​Life insurance new product development continues to be negatively impacted by long lead times, both to generate ideas and bring them to market, and the perceived quality of innovation within these new ideas.

In mid-2014, RGA sought to assess and quantify these issues more closely by conducting its first global survey of life insurers.

In coming years, expect to see more simplified and consumer-friendly products, including annuities tailored to young workers looking to build a nest egg. Life insurers’ back-office operations will also be better integrated, availing advisors of more cross-selling opportunities across product lines.

For decades the frequency of cutaneous melanomas worldwide has been increasing faster than any other cancer. Melanomas cause about 90 percent of skin cancer mortality.

​In the 15 years since India reprivatised its insurance industry, several models have been developed to optimise operations, distribution, and suitability. Mr. Amit Punchhi of RGA examines the three elements that are contributing to the slowing down of the life market’s growth.

Application activity for individually underwritten life insurance increased +5.7% in January, year-over-year, all ages combined, according to the MIB Life Index.

The proper assessment of current health is essential for underwriters to come to the best (and hopefully most aggressive) decision on policy pricing. This is straightforward when tests and current assessment of well being have been done by an attending physician and favorable results lead to standard and preferred issues. What about screening tests for health that assess risk and allow both the doctor and patient/insured to look for disease that isn’t currently causing symptoms?

Shisha – the practice of smoking tobacco or non-tobacco alternatives in waterpipes – is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Mr Devesh Anand of RