
Statistically, two thirds of working Australians will suffer an injury or illness that will sideline them for 90 days or more.
The majority of these people would not be able to pay their mortgage or meet car finance and other loan commitments without adequate income insurance.
There are circumstances where you may in fact have the legal right to be reimbursed for your loss even though the insurer refused to pay the claim. Although you can sometimes make this judgement yourself, it is sometimes a good idea to get legal advice. See our fact sheets on "Disputes".
Check the policy
If the claim is rejected ask your insurer to identify specifically the clause of the contract on which they rely. If you do not have a current policy make sure they supply one.
What caused the loss?
If the insurer claims that you caused the loss, and this is in breach of the policy, make sure that this is so.
For instance, if you were smoking in bed at the time of a fire, and a fire caused this way is a breach of your policy, you may not in fact be in breach if the fire was caused by an electrical fault. In this case the fact that you were smoking in bed would be coincidental and not the cause of the fire.
Pre-existing conditions
The policy may stipulate that a known pre-existing situation or condition is not covered. For instance, if you have disability insurance but at the time you signed the policy you had a tumor. However, under the law it would be crucial whether you actually knew you had this condition. If you were unaware of it you should still be covered.
Ignorance of the terms
Under the law the insurer has a legal obligation to inform you about the restrictions in the insurance policy. This must be done before you sign the application and the policy is issued. This means (in part) that:
you must be given a copy of the policy; and
the wording of the policy must be clear and unambiguous.
If these pre-conditions were not met it may be possible to retain your coverage for your loss. Again, it may be necessary to obtain legal advice.
Is it worth the claim?
Many types of insurance contracts will have an excess. This is common in a car insurance contract, or similarly you may lose part of the no-claims bonus. Some companies now reward rating one drivers with a lifetime rating one guarantee. At times you will have to decide whether the amount of the claim is worth the long term loss that results from the effect on rating or no-claims bonuses, especially after taking into account the amount of the excess.
Published:Sunday, 1st Aug 2021 Author: Paige Estritori
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