Indonesia Emerging Financial Conglomerate

Insurance brokers placing risk into Indonesia are watching a market where the number of independently owned insurers is shrinking, and a newly approved deal by South Korea's KB Financial Group shows exactly how that reshaping works in practice.

Regulators have cleared KB Financial to fold six Indonesian units, including KB Insurance Indonesia, under a single local holding company, making it one of the first visible tests of a rule that will touch every large financial group operating in the country.

The requirement traces back to Law No. 4 of 2023, Indonesia's P2SK Law, and its implementing rule, OJK Regulation No. 30 of 2024. Together they require any large financial conglomerate to appoint a Financial Conglomerate Holding Company, or PIKK, to sit above its regulated units.

The threshold -is specific enough that brokers can use it to assess which counterparties are affected. A group triggers the mandate once it holds at least Rp100 trillion (US$5.7 billion) in assets and operates two or more regulated entities across two or more financial sectors, or between Rp20 trillion (US$1.14 billion) and Rp100 trillion (US$5.7 billion) in assets with three or more entities across three or more sectors.

Once OJK approves a group's restructuring plan, that group has one year to complete it - the same clock now running for KB Financial, whose deadline falls in August 2027.

For a broker, the practical read is this: any Indonesian insurer sitting inside a larger banking or financial group is likely to see its ownership structure formalized under this rule over the next two years, whether or not the insurer itself changes hands.

What changes for the counterparty, what doesn't
KB Financial's application cleared OJK on the 5th, with industry sources reporting the decision on the 18th, after an earlier version was rejected late last year and resubmitted in March.

Rather than build a new PIKK, the group is converting an existing IT subsidiary, KB Data Systems Indonesia, into the holding company. KB Data Systems currently holds a 95.1% stake in the Indonesian unit and will transfer nearly all of it to Kookmin Bank, retaining only a token share.

Six affiliate stakes then move under that structure: Kookmin Bank's holding in KB Bank Indonesia, KB Securities' stake in KB Valbury Sekuritas, KB Insurance's position in KB Insurance Indonesia, KB Kookmin Card's holding in KB Finansia Multi Finance, KB Capital's stake in Sunindo Kookmin Best Finance, and KB Asset Management's position in KB Valbury Asset Management.

For brokers assessing security, KB Insurance Indonesia's rating position is unchanged by any of this. AM Best affirmed the unit's Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) last August, citing a five-year return-on-equity ratio of 4.7% and a combined ratio of 98.8%.

The insurer remains a joint venture between KB Insurance Co., Ltd., holding 70%, and PT AB Sinar Mas Multifinance, holding the remaining 30%, and that joint-venture ownership sits outside the scope of the parent-level restructuring altogether.

The more relevant question for distribution is whether a unified holding structure lets a bank-owned insurer push business through its own banking channel more easily. It doesn't, automatically.

Under OJK Regulation No. 8 of 2024, any bancassurance arrangement between an insurer and a bank still requires prior OJK approval and a separate written agreement, regardless of common ownership above them. Common ownership does not, on its own, grant a shortcut around that approval step.

A pattern, not a one-off
KB Financial is not the only Korean group consolidating its Indonesian position under this pressure. In January this year, Hanwha General Insurance took a controlling 61.5% stake in PT Lippo General Insurance Tbk, absorbing a 46.6% holding previously owned by an affiliated Hanwha entity and making Lippo General a consolidated subsidiary.

The deal came as the wider Hanwha group increased its activity in insurance and financial services across the region, part of a broader pattern of Korean insurers entering ASEAN markets to diversify earnings outside their home base.

The PIKK rule sits alongside other structural changes that are narrowing the field of independent insurers a broker can place business with.

Under OJK Regulation No. 11 of 2023, insurers must spin off takaful business lines into separate entities, and OJK is phasing in higher minimum paid-in capital requirements, with conventional insurers required to hold Rp250 billion (US$14.25 million) by 2026, rising to Rp500 billion (US$28.5 million) for smaller entities and Rp1 trillion (US$57 million) for larger ones by 2028.

Industry observers have said some insurers may struggle to meet those thresholds, a factor expected to drive further consolidation.

Banking side still carries the larger balance sheet story
KB Bank, the group's Indonesian banking unit, has built its corporate finance business through the current year, extending its client base from Korean firms operating locally to large Indonesian corporates and small and mid-sized businesses.

It has taken part in arranging syndicated loans for major local companies, including state-owned petrochemical firm PON, since the start of the first half of this year.

On a Kookmin Bank consolidated basis, KB Bank recorded a net loss attributable to controlling shareholders of 2.945 billion won for the first half of 2026, against a loss of 53.83 billion won a year earlier.

The bank has continued a restructuring process, including the disposal of non-performing assets, since Kookmin Bank became its largest shareholder in 2020, and posted its first annual profit under Indonesian accounting standards last year.

Brokers with Indonesian placements would do well to track how "synergy" is defined in practice once the structure is finalized, given that distribution approval remains a separate regulatory step from ownership consolidation.

Oona Insurance - Digital General Insurer

Oona Insurance, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital general insurers, plans to accelerate its regional expansion and actively pursuing acquisitions across Southeast Asia after delivering strong first-half 2026 growth that significantly outpaced its core markets.

Less than four years after entering Indonesia and the Philippines, Oona has established itself as one of the region’s fastest-growing insurers.

In Indonesia, where the general insurance market contracted by approximately 2% in H1 2026, Oona grew its Gross Written Premium (GWP) by 40%. The company maintained its position among Indonesia’s top 10 motor insurers by GWP while climbing nine places to 23rd in the country’s overall non-life insurance rankings.

In the Philippines, where the non-life insurance industry has historically expanded by around 10–15% annually, Oona delivered 80% GWP growth in the first half of 2026. Broad-based expansion across its multi-channel distribution model helped propel the company into the country’s top 10 non-life insurers by net written premiums.

While premium growth remained strong, Oona’s profitability improved even faster, signalling that the insurer’s expansion strategy is translating into stronger earnings.

Oona Indonesia’s net income grew 55% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while Oona Philippines recorded 200% growth, demonstrating that strong premium growth has been matched by disciplined underwriting and improving operating leverage. The Group maintained a combined ratio (COR) of 96% across both markets, remaining below the 100% threshold for underwriting profitability — a benchmark achieved by relatively few insurers in the region.

Oona’s growth is being supported by Southeast Asia’s structurally underpenetrated insurance markets. Insurance penetration in both Indonesia and the Philippines remains below 2% of GDP — among the lowest in Asia, leaving substantial room for long-term growth as consumers increasingly adopt digital financial services.

To accelerate its next phase of growth, the company is actively evaluating acquisition opportunities across Southeast Asia. Indonesia and the Philippines remain immediate priorities, while Thailand and Vietnam represent the next phase of its regional expansion strategy.

Oona has built its technology and product architecture to integrate directly into the platforms customers already use—from e-wallets and ride-hailing apps to banks and travel platforms. Rather than asking customers to buy insurance separately, the company enables protection to be embedded naturally into existing digital journeys. For partners, this means faster integration and access to a broader range of insurance products. For customers, it means buying insurance becomes a seamless part of an everyday transaction.

Hanwha Group Updates First-half 2026

Hanwha Life’s first-half 2026 (H1 2026) results offer a concrete measure of a broader strategic shift underway among South Korean life insurers: as domestic premium growth moderates, the country’s carriers are deploying capital into Southeast Asian insurance markets, 

Indonesian banking, and US securities – and the financial returns are beginning to register. The Seoul-based insurer reported on August 13 that its key overseas subsidiaries generated a combined net profit of KRW 103 billion (approximately US$72.7 million) in the first half of 2026, equivalent to roughly 87% of their total net profit for the entirety of 2025. Those subsidiaries – spanning Vietnam, Indonesia, and the US – accounted for approximately 11% of Hanwha Life's consolidated net profit of KRW 904.5 billion (approximately US$638.4 million) for the period.

Vietnam gains arrive at a market inflection point
Hanwha Life Vietnam posted a net profit of KRW 32 billion (approximately US$22.6 million) in H1 2026, up 23% year-on-year, driven by improved claims management, lower operating expenses, and higher investment income from deposits placed amid rising local interest rates. The subsidiary also entered new bancassurance partnerships and launched additional sales operations ahead of H2. That performance comes against a market that has been deeply disruptive for foreign-owned insurers. Vietnam’s life insurance sector entered a prolonged correction following a bancassurance mis-selling crisis that emerged in late 2022, after bancassurance had grown at a 53% compound annual growth rate between 2017 and 2022. 

The market decline was driven primarily by heightened regulatory and public scrutiny of bancassurance sales practices, particularly the bundling of insurance products with bank lending, while equity-market volatility and high-profile customer complaints on social media amplified reputational damage. The resulting trust shock saw new-business volumes fall sharply and first-year lapse rates exceed 70% for some insurers. By 2025, both agency and bancassurance volumes had fallen back to 2017 levels.

Analyst estimated 0.9% annual growth for Vietnam’s life insurance market in 2025 and projected acceleration to 3.8% in 2026, as distribution channels adapt and banks re-engage on improved terms. The recovery is unfolding on structurally altered terms, however. One of the most significant post-crisis shifts has been Vietnamese banks moving from distributors toward becoming insurance owners and competitors.

Techcom Life, launched in 2025, was the first greenfield domestic life insurer established outside the traditional joint-venture model since 1996. Backed by Techcombank and Vingroup, the insurer has adopted a focused bancassurance model. The shift creates a potential competitive challenge for international insurers that have historically relied on exclusive bancassurance arrangements, as banks increasingly have the option of controlling their own insurance manufacturing and distribution.

Vietnam’s life insurance market remains highly competitive as new-business rankings shift. Bao Viet Life held an 18.3% share of new-business premium revenue in the first two months of 2026, followed by Generali at 11.5%, while Dai-ichi Life and AIA each held around 11% to 12%. Techcom Life, launched in 2025, reached 8.3% by February, entering the top five and surpassing several established foreign insurers. By total life insurance premium revenue, however, Bao Viet Life remained the leader at 23.5%, followed by Manulife at 17.4%, Dai-ichi at 11.8%, AIA at 11.6%, and Prudential at 11.4%.

Non-insurance subsidiaries provide the larger earnings contribution
The more structurally significant element of Hanwha Life’s H1 results is the contribution from its non-insurance entities. US-based Velocity Clearing, LLC and Indonesia’s Nobu Bank together recorded a combined net profit of KRW 58 billion (approximately US$40.9 million) – exceeding the Vietnam insurance unit’s individual contribution. 

Velocity Clearing is a self-clearing broker-dealer registered with the SEC and FINRA, with registrations and memberships across major US exchanges and self-regulatory organizations, including the New York Stock Exchange, Cboe Exchange, Nasdaq BX, and Nasdaq PHLX. Its services include execution, clearing and custody, stock-locate services, securities lending, and financing. Hanwha Life acquired a 75% stake in the firm in a transaction completed July 30, 2025. As of the end of 2024, Velocity held approximately US$1.2 billion in total assets, while revenue had grown at a 25% CAGR from 2022 to 2024. The firm recorded KRW 29 billion in net profit in H1 2026.

On the banking side, Hanwha Life secured a 40% controlling stake in Indonesia’s Nobu Bank from Lippo Group in June 2025, becoming the first Korean insurer to enter the overseas banking sector. As of 2024, Nobu Bank held total assets of approximately US$2.2 billion, while net profit more than doubled from KRW 12 billion in 2023 to KRW 27.9 billion in 2024. Nobu Bank’s H1 2026 net profit reached KRW 29 billion, already exceeding its full-year 2024 result, with recent growth supported by mortgage lending and its position in Indonesia’s QR-payment market.

A pattern across the Korean insurance sector
Hanwha Life’s model reflects a sector-wide response to domestic constraints. South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) reported that the overseas operations of 12 Korean insurers generated a combined net profit of US$197 million in 2025, up 23.8% year-on-year across 46 entities in 11 markets. Profit from overseas insurance businesses, however, fell by US$22.1 million year-on-year to US$128.6 million – with the gap filled by Hanwha Life’s newly consolidated banking and securities businesses.

For brokers and independent distributors operating in Vietnam and Indonesia, the strategic shift is significant. Korean insurers are expanding beyond underwriting into banking, securities, and distribution, giving them greater control over customer access and bancassurance channels. The ASEAN bancassurance market was valued at US$35.82 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$69.71 billion by 2031, representing an 11.08% compound annual growth rate, according to Mordor Intelligence. As insurers pursue that growth through exclusive or preferential bank partnerships, brokers could face greater competition for customers and distribution access, particularly where banks give partner insurers preferential access to their customer bases.

Group-level results
On a consolidated basis, Hanwha Life reported a 96% year-on-year increase in net profit to KRW 904.5 billion (approximately US$638.4 million) for H1 2026, with standalone net profit rising 183.9% to KRW 510.2 billion (approximately US$360.1 million). New business contractual service margin reached KRW 1.3001 trillion (approximately US$917.6 million), which the company said was its highest first-half figure since adopting IFRS 17, with new business profitability rising 11-fold. 

Kyobo Acquires AXA General

Kyobo Life Insurance is pursuing the acquisition of AXA General Insurance, a subsidiary of France's AXA Group, in a move to complete the final puzzle piece of its transition into a financial holding company. The insurer has sent out requests for proposals to global investment banks and accounting firms to select an acquisition advisor, with due diligence expected to begin as early as the end of this month. 

The transaction is being structured as a private deal directly with AXA Group, and AXA General Insurance's enterprise value is estimated at ₩200 billion to ₩300 billion (approximately $141.8 million to $212.7 million). AXA General Insurance was originally acquired by Kyobo Life in 2001 and sold to AXA in 2007 — meaning this deal would bring the company back into the fold after roughly two decades. 

Kyobo Life has been moving aggressively this year, having already acquired SBI Savings Bank and Kyobo AXA Asset Management in succession, rapidly building a comprehensive financial portfolio spanning life insurance, non-life insurance, securities, asset management, and savings banking. The company is also simultaneously advancing plans to relaunch its initial public offering.

Japan Rising Interest Rate

Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance, one of Japan's top five insurers, is considering the implications of an industry-wide increase in policy cancellations, as policyholders are being encouraged by higher interest rates to consider alternative financial products.

Japan’s life insurers are facing a surge in policy cancellations as rising interest rates make alternative investments more attractive. During the first five months of 2026, insurers paid out more than JPY6tn ($37.7bn) to customers who terminated their policies, roughly 40% more than in the same period a year earlier. The figure is the highest recorded in data from the Life Insurance Association of Japan dating back to 2020.

The trend is particularly significant in Japan, where life insurance products often combine death protection with savings or investment features. As the Bank of Japan has moved away from its long-standing negative interest rate policy and raised rates to 1%, investors have increasingly sought opportunities offering higher returns.

The changing investment environment is putting pressure on insurers, with some policyholders choosing to surrender existing policies and redirect their money towards higher-yielding assets.

Indonesia Life Insurance 1st Quarter 2026

Indonesia's life insurance industry recorded booked new business premiums of $1.5b (Rp27.90t) in January to March 2026 (Q1 2026), up 5.0% from a year earlier.

Indonesian Life Insurance Association, or AAJI, said 56 life insurers insured 118.28 million people during Q1 2026, which rose 20.9% year-on-year.

AAJI said the figures showed the industry continued to provide financial protection to the public despite economic pressures. The industry’s total income reached $2.6b (Rp47.63t) in Q1 2026. During the same period, insurers paid $2.1b (Rp38.73t) in claims and benefits, up 1.5% year on year.

Total unweighted premium income was relatively stable at $2.6b (Rp47.27t). Traditional life insurance remained the largest product contributor, generating $1.7b (Rp30.10t) in premiums in Q1 2026. AAJI said this showed that basic protection remained a key part of household financial planning.

By distribution channel, bancassurance remained the largest contributor, with $1.0b (Rp18.54t) in premium income.

Alternative distribution channels generated $0.8b (Rp14.44t), whilst the agency channel grew 1.2% to $0.8b (Rp14.29t) during Q1 2026.

Children Insurance Fraud

A court in the central city of Danang on Thursday sentenced a 45-year-old woman to life imprisonment for murdering her five-year-old son and fraudulently claiming more than VND4.1 billion (around US$150,000) in life insurance payouts after staging the death as an accidental drowning.

The Danang People's Court found To Thi Ty Na, from Thang Binh Commune, guilty of murder and insurance business fraud. She was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and six years in prison for insurance fraud, which combined into a life sentence under Vietnamese law.

According to the indictment, police initially received a report on January 3, 2023, that Na's son, identified as N.V.H., born in 2017, had been found dead in a bathroom bucket at the family's home the previous night.

However, the boy's paternal aunt, Nguyen Thi Bich Tam, reported her suspicions to authorities on the same day.

Tam told investigators she had reviewed the home's security camera footage and discovered that Na had deliberately redirected one of the cameras before the incident. Tam also recalled that another of Na's children had died in similar circumstances in 2021 after drowning in a bucket in the bathroom, following which Na received more than VND2 billion in insurance compensation.

The similarities between the two deaths prompted police to launch a full investigation. Prosecutors said there was no evidence that the child could have accidentally drowned in the position in which he was discovered.

Although the boy had no injuries before the incident, the post-mortem examination found multiple bruises and marks on his forehead, groin and leg, indicating he had struggled against external force before his death.

Court documents showed that Na had previously served a 40-month prison sentence for theft before returning home, marrying and raising four children. After her husband died in 2020, she struggled financially. Prosecutors said she had sold the family home for VND1.2 billion to cover living expenses and later exhausted the proceeds.

Na subsequently purchased seven life insurance policies covering her four children, paying annual premiums exceeding VND100 million ($3,800). She named herself as the beneficiary of all the policies. Her youngest son alone was covered by two separate life insurance contracts with different insurers.

Following his death, Na falsely declared that he had accidentally drowned, enabling her to claim insurance benefits. Based on the fraudulent documentation, the two insurance companies paid her more than VND4.1 billion, all of which prosecutors said was spent on personal expenses.

During the trial, Tam reiterated that the altered camera angle had first raised her suspicions, while the child's teacher testified that the boy had been healthy and showed no signs of injury before his death. In her final statement before the court, Na continued to deny the charges and asked the judges to allow her to return to her family.

After reviewing the evidence and arguments presented during the trial, the court ruled that prosecutors had proved beyond doubt that Na murdered her son in order to obtain insurance money and handed the woman a life sentence.

China Subject Offshore Insurance Income To Domestic

China's State Taxation Administration said offshore insurance income was subject to domestic tax, local news outlet the Paper reported, citing an official on Friday.

China will treat all residents' overseas income equally, regardless of whether it is overseas insurance income or other investment income, all income must be declared and taxed according to law.

The clarification came after reports emerged that local tax authorities were stepping up cross-border tax compliance efforts and reviewing tax residents' unreported foreign income.

Beijing and Hangzhou authorities have started to apply personal income tax rates of 20% on returns from Hong Kong insurance policies. Mainland Chinese authorities have escalated scrutiny of offshore investments in recent months, which analysts say could weigh on money flows to Hong Kong.

Taxing offshore-sourced income derived by Chinese tax residents, including returns on overseas insurance policies, is a common international practice and has been consistently upheld since the implementation of China's Personal Income Tax Law, the official said.

South Korea Life Insurers Faces Declining Sales

South Korean life insurers are facing declining sales, as demand for new policies fell amidst a shrinking population and an aging society. According to statistics from the Korea Life Insurance Association (KLIA), the number of new life insurance contracts in the first half of 2026 totalled 4,112,902, down 12.9% from the first half of last year. New contract premiums also fell 6.8% over the same period to KRW744.37bn ($519m).

