The Financial Services Council (FSC) and the life insurance industry have today published the new Life Insurance Code of Practice (the Life Code).
CEO of the FSC Blake Briggs said: "The new Life Code introduces more than 50 additional consumer protections that will ensure Australians get fair treatment and higher standards of service from their life insurer.
"The Life Code is the industry's commitment to customers for consistent service standards that cover every aspect of a customer's journey, from taking out a policy to making a claim, and compliance is monitored by the independent Life Code Compliance Committee.
"Through consultation with industry, consumer groups, and regulators, the FSC has developed the Life Code to ensure consumers can enjoy the security of life insurance with confidence."
The new Life Code takes effect on 1 July 2023, providing the industry with twelve months to transition and make the necessary systems changes.
Blake Briggs commented: "The Life Code introduces a range of improved consumer protections, especially when Australians need to claim on their life insurance policy, such as ensuring claimants are supported if they need to be interviewed and further restrictions on the use of surveillance.
"There will also be greater support for vulnerable consumers, such as by defining gratuitous concurrence and ensuring consent is genuine for First Nations people, as well banning blanket mental health exclusions in the standard terms and conditions on all newly designed contracts.
"The new Life Code includes an enhanced role for the Life Code Compliance Committee by providing the Committee with increased powers to impose sanctions for breaches, including potentially requiring a community benefit payment to a charity."
The Life Code will continue as industry self-regulation and subscription to the Life Code is mandatory for all of the FSC's life insurance members. The life insurance industry undertakes, however, to engage with ASIC on our intent to have the Life Code registered with ASIC under its Enforceable Code Regime in the future.
To view a copy of the new Life Code, click here and a summary of the enhanced consumer protections can be found here.
