Global Life Insurance Developments: Market Expansion, Consumer Behavior, and Product Innovation
Swiss Re pauses new life insurance deals in Australia as TPD claims soar
28 Oct 2025
Hannover Life Re of Australasia is acquiring Swiss Re Life & Health Australia’s direct life insurance business, iptiQ, to expand its presence in the region, with the deal expected to close within 18 months pending regulatory approval. Meanwhile, Swiss Re is pausing new life insurance sales in Australia due to rising claim costs, changing workplace dynamics, and evolving consumer expectations, particularly around total permanent disability (TPD) cover. Mental health-related TPD claims have nearly doubled in five years, highlighting sustainability concerns. Swiss Re plans to focus on existing clients and collaborate with regulators to redesign products that balance social value with affordable premiums. The company will continue normal operations in New Zealand while advocating for reform in Australia.
Factors affecting Juan’s life insurance purchase investigated in an undergraduate research paper
28 Oct 2025
A study titled “Factors Affecting Filipinos’ Perception of Purchasing Life Insurance” used the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine how behavioral and generational factors influence life insurance decisions. Conducted by BS Industrial Engineering students Thea Andrea Abner, Psalmantha Galotera, Marianne Lobederio, and faculty supervisor Engr. Yoshiki Kurata, PhD, the research highlighted life insurance as a key tool for financial protection. Using structural equation modeling, the study found that media exposure, financial health, personal experience, and social norms significantly shaped attitudes, perceived control, and overall perception of purchasing life insurance. Generation Z respondents reported encountering most life insurance information through media channels. The study was published in the Proceedings of the 22nd Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2024) in the Springer Series in Design and Innovation.
Pacific Life Re enters Japanese market with asset-intensive flow deals
28 Oct 2025
Pacific Life Re has completed its first two asset-intensive flow reinsurance deals in Japan, reinsuring whole-of-life liabilities through a repeatable flow structure. These transactions, executed with major Japanese life insurers, aim to help insurers manage capital and risk while enhancing product competitiveness for policyholders. Executives emphasized that the deals showcase the company’s ability to deliver complex, scalable reinsurance solutions and reinforce its commitment to the Japanese market. As part of its Asia strategy, Pacific Life Re also announced leadership changes, including new heads for Southeast Asia, South Korea, and regional business enablement roles to strengthen client relationships and market growth.