The KLIA statistics reveal that the overall decline in new contracts was largely driven by weak sales of protection-type insurance products. In the first half 2026, new protection-type insurance contracts totalled 3,869,319, down 13.4% from a year earlier, far exceeding the decline in savings-type insurance (-3.6%). New contract premiums also fell 5.9% to KRW632.07bn.

On the other hand, the base for new subscriptions shrank due to population decline from low birthrates and aging, while new demand itself fell as insurance subscription rates had already reached high levels.

Protection-type insurance sales also contracted on a first-year premium basis. From January to April 2026, first-year premiums for individual protection-type insurance totalled KRW489.2bn, down 22.0% from KRW627.2bn a year earlier. First-year premiums for whole life insurance, the flagship product, fell 11.3% from KRW264.5bn won to KRW234.6bn, while disease insurance fell 20.4% from KRW97.8bn won to KRW77.9bn.

The slump in the core business has also affected earnings. In the first half of 2026, net profit in the insurance divisions of the five major financial holding companies totalled KRW1.118 tr, shrinking 21.0% from a year earlier.

4 Main Reasons Insurer/Takaful Rejected Claim

While every contract is unique, most claim rejections stem from a handful of recurring issues.

Policy Exclusions and Limitations
Claimants often assume their coverage is all-encompassing, but it rarely covers everything. Rejections often happen because the specific treatment or condition is explicitly excluded in the policy, such as certain cosmetic procedures or “experimental” treatments.

One of the more common areas of dispute concerns the interpretation of what constitutes “medically necessary” treatment. While a procedure may be recommended by a treating doctor, the insurer may decline the claim if its medical assessors determine that the treatment falls outside the policy’s definition of medical necessity, such as where it is considered optional, cosmetic, or non-essential.

Certain pre-existing illnesses or hospital admissions are primarily for investigation or diagnostic check-ups rather than active treatment. Not every treatment recommended by your doctor will be covered under your policy.

Non-conformance with Terms and Conditions (Breach of Conditions)
Many insured believe that once they have paid their insurance premiums, any loss or medical expense will automatically be covered. However, insurance policies operate within a framework of terms and conditions that policyholders should understand. Claims can be declined where those requirements are not met.

For example, a motor accident claim may be declined if the vehicle was driven by an unauthorized or unlicensed driver, while a medical claim for a non-emergency elective procedure may not be covered if prior approval or a Guarantee Letter (GL) was required but not obtained.

Similarly, a burglary or water damage claim may be declined if the property remained unoccupied for a period exceeding the period allowed under the policy and the insurer was not notified as required under the policy terms. These seemingly small oversights can result in a rejected claim, even when the loss is genuine.

The same applies to reporting timelines. If your policy says you must report an incident within 14 days, waiting two months to do so can give the insurer grounds to reject your claim because they can no longer conduct a proper investigation.

An insurance policy is a two-way contract; if you fail to fulfil your part of the agreement, the insurer is not obligated to pay out.

Non-disclosure and Misrepresentation
Insurance is based on the principle of “utmost good faith.” Put simply, it means that insurers rely on consumers to provide complete and accurate information when applying for coverage.

By signing the application form, you are confirming that you have disclosed all material facts, including any information that may affect the insurer’s assessment of the risk and its decision to offer coverage.

Policyholders frequently do not disclose certain symptoms because they consider them insignificant or unrelated to their insurance application. A person may dismiss a recurring cough or a previous episode of back pain as minor issues, particularly if no formal diagnosis was made. However, such information may still be material to the insurer’s risk assessment and should be disclosed when required.

When you make a medical claim, insurers will review the information you provided when you first bought your policy. If a pre-existing condition was not disclosed, even by mistake, it could affect your claim and your coverage.

In more serious cases, non-disclosure may affect the validity of the policy or impact a person’s ability to obtain insurance coverage in the future. This underscores the importance of providing a complete and accurate medical history at the outset.

Failure to take reasonable precautions in safeguarding the vehicle
We often hear the phrase “just for a while”. Whether you are going to a 7-Eleven or waiting at an ATM, leaving your car engine running with the keys inside is a recipe for trouble.

This is often classified as a “failure to take reasonable precautions.” While it may feel like a minor lapse in judgment, your insurance contract specifically requires you to take all reasonable steps to protect your vehicle from loss or damage.

If you leave your car unlocked, the engine running, or the keys in the ignition, you are making it too easy for a thief. In such scenarios, the insurer is well within their rights to reject the claim, as the theft was not an unavoidable accident, but a direct result of the policyholder’s own negligence.

Similarly, most travel policies require you to take “reasonable precautions” with your belongings. If you leave your luggage unattended in a café or airport lobby and it is stolen, your insurer may reject the claim because you failed to keep your belongings under your supervision, breaching the policy’s duty of care clause.

The “safeguarding” clause is there for a reason, and insurers expect you to treat your vehicle and belongings with the same caution you would expect of any owner.

Takaful Policy - Void On Deliberate Fraud

The High Court in Ipoh has ruled that Zurich Takaful Malaysia Bhd was entitled to void a family takaful policy after finding it was obtained through deliberate fraud, despite failures by the insurer’s own agent to follow basic underwriting procedures.

Agent Negligence - It was revealed in court that the agent admitted that he had never met the insured, witnessed the signing of the proposal form, or verified the information submitted before the policy was issued. However, the judge said these failures did not invalidate the contract as Zurich Takaful had accepted the proposal, issued the certificate and collected RM3,000 in contributions. 

The judge said an insurer could not rely on its agent’s negligence to escape contractual liability. However, the judge found that the policy had been obtained through deliberate and coordinated misrepresentations by the nominee, allowing Zurich Takaful to void the contract under Schedule 9 of the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.

Zurich Takaful filed the suit after rejecting a claim following the death of the insured in a bicycle accident in April 2018, about six months after the policy was issued. The insurer alleged that the proposal form contained false declarations regarding the deceased’s marital status, occupation, income, address, literacy, alcohol consumption and relationship with the nominee. 

The nominee denied the allegations and filed a counterclaim for the policy proceeds. In his 39-page judgment, the judge said evidence, including another takaful policy with similar fabricated family relationships, pointed to a fraudulent scheme rather than innocent mistakes.

The judge found it highly unlikely that the insured, who remained married and supported his wife and five children, would have excluded them and nominated a distant relative to receive more than RM800,000 in takaful benefits.

The judge concluded that the proposal form was likely completed by the nominee to ensure the policy proceeds would be paid to him.

Fraudulent Application - Although Zurich Takaful also questioned the circumstances surrounding the insured's death, the judge declined to find that the nominee had committed any criminal offence, noting that police had classified it as an accidental death. The judge said that the claim failed because of the fraud committed when the policy was obtained.

