Chatswood serves the life and health insurance sector in New Zealand with market intelligence, data, and bespoke consulting services. Some of these are provided in conjunction with Quality Product Research Limited - a subsidiary that brings you Quotemonster.
We believe that good decisions are more likely to occur when we have good information about the market environment in which we operate. Intuitive leaps and creative decisions are always required, of course, but the more they are based on a firm foundation of observation, the better they tend to be.
New health / medical insurance pricing database released
We have just distributed a new version of the Medical Comparison database, v101 to institutional subscribers. This is a large database filled with the pre-calculated premiums based on the latest published rates after updates as below:
Changes in V101
Updated Partners Life policy fee effective 19/6/23
Updated nib rates effective 1/7/23
Updated Southern Cross rates effective 1/7/23
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
10 Jul 2023 - Minister of Finance, Hon Grant Robertson, June 2023 diary released with the following potential financial services sector related meeting noted:
• 8 June 2023 – Meeting with RBNZ Officials
• 12 June 2023 – Meetings with Treasury Officials
• 15 June 2023 – Meeting with Insurance Council of Australia, Insurance Industry representatives
• 15 June 2023 - Meeting with Swiss Re
• 19 June 2023 – Meetings with Treasury Officials
• 20 June 2023 - Meeting with ICNZ President Toni Ferrier, Insurance Councillor Tim Grafton
• 20 June 2023 – Meeting with Treasury Officials
• 26 June 2023 – Meetings with Treasury Officials
• 26 June 2023 - Meeting with Minister Edmonds, Bank CEs, ASB, ANZ, BNZ
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-07/Ministerial%20Diary%20June%202023.pdf
10 Jul 2023 - The FMA are considering using our exemption power to exempt certain CREs from the requirement to include a link to their climate statements in their annual report, with conditions, for a period of two years. Submissions close 7 August 2023. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/focus-areas/consultation/climate-related-disclosures-timing-challenge/
10 Jul 2023 - The RBNZ is providing affected entities with an opportunity to review the amended banking prudential requirement (BPR) documents before finalising the framework for the proposed mutual capital instrument. Affected entities have until 31 July to provide any further feedback. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2023/07/mutual-capital-instrument-rules-near-completion
Swiss Re reports on mortality trends
Swiss Re’s latest report, which can be found here - The future of life expectancy: Forecasting long-term mortality trends for insurance, investigates life expectancy trends, developments and medical advancements that have contributed to rising life expectancy and estimates what the future causes of death trends will be.
Stats NZ shows that life expectancy at birth in 1955 was 68 for men and 73 for women. By 2019 that had increased dramatically to 80 for men and 83.5 for women.
Recent drivers of big increases in life expectancies have included improved diagnoses and treatment of cardiovascular disease and people quitting smoking. Since 2010, in many developed areas mortality improvement has slowed or plateaued.
In America, life expectancy has declined in recent periods, due to factors including unequal access to healthcare; high levels of opioid addiction and death rates; societal obesity; and high levels of deaths from violent crimes. Healthcare is so expensive, 28% of Americans said they skipped medical care due to costs, with 42% of uninsured Americans skipping medical care because of costs.
High socioeconomic groups in America generally have higher mortality improvements than the overall population, with continuing divergence in mortality trends between those at either end of the socioeconomic scale.
Socioeconomic status is a major determinant of mortality risk in many mature markets, with the risk of dying inversely proportionate to income levels. Large international studies have shown that individuals of lower socioeconomic status have greater premature mortality than those with high socioeconomic status. Low socioeconomic status is also associated with a 2.1-year reduction in life expectancy between the ages of 40–85.
Although, by comparison with the United States, New Zealanders have good life expectancy, there are many countries where it is higher. We continue to lose many years of life expectancy to treatable conditions. Chatswood examined possible life expectancy gains by comparing death rates for the top ten causes of early death with those in other OECD countries, and identifying the gains that could be made by improving mortality to the level of the average of the OECD and the best in the OECD. A summary of the research is included here. If you would like to obtain a copy of the full mortality improvement report, please contact either Kelly Pulham at kelly@quotemonster.co.nz or Russell Hutchinson Russell.hutchinson@chatswood.co.nz.
The report identifies neurogenerative and aging diseases such as Alzheimer’s to become a more significant cause of death.
