ClearView warns on FSC insurance terms ‘race to bottom’
ClearView Wealth has specifically warned a key Parliamentary Committee against following an industry approach being led by the Financial Services Council (FSC) around standardised life insurance policy definitions, arguing they will create “a race to the bottom”.
In a submission filed with the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, ClearView managing director, Simon Swanson has declared that his company is concerned about the approach being headed by the FSC.
The submission acknowledges that policy wordings can be complex and confusing and that the industry should strive to create definitions that “are truly clear, concise and effective” but argues that the FSC approach based around product terms definitions needs careful reassessment.
It said the FSC approach:
• Potentially creates a "race to the bottom" (and/or no motivation to rise above the
bottom);
• Presents the real risk of stifling creativity and innovation in life insurance products,
including the types of changes discussed above; and
• Ultimately doesn't help deal with the existing legacy product maintenance issues
present in the industry (and potentially just exacerbates them).
Elsewhere in the ClearView submission, the company has expressed its strong support for the law being changed to allow life insurance companies to “proactively manage claims” to get clients back to work sooner by providing rehabilitation and allied health support benefits.
“Allowing life insurance companies to proactively manage claims by providing rehabilitation and allied health support services will benefit society by increasing the likelihood of people returning to work and good health,” the submission said.
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