The court also rejected allegations that Zurich Takaful’s former solicitors conspired with the insured’s widow to fabricate evidence, saying there was no proof despite concerns over how confidential policy documents came into her possession.

Allowing Zurich Takaful’s claim, the judge declared the policy validly voided, dismissed Yathavan’s counterclaim and ordered the insurer to refund the RM3,000 contribution to insured’s lawful widow. He made no order as to costs, saying the case should never have reached court because the insurer’s own agent had abandoned basic underwriting safeguards in pursuit of a quick commission.

Indonesia Medical Cost Inflation Year 2025 -13.5%

Indonesia's health insurance sector is under sustained pressure from medical inflation running well above general price increases, a trend that is reshaping underwriting economics and drawing direct regulatory intervention.

Medical cost inflation in Indonesia reached an estimated 13.6% in 2025, the highest rate in Asia, according to the Global Asia Insurance Partnership (GAIP). Mercer Marsh Benefits, meanwhile, put the country's projected medical trend rate at 19% for 2025, the year-on-year increase in claims costs per insured person. Asia-Pacific has recorded double-digit medical trend rates for six consecutive years, with analyst projecting a 12.5% average rate across the region in 2026.

Product exits signal unsustainable claims ratios - The gap between claims costs and premiums has already forced product exits. Around five to six non-life insurance companies stopped selling health products by early 2026, according to the Indonesian General Insurance Association (AAUI). Claims ratios had consistently exceeded 90% across parts of the market, a level that Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) acknowledged was unsustainable.

The structural drivers are well established. Rising utilization, an ageing population, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are all contributing to cost escalation. The devaluation of the Indonesian rupiah (IDR) compounds pricing pressure, as most pharmaceutical raw materials and medical devices are sourced from abroad.

Anaalyst projects gross claims in the personal accident and health (PA&H) segment to grow from IDR8.6 trillion (US$535.9 million) in 2025 to IDR13.1 trillion (US$816.3 million) by 2029. That represents a compound annual growth rate of 10.9%.

Reinsurers carry share of deteriorating books - For reinsurers, the deteriorating claims environment creates direct exposure through quota share and excess-of-loss arrangements on health books. As cedants face pressure on guaranteed-premium products, where in-force policies cannot be repriced without regulatory constraints, reinsurers absorb a proportional share of the adverse experience.

Asia's health protection gap reached US$258 billion in premium-equivalent terms in 2024. That was up 21% from 2017, with chronic conditions and critical illnesses contributing almost equally to household financial stress.

OJK introduces co-payments and repricing limits - The OJK moved to address the imbalance in late 2025. Its POJK No. 36 of 2025, effective January 2026, introduced mandatory co-payments of at least 10% of each claim. The cap is IDR300,000 for outpatient care and IDR3 million for inpatient treatment.

The regulation also restricts health product repricing to once per year, with mandatory written notice to policyholders at least 30 days in advance. The OJK said the measures were intended to curb overutilization and prevent moral hazard.

Insurers have until December 2026 to adapt existing products to the new requirements. The framework also mandates medical advisory boards and stronger utilization review processes.
The requirements raise the operational bar for smaller carriers already under capital pressure.

Reinsurance role extends beyond risk transfer - Indonesia Re, the state-owned national reinsurer, has described the reinsurance function in this environment as extending beyond risk transfer. It cites claims experience analysis, disease trend monitoring, portfolio profitability assessment, and technical support for rate setting as areas where reinsurers add value.

The private health insurance market remains relatively small against a large state base. By October 2025, 283 million participants held coverage under BPJS Kesehatan, the national scheme, representing 99.3% of the population.

Private products largely serve as supplementary cover for access to private hospital facilities and specialist services. The private market was valued at US$1.63 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$2.54 billion by 2031, a 7.5% compound annual growth rate.

The regulatory and structural changes are expected to improve claims ratios over time but introduce near-term complexity for both insurers and reinsurers. Tighter co-payment rules may suppress utilisation. The underlying cost trends driven by chronic disease, medical technology, and currency exposure remain structural rather than cyclical.

The period ahead is likely to involve closer collaboration with cedants on product design, more granular pricing assumptions, and greater scrutiny of claims management governance. Those conditions typically favor reinsurers with strong local data infrastructure and cedant relationships over those writing the line from a distance.

Malaysia MediAsas

The government will launch a pilot program for its Base Medical and Health Insurance and Takaful (MHIT) plan in the Klang Valley by the end of July, with monthly premiums expected to start from around RM60.

Knowns as MediAsas, it will be offered as a standalone medical insurance and takaful protection plan with two product options — MediAsas Teras (a standard plan) and MediAsas Fleksi (a standard-plus plan). The scheme will provide medical coverage for individuals up to the age of 85.

The premiums will be determined based on the latest medical claims experience and healthcare cost inflation trends, with indicative premiums expected to remain within the target monthly range of around RM60 to RM550 for individuals within the entry age of up to 70 years. 

Final pricing will be confirmed before the nationwide implementation in January 2027. The pilot phase will run from end-July until October 2026.

Six insurers and takaful operators will participate in the pilot program togrther with selected hospitals in the Klang Valley. They include AIA Bhd, Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd, Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Bhd, Prudential BSN Takaful Bhd, Etiqa Family Takaful Bhd and Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd.

The government said the pilot program will test "operational readiness, including systems integration, customer experience and operational processes" in a controlled environment. Feedback gathered during the pilot phase will be used to refine implementation arrangements before the nationwide rollout.

The Base MHIT initiative forms part of the government's broader Reset strategy, undertaken jointly with Bank Negara Malaysia, to address rising medical inflation and strengthen the long-term sustainability of Malaysia's healthcare system.

The strategy focuses on value based healthcare in improving patient outcomes, optimizing cost-effective healthcare services and enhancing access to quality care.

FWD Launched Cancer MultiCover Insurance

FWD Singapore has launched FWD MultiCover CI, a new critical illness policy designed to provide ongoing payouts rather than terminating after the first claim. The product launch comes as national figures show Singapore’s five-year cancer survival rate rose from 53% in 2008 to 2012 to 61% in 2019 to 2023.

Over the same period, cancer mortality dropped from 91 to 72 deaths per 100,000 people.
With patients living longer post-diagnosis, the insurer aims to help families cover long-term income loss, caregiving expenses, and prolonged recovery costs.

The policy covers up to 166 medical conditions across early, intermediate, and late stages. Depending on specific condition limits, policyholders can claim up to a total of 900% of their Sum Insured across all benefits.

Under the core Critical Illness Benefit, customers can make up to six claims totaling 600% of the Sum Insured, with a one-year waiting period between claims.

Early and intermediate stages pay out 100% of the Sum Insured, whilst late-stage diagnoses pay 200%.

