Our latest poll is based around a recent AFCA decision we reported this week, where the authority ruled that an insurer could not recover more than $31,000 in income protection insurance benefits from a claimant, finding the insurer failed to establish a proper basis for repayment (see: AFCA Rejects Recovery of IP Payments).
The authority said the available evidence did not support recovery of benefits already paid and identified significant gaps in the insurer’s case, including missing medical, employment and return-to-work evidence.
The determination highlights the importance of thoroughly challenging insurer decisions where the evidence may be incomplete or insufficient.
It also raises the question of whether advice practices should consider referring disputed or challenging life insurance claims to specialist external firms when clients face complex claim disputes or benefit recovery action.
Tell us what you think and we’ll report back next week…