The risk factors of dementia are varied, with 40% falling into the range of being potentially modifiable behaviours and activities throughout life (see Figure 10). The remaining 60% of the risk remains unknown, likely comprising genetic factors, as yet unidentified lifestyle factors and other determinants. Higher incidence in future could be influenced by a growing proportion of people with a high BMI leading to Type 2 diabetes, along with air pollutants and consumption of processed foods.
Swiss Re expect lifestyle factors including rising rates of obesity and diabetes to put future life expectancy gains at risk.
The World Obesity Federation estimates that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men will be living with obesity by 2030, equating to one billion people globally. If the US continues on its current trajectory, it would imply that 90% of its population could be overweight or obese by 2042.
They also highlight emerging risks as a future threat to life expectancy, whether through known risks like climate change and antimicrobial resistance or as yet unknown risks such as new diseases or some other development.
Future drivers of improvements in mortality are predicted to be due to advanced cancer diagnostics and the evolution of personalised, precision medicine. Swiss Re write that aging-related and neurodegenerative diseases will likely benefit from improvement in treatments over the next couple of decades. Lifestyle and behaviour modifications to improve nutrition and physical activity could have a substantial impact on diabetes and obesity-related mortality.
More daily news:
Southern Cross Healthcare appoint Mark Phillips as Chief Digital Officer
Health workforce plan includes investing in Pacific health workforce
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
3 July 2023 - The National Anti-Scam Centre will coordinate an investment scam fusion cell to combat the growing problem of investment scams, which are costing Australians more than $1 billion a year. The fusion cell will be led by the ACCC and ASIC and include representatives from the banks, telecommunications industry and digital platforms. It will be the first fusion cell co-ordinated by the new National Anti-Scam Centre and will identify methods for disrupting investment scams to minimise scam losses. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2023-releases/23-180mr-national-anti-scam-centre-s-first-fusion-cell-to-disrupt-investment-scams/
4 Jul 2023 - An Analytical Note by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has found that Monetary Policy Statements are written in a way that matches the aims of monetary policy. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2023/07/analytical-note-finds-monetary-policy-statements-text-meets-policy-aims
4 Jul 2023 - The New Life Insurance Code of Practice for the Australian market came into effect on 1 July 2023. https://riskinfonz.co.nz/2023/07/04/australia-adopts-new-life-insurance-code-of-practice/
5 Jul 2023 - NZ Banking Association publish their regulatory radar for June 2023 https://financialadvice.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/June-2023-Banking-Sector-Regulatory-Radar.pdf
5 Jul 2023 - APRA working on independent tripartite cyber assessment study with more than 300 banks, insurers and superannuation trustees https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/cyber-security-stocktake-exposes-gaps
6 Jul 2023 - Changes to ACC’s Accredited Employers Programme (AEP) aim to deliver a better experience for workers whose injury claims are handled by their employers rather than through ACC directly. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/better-experience-workers-changes-acc-programme
6 Jul 2023 - NZ Police Financial Intelligence Unit released “The Suspicious Activity Report” for May 2023 https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/fiu-monthly-report-may2023.pdf
7 Jul 2023 - The Government has issued a package of regulatory amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. The regulations will come into force in three stages from 31 July 2023 to 1 June 2025.
The first stage of changes, which come into force on 31 July 2023, are to provide immediate regulatory relief for many reporting entities where risk has been identified as being low.
The second stage, which comes into force 1 June 2024, introduces new obligations for entities that already have existing AML/CFT obligations.
The final stage, which comes into force 1 June 2025, introduces new obligations on sectors that were not previously subject to AML/CFT obligations.