For specified late-stage illnesses or recurrences, a Booster Benefit offers an additional 150% of the Sum Insured per claim for up to two claims, subject to a two-year waiting period.

Customers facing late-stage diagnoses can also select the Accelerated Care Option to receive an immediate 75% payout instead of keeping the booster benefit for future recurrences.

Additionally, a two-tier Intensive Care Unit benefit provides payouts up to 120% of the Sum Insured for severe hospital stays, even if the underlying illness is not listed as a critical condition.

Check Unclaimed Money Through Semak Kasih

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) today launched the ‘Semak Kasih’ portal to make it easier for beneficiaries to check unclaimed insurance policies or takaful certificates of their family members. The portal was developed to help beneficiaries verify whether they have insurance or takaful coverage and contact the relevant provider for further action.

Approximately 50,000 insurance policies and takaful certificates involving death benefits have yet to be claimed by beneficiaries. Several efforts have been undertaken by insurance and takaful companies, including sending letters and using agents to contact beneficiaries.

To improve the efficiency of the benefit claim payment process, this newly launched portal makes it easier for beneficiaries to check the existence of coverage and contact the relevant provider for further action to ensure that benefits reach the qualified family members.

Malaysians should strengthen financial protection through insurance or takaful, as well as increase their financial literacy to face economic challenges and the rising cost of living. Insurance or takaful protection can help individuals and families when facing disasters such as illness, accidents, or fires, and help ensure the welfare of surviving family members

Japanese Insurers Eyeing Foreign Aquisition

Japanese life insurers are projected to continue buying foreign insurance companies to drive growth, as the domestic market for profitable protection-type policies is expected to peak within the next few years due to Japan's shrinking population.

Instead, earnings growth will increasingly depend on wider investment margins, which are being lifted by the rising yen bond yields. Japanese life insurance companies are also expected to maintain strong financial foundations through March 2027. Analyst forecasts that the insurers will hold enough capital to support their current credit ratings. This stability to a steady build-up of core capital and the issuance of hybrid financial instruments.

Movements in Japanese government bond yields are expected to have a minimal direct impact on the insurers' capital and earnings. Under Japanese accounting rules, both yen-denominated liabilities and bonds are recorded at book value using amortized cost.

Furthermore, when bond yields rise, the economic value of insurance liabilities falls faster than the value of the bonds themselves, limiting the negative impact. Despite rising bond yields, customer cancellations remained stable. The rate of surrendered and lapsed policies was 4.6% in the financial year ending March 2026, up slightly from 4.3% the previous year.

Fitch noted that consumers in Japan do not typically buy life insurance products for investment yields, which helps keep these rates steady.

Daya Kerjaya Scam

Workers received only a one-off token payment, yet their names were used to claim the full employment incentive under the Social Security Organisation's (PERKESO) Daya Kerjaya 2.0 program, according to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

A one-off token payment was given to the workers, while full claims were submitted. In other words, the workers only received a token payment and not the full amount that was claimed.
Investigators also found that information belonging to disabled people had been misused for payments to other parties.

Accountants of sole proprietorships had submitted applications on behalf of company owners who received commissions despite having no knowledge of the workers registered under the program. The use of individuals' information without consent, as well as the misuse of data belonging to the program's target groups, are among the matters being examined in the investigation.

The Daya Kerjaya 2.0 program provides a government hiring incentive of RM1,500 a month for up to six months and was introduced to help vulnerable groups secure employment. The target groups include disabled people, parolees and senior citizens aged above 60.

On June 11, the MACC announced that it had uncovered a syndicate believed to have submitted fraudulent claims involving 143 companies and claims worth about RM9mil under the program.

Healthcare Partners Protocol & Solutions Committee

Five medical and insurance/takaful associations said initiatives are being implemented to enhance communication and operational efficiency among doctors, hospitals, insurers and takaful operators.

The five are the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia, Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM), Malaysian Takaful Association, and Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia.

In a joint statement today, they said the initiatives are to improve the overall customer experience across the healthcare ecosystem. This will be done via the Healthcare Partners Protocol & Solutions Committee (HPPSC) platform.

The four broad categories of initiatives include improving communication between medical practitioners and insurers, takaful operators; enhancing transparency in panelling and review processes for cashless facility; improving medical and health insurance / takaful claims management operational efficiency; and streamlining the guarantee letter issuance process.

A dedicated "doctor-to-doctor" hotline was set up by insurers and takaful operators in April 30, 2026, to support and address claim enquiries and enable direct discussions between medical practitioners and insurers and takaful operators' medical advisory teams.

Vietnam Life Insurance Recovery

Vietnam's life insurance market has spent four years unwinding one of Southeast Asia's worst mis-selling scandals. New business premiums have reset to 2017 levels. Gross written premiums fell 12% in 2023 and a further 5.7% in 2024, driven by a collapse in consumer trust linked to bancassurance sales misconduct. Life insurance penetration dropped from 1.9% in 2022 to just 1.3% in 2024 - well below Thailand at 3.5% and Taiwan at 8.7%.

For insurers, reinsurers, and distribution partners with Southeast Asia exposure, the question is no longer whether Vietnam recovers. It is what kind of market emerges on the other side.

What the regulator changed - Vietnam's response was sweeping. The new Decree, issued in July 2023, tightened bancassurance conduct standards, imposed stricter disclosure requirements, and restricted product bundling. The revised Insurance Business Law now prohibits insurance sales within 60 days of loan disbursement and penalises banks that tie non-mandatory policies to loans. The market felt it immediately. Bancassurance revenue dropped 39% in the first six months after the rules took effect.

What executives expect - Sentiment varied by distribution model:
a: Bancassurance-focused: Most optimistic. Expect new bank-owned entrants to drive volume. Top priority is rebuilding policy persistency

b:Agency-focused: More cautious. Agent productivity remains well below pre-crisis levels. Milliman puts the timeline for full agent productivity recovery at roughly five years

c: Mixed-model: Projecting 10%–15% compound annual growth over five years, with diversification offering some protection

Three priorities cut across all groups: better sales quality, tighter cost control, and greater use of digital tools and AI.

The bank-owned insurer threat - The most commercially significant post-crisis shift is banks moving from distributor to competitor. Techcom Life, launched in 2025, was the first greenfield domestic life insurer outside the joint-venture model since 1996. Asia Commercial Bank and VPBank are also pursuing insurance subsidiaries. More bank-owned entrants are expected within two to three years.

For foreign-owned insurers with exclusive bancassurance agreements, this is a live strategic risk.

The recovery case - Industry projected a 3.8% growth in 2026, following an estimated 0.9% expansion in 2025. The structural case - young demographics, rising incomes, penetration at 1.3% - remains compelling. 

