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<\/a>The reinsurer said it hoped to encourage the life insurance industry to promote the health benefits of returning to work, in particular around the area of rehabilitation in claims management, which has been shown to help post injury recovery.<\/p>\n
Swiss Re cited a study by workers\u2019 compensation specialist, Employers Mutual, which found that once an injured worker is off work for 4-12 weeks, he or she has a 10-40% risk of still being off work at one year. After 1-2 years absence, it is unlikely the person will return to any form of work in future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we would like to see is more focus on getting people back to work to recover, or \u2018back to life\u2019. This requires support from the industry through day-to-day rehabilitation case management, product design and projects targeting specific conditions such as mental health,\u201d said Helen Troup<\/strong>, Swiss Re’s Head of Life & Health, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n Swiss Re said a focus on best health practices that assist injured policyholders recover fully and return to health and work, would likely see the insurance industry join the upward trend currently being observed in workers compensation return to work rates. As reported in the National Return to Work Survey, conducted by Safe Work Australia, the nation achieved \u2018durable growth\u2019 in return to work rates over the past year, with rates increasing from 75% in 2011-12 to 77% in 2012-13.<\/p>\n To aid insurers to deliver innovative return to work solutions, Swiss Re\u2019s Australian Claims team is set to publish a white paper in early 2014, which will explore rehabilitation trends and the ongoing role of rehabilitation in claims management.<\/p>\n The reinsurer is also partnering with the Australasian Life Underwriting and Claims Association (ALUCA) to launch the Excellence and Innovation in Rehabilitation Award, which aims to recognise such initiatives from within the insurance market.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope to encourage the life insurance industry to join the upward trend we are seeing in workers compensation return to work rates and assist in finding better outcomes for Australians,\u201d Ms Troup said.<\/p>\nAfter 1-2 years absence, it is unlikely the person will return to any form of work in future<\/h6>\n