https://www.dia.govt.nz/AML-CFT-Regulatory-and-Legislative-Changes-Anti-Money-Laundering-and-Counter-Financing-of-Terrorism
7 Jul 2023 - The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) are running free goAML training sessions in Timaru and Christchurch. These in person sessions will run for 2 hours and will cover an overview of the goAML system, along with how to submit suspicious activity and prescribed transaction reports. https://www.dia.govt.nz/AML-CFT-Free-goAML-training
AIA release sustainability report
AIA have released their 2022 Sustaining Healthier, Longer, Better Lives report. Some of the key highlights include:
Achieved Toitū carbonreduce certification (and being recertified in 2023)
Engaged New Zealanders over 8 million times with the AIA One Billion initiative, a global, multi-year programme that focuses on initiatives and events to improve kiwis physical and mental wellbeing
Paid 93% of claims received in 2022
Completed adviser wellbeing research
Introduced seven waste streams to AIA house, diverting approximately 10 tonnes from landfill
Employee engagement survey scored 4.3 out of 5
Announced an enhanced parental leave package
Published AIA’s gender pay gap (19.1%) in support of gender pay parity
Established an AIA NZ Board ESG Committee, chaired by an independent director
Established a dedicated workstream to prepare and assess climate risks and opportunities
More daily news:
Financial Advice NZ webinar 'Crafting impactful Statements of Advice' 19 July
Financial Advice NZ webinar 'Professional Ethics Workshop' 21 July and 15 September
mySolutions webinar 'Belong Group Business Session' with Tony Vidler 7 July 11:30am
Survey finds slight increase in business confidence
Australia Adopts New Life Insurance Code of Practice
RiskInfoNZ poll finds 66% of advisers agree they should meet their clients for an annual review
Jon Raby to leave role as Chief Financial Officer at ASB, Carl Ferguson to step into role
Consultation on Customer and Product Data Bill opens
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has opened consultation on the Customer and Product Data Bill (sometimes referred to as the Consumer Data Right (CDR)), with consultation running until 24 July 2023.
The Financial Services Council (FSC) is collating member feedback to form an industry view on the on the exposure draft of the bill. FinTech NZ is hosting a roundtable discussion on July 17 to provide MBIE with direct feedback from our sector.
The purpose of the bill is to allow customers to safely access and exchange data held about them. The bill will impact all New Zealand businesses who collect and hold customer data. The bill will require businesses who wish to access data to be accredited and will only permit data exchanges when the customer has given consent.
The intention of the bill is to unlock the value of customer data and benefit consumers through reduced prices, improved product offerings, greater productivity and making it easier to compare products and services.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts has an article that explains some of the obligations the bill will create for organisations.
MBIE intend to roll out legislation on a sector-by-sector basis, with banking the first sector to be designated. CDR has begun to be implemented to an extent on a voluntary basis in the financial sector with Open Banking.
MBIE is running webinars for different audiences that will give people the opportunity to learn more about the draft law.
More daily news:
Chubb offer two months' free cover on Assurance Extra Business
mySolutions webinar - Natalie Whelan on ACC case studies 7 July 10am
If we can’t get better treatment of Endometriosis, can we at least treat people with Endometriosis better?
This piece in NZ Herald is about a young mother who struggled for many years to get a hysterectomy despite crippling pain. Although you may guess from my byline that I lack a crucial qualification to write this story, not being in possession at any stage in my life of a uterus, I have called on the experiences of friends and colleagues to put together these notes. If you do not want to read the rest, please read this: trust women to make decisions about their uterus.
Many people are squeamish about permanent decisions, whether it is a tattoo or other cosmetic body modification, right down to the big ones – like a permanent decision never to have children. I get that these are major. But consider the facts of the story linked above. Tash Stokes had two children, ran her own business, and knew what she wanted: freedom from the constant pain of recurrent endometriosis. She was denied out of hand by her gynaecologist. I even feel embarrassed that I had to state her circumstances – to reassure you that she could make her own decision. The pain alone should be enough.
I happen to know three people who have lived with the pain of Endo for years. Two experienced the pain of Endo very early in life – one found it an increasing burden in their 40s. The sharp stabs that come either at random or with any twist or stretch of the body reduce your function. They prevent you from chasing after young children, they limit your ability to enjoy everyday life. They frequently limit the ability to enjoy a normal sex life. My wife tells me that the best description of the impact of severe endometriosis she has ever read was in Theory of Bastards by Audrey Schulman. I read that too - it is awful.
The pain is real, personal and debilitating. Yet the pain is also frequently dismissed. My wife had the least trouble with medical people. Perhaps because she was older when she first started reporting symptoms. Perhaps because she is a determined person. Perhaps because we have decent doctors who never doubt us. I wish more doctors were like that.