Malaysia - RM9.4 Billion Medical Claim 2025

Medical claims rose 5.3 per cent in 2025 from a year earlier, making up the largest share of total payouts at 53.9 per cent, according to the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (Liam). In its 2025 annual report, Liam said medical claims increased to RM9.4 billion from RM8.9 billion in 2024.

Disability benefits, which accounted for 0.9 per cent of total payouts, recorded the sharpest growth, surging 77.4 per cent from RM89 million in 2024 to RM157.9 million in 2025.

Liam said total claims payouts, including death, disability, medical, bonuses and other benefits, rose 3.4 per cent to RM17.4 billion in 2025 from RM16.8 billion in 2024.

The association said the life insurance industry continued to expand in 2025, although the growth rate was slower than in 2024.

In force premium rose 3.1 per cent to RM50.7 billion from RM49.1 billion in 2024, driven mainly by a 9.4 per cent increase in group policies and a six per cent rise in investment-linked policies.

Traditional policies, however, declined 2.9 per cent to RM15.6 billion.

The total sums assured in force rose 2.8 per cent to RM2.11 trillion in 2025 from RM2.05 trillion in 2024, while investment-linked policies recorded a 4.4 per cent increase to RM1.09 trillion in 2025.

Group policies sums assured in force which grew by 2.6 per cent to RM721.3 billion in 2025 whereas sums assured in force of traditional policies fell 2.6 per cent," it said.

Liam said the number of policies in force edged down 2.3 per cent to 12.7 million units in 2025 from 12.9 million units a year earlier.

It noted that investment-linked policies in force increased 1.9 per cent to seven million units, while group policies slipped 1.5 per cent and traditional policies declined by seven per cent.

Additional 10% Insurance Discount For Responsible Driver

Motorists with good driving records could see total motor insurance savings of up to 65 per cent under the Cermat Madani initiative, which introduces an additional risk-based rebate on top of existing no-claim discounts. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the framework is designed to better reflect driving behavior in insurance pricing, rewarding low-risk motorists through data-based assessments.

Responsible drivers should not be treated the same as those with higher-risk driving records.
He stressed that the benefit is based on individual risk profiling rather than commercial discounts or promotional offers. Under Cermat Madani, drivers who drive responsibly and are assessed to have lower risk profiles may be considered for premium benefits of up to 10 per cent, subject to the evaluation and decision of participating insurance companies or takaful operators.

This additional rebate will be layered on top of the existing no-claim discount (NCD) of up to 55 per cent, allowing eligible motorists to potentially enjoy total savings of up to 65 per cent. The system will later be strengthened through wider use of data to improve the accuracy and fairness of risk-based pricing.

Malaysia Healthcare Targets Indonesia

Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), together with Tourism Malaysia, recorded strong visitor engagement at Malaysia Fair Jakarta 2026, held from 4 to 7 June 2026 at Gandaria City, underscoring sustained interest among Indonesian consumers in Malaysia's healthcare, wellness and travel offerings. Organised in conjunction with Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026), themed "Healing Meets Hospitality", the initiative brings together healthcare providers, tourism stakeholders and educational institutions under one roof, offering Indonesian visitors exclusive access to world-class healthcare services, travel experiences and study opportunities.

The initiative comes at a time when Indonesia remains Malaysia Healthcare's largest and most important source market. In 2025 alone, Indonesia contributed approximately RM2.2 billion in healthcare travel revenue to Malaysia, representing a 23% year-on-year increase in revenue and a 16% increase in healthcare traveller arrivals compared to 2024. Meanwhile, over 970,000 Indonesian healthcare travelers visited Malaysia, indicating ongoing trust in Malaysia's healthcare system. Major treatment areas for Indonesian patients include health screening, gastroenterology, cancer treatment, endocrinology, cardiology, and orthopaedic surgery, highlighting Malaysia's capability to provide wide-ranging and specialized care for regional patients.

Igloo Distribute Insurance Solutions Vietnam & Indonesia

Igloo - an insurance technology (insurtech) company, will now distribute insurance solutions of Chubb Life Insurance, across Vietnam and Indonesia.

Under their partnership, Chubb Life’s life, health, and critical illness products will be available in Ignite, Igloo’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered platform for insurance agents. Ignite by Igloo currently operates an agency network in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Roll-out begins in June 2026. Further details on product launches and local initiatives to be announced at a later stage.

Igloo has over 40 insurer partners and over 75 distribution partners across the region.

Life insurance penetration in Vietnam and Indonesia remains low. In Vietnam, life premiums represent just 1.3% of the GDP. For Indonesia, the figure is at 1.5% of the GDP.

Bankruptcy Among Malaysian Civil Servants

Almost all bankruptcy cases involving civil servants recorded nationwide this year were linked to personal debt, with some owing more than RM4 million, according to the Insolvency Department. 197 of the 200 bankruptcy cases involving civil servants recorded nationwide in the first 4 months of this year (2026) were caused by financial loans and personal commitments.

4 of the 200 cases involved debts exceeding RM4 million, believed to include business loans or cases in which individuals used their names to secure company loans. The remaining cases involved debts ranging from RM100,000 to RM4 million. This shows a serious level of indebtedness and indicates that the financial condition of Malaysians is unstable.

The largest group involved in bankruptcy comprises support-category civil servants, with the majority being men. Most of those declared bankrupt were from the support and implementation groups, aged between 35 and 40, and had taken loans more than 10 years after joining the civil service.

National data also shows that around 70 per cent of cases involve men, with a ratio of about one to two, as they are usually the main financial providers for their families. Other causes of bankruptcy included housing loans, vehicle loans and the use of credit cards to cover daily living expenses. There are also cases involving overlapping debts, where individuals take new loans to settle old debts, but all of it stems from personal loans.

Sarawak recorded the highest number of bankrupt civil servants at 23, followed by Melaka with 22 and Selangor with 18. 46 teachers nationwide were declared bankrupt during the same period, with Melaka recording the highest number at 13 cases, while Selangor recorded two.

Under the second chance policy, 10,000 individuals in Selangor had been released from bankruptcy status between October last year and March this year.

Investment-linked Policy - No Capital Guaranteed

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Life Insurance Association (LIA) have issued stern warnings against the use of the descriptor “capital guaranteed” for investment-linked policies (ILPs), in their latest effort to stamp out such misrepresentations.

Over the past few months, some insurance agents and financial adviser (FA) representatives have used the term “capital guaranteed upon death” to refer to the death benefit of ILPs. This is an attempt to appeal to Singaporeans’ penchant for safer investments, especially among seniors and pre-retirees who seem to be the main targets.

The death benefit - of ILPs typically has a guaranteed component, but there is no capital guarantee. Some advisers have also sought to persuade prospective clients to fulfil only half of the Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Life accounts – which means satisfying only the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) – and to invest the other half in an ILP.

According to the proposition, the combined income from CPF Life (BRS) and the ILP wuld offer a higher eventual monthly payout than the individual stands to receive had he or she fulfilled the FRS. For CPF members turning 55 in 2026, the BRS is S$110,200 and the eventual monthly payout at 65 is estimated at S$950. The FRS is S$220,400, and the expected monthly payout S$1,780.

The product in question was an ILP apparently issued by Etiqa and FWD. FWD has disavowed such marketing approaches.

MAS said it expects FA reps to “act honestly and in the interest of customers when providing financial advice”. “Sales materials, including those for product comparison, must be accurate and clear. Key product features, risks and charges must be disclosed in a manner that does not mislead the customer. MAS said consumers who have concerns about how a product was marketed to them should approach the financial institution that the salesperson represents. 

The term ‘capital guaranteed upon death’ is not industry-recognized and does not appear in ILP standard documentation. Consumers should not be misled into believing their capital is protected from market risks when it is not.

The Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (Fidrec) said it received 160 claims relating to ILPs last year, compared with 211 in 2024 and 55 in 2023.

Bangladesh Ban Non-life Insurance Agent

Bangladesh's Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) said it will abolish the system of individual agents and licences in the non-life insurance sector starting 1 January 2026.

The move aims to protect policyholders, strengthen financial discipline amongst insurers, and improve the overall management of non-life insurance business. From the effective date, insurers will no longer be allowed to engage individual agents, and no payments or benefits may be given under the name of individual agent commission or similar arrangements.

IDRA said the decision follows issues identified in the non-life insurance market and will be enforced under Section 58(1) of the Insurance Act 2010. 

The directive applies to all non-life insurance business in the country and is intended to ensure proper implementation across the industry.

Hanwha Initiates Blockchain

Hanwha Life Insurance is betting on the blockchain as a core pillar of its next growth phase as it seeks to evolve from a traditional insurer into a global financial group. Rather than treating blockchains as a speculative technology play, the insurer sees them as financial infrastructure capable of reshaping cost structures across the industry.

Hanwha Life envisions a future of finance in which blockchain technology securely safeguards customers’ assets and enables transactions with greater convenience. Ultimately, future finance means lowering costs across the financial system and returning those benefits to customers.

Indonesia has emerged as a key market for translating that vision into practice. South-East Asia’s largest digital economy had a financial inclusion rate of about 75% in 2024, according to official data, leaving roughly a quarter of its adult population unbanked or underbanked.

Hanwha Life this year acquired control of local lender Nobu Bank, becoming the first Korean insurer to gain control of a foreign bank. Through its subsidiary Hanwha General Insurance, the group also controls Lippo General Insurance, expanding its footprint across Indonesia’s financial sector.

The company aims to combine insurance and banking services in Indonesia to reach new customer segments while lowering barriers to financial access. With a population of about 280 million and a government target to lift financial inclusion to 98% by 2045, the country offers both scale and policy alignment.

Sony Life Review 2.5 Million Policies

Sony Life Insurance Co. decided to review about 2.5 million policies sold by its “life planners” following allegations that former sales employees were engaged in fraudulent practices. Around 20 to 30 customers of Sony Life have claimed they were victims of fraud or similar misconduct by company employees.

Sony Life will also ask customers who signed contracts through its sales employees or exclusive agents if they noticed any suspicious activity during phone calls, letters or on dedicated customer webpages.

Sony Life is the first insurer to open such a large-scale investigation since Prudential Life Insurance Co.’s probe in August 2024.

The Prudential Life investigation revealed that 107 employees and former employees were involved in unauthorized financial transactions with 503 customers, and improperly obtained a total of about 3.1 billion yen ($20 million).

At Sony Life, the number of customers reporting losses or expressing concerns about potential misconduct has been increasing. In January, the company disclosed a case in which a solicitor who had been tranferred to an exclusive agent for Sony Life took money from customers under the pretense of investment and diverted it for personal use.

In March, the company revealed that a former sales employee had borrowed about 2.2 billion yen from 103 customers, of which about 1.2 billion yen remains unpaid.

Sony Life initially did not make this case public, treating it as “personal borrowing” by the former employee.

The company was established in 1979 as Sony Prudential Life Insurance Co. It later split from Prudential Life and became a separate company. Both Sony Life and Prudential Life employ sales staff known as “life planners” to sell insurance products.

And both companies have traditionally adopted a “full-commission” compensation system in which pay is directly linked to sales performance. Prudential Life has been reviewing its compensation structure on grounds that the link between pay and insurance sales performance was a contributing factor to the misconduct.

South Korea Crackdown On Insurance Fraud

The South Korean National Police Agency has officially commenced a sweeping nine-month crackdown on insurance fraud to curb rising financial losses. Specialized units are being deployed across the country to target the growing issue of financial drain on the sector.

Running from February 2 through October 31, 2026, the special enforcement campaign represents a significant escalation in the government's battle against organized insurance crime. The initiative comes as the industry grapples with deteriorating loss ratios and a sophisticated wave of fraudulent activities. These illicit activities are inflating premiums for honest policyholders and undermining the stability of the market.

Inflated Claims - Authorities are specifically targeting two primary sources of leakage: organized car accident schemes and the operation of illegal medical institutions. These illegal facilities are known locally as "ghost hospitals” - they are often established by non-medical personnel who hire doctors on paper to obtain licenses, violating medical laws. These establishments have become hotbeds for inflated claims and systematic financial abuse.

Systematic enforcement against "ghost hospitals" - To ensure the effectiveness of the campaign, the police have designated anti-corruption and economic crime units as primary investigative forces. Mobile criminal investigation teams will also be utilized to track down organized rings that operate across regional jurisdictions.

The focus on "ghost hospitals" addresses a critical vulnerability in the healthcare insurance system. These facilities often collude with brokers and patients to falsify medical records and inflate treatments. This practice has evolved from simple opportunism into organized crime involving hundreds of participants.

In recent years, industry insiders have been found leveraging their specialized knowledge to exploit loopholes in the claims process. This trend has necessitated this high-level police intervention to protect the integrity of the system.

The National Police Agency stated that insurance fraud is not a victimless crime, as it undermines the social safety net and directly leads to higher premiums for the general public.

Financial pressure on the sector - This enforcement drive arrives at a critical time for the Korean insurance market. The sector is currently navigating significant headwinds, as South Korea's general insurance sector surges with fresh momentum but faces underlying profitability challenges.

The leakage from fraud exacerbates these financial pressures, making strict enforcement a necessity for market stability. Recent data indicates that the complexity of fraud has increased, with criminals using digital tools to recruit accomplices. The crackdown also includes provisions to seize criminal proceeds before indictment to prevent fraudsters from hiding assets.