Two other friends, and I have seen the pain hit them, were both in the first instance not believed. Making statements to people along the lines of ‘it’s all in your head’ – which was effectively said to both - is an appalling way to treat people. Just don’t do that. I know that medical people need to convey certainty and make decisions even on limited information – but dismissing the information given by a patient is surely not a valid strategy. Both were given the run around of being told to wait or see if it is something else before endo was diagnosed. I am sure that they would rather it had been one of the alternatives, but they were far less likely to be the cause.
One, finally, after many consultations, was given a laparoscopy and told that should they find endo it would be removed. The surgeon looked, found masses and masses, and decided the job was simply too big and closed her up and referred her to someone else – a failed treatment because it took too long to get a diagnosis and reach that point. Another friend, a young woman, has taken five years to get to that point. It is not fair to have to wait years for diagnosis and treatment.
As a good analyst in the life and health insurance sector I know about disability adjusted life years and wonder at the priorities of our health system that makes these women wait years for diagnosis and treatment and then may deny a solution – such as hysterectomy – for a decade or so. Compared to many cancer sufferers these women will have twenty or thirty or forty productive years ahead of them – in which they deserve to be free from debilitating pain. Private medical insurance can help - but only where endo is not a pre-existing condition. For those where diagnosis is in their teens, they need to be added to a policy as children, probably from birth, to qualify. But surely everyone should be eligible for better care - there is a lot of benefit to society from providing it.
I have questions. Questions largely for the medical profession. Who is the doctor to say she can’t get a hysterectomy until she reaches an arbitrary age? What about a woman’s autonomy over her own body? I know of two people who have been a given tubal ligation after just two meetings with a specialist. The decision was quick and simple. Does the difficulty in obtaining a hysterectomy stem from deep-seated views about women’s role in society? What are these weird prejudices about how many children is enough? Each process seems to be some personal prejudice of the doctor, surgeon or specialist involved – surely some best practice, designed in consultation with people who have endometriosis, should be the standard guideline.
nib rates are now live!
We can confirm that the rate changes for nib effective 1 July 2023 are now live on Quotemonster.
Happy Crunching!
Fidelity Life announce speaker line up for Engage 2023 conference
Fidelity Life have announced the speaker line up for the Engage 2023 Conference.
Jessica Brady - one of Australia’s 50 Most Influential Advisers, she’ll inspire you to seize the possibilities of new platforms and new models capable of reaching larger and more diverse customer audiences.
Kaila Colbin - the 2022 Kea World Class New Zealand Friend of New Zealand award winner, Kaila’s the leadership guru who partnered with 14-time rugby champions the Crusaders on a renowned high-performance leadership programme.
David Beaton - whether its financial advice or boutique gin distilling, David Beaton is a business-building ninja obsessed with using technology and process redesign to optimise profit and take business performance to the next level.
Angus Woods - Adviser Ratings has evolved into one of the largest owners of financial services data assets in Australia. Angus Woods’ story is a glimpse of the new breed of industry powerbrokers using data solutions to take advisers – and insurers – to the next level.
Other guests include former senior minister Steven Joyce, who will provide on point political insights ahead of the upcoming election, and MC for the event, entertainer Jackie Clarke.
Adding to the line up to preview some exciting upcoming initiatives for advisers are Fidelity Life Acting CEO Ian Clancy, Chief Sales and Service Officer Bronwyn Kirwan, Chief Information Officer Billy Miller and Chief Customer Officer Peter Doherty.
Engage is Fidelity Life’s flagship annual conference for advisers and will be held in Christchurch on 12-13 September, followed by Auckland on 20-21 September.
More daily news:
nib releases top five medical claims for May
IFSO resolution service saw 569 enquiries in May, a record number, most of which were about delays
Consumer NZ CEO calls for tougher measures to target scammers and force banks to take action
Government announces pay equity offer for Te Whatu Ora nurses
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
30 Jun 2023 - Council of Financial Regulators completed an updated Regulatory Initiatives Calendar for the financial sector for Q2 2023 https://www.cofr.govt.nz/files/regulatory-initiatives-calendar/regulatory-initiatives-calendar-q2-2023.pdf
1 Jul 2023 - Chief Ombudsman marks 40th anniversary of the OIA coming into force by publishing a new Official Information self-assessment tool https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/40-years-oia-new-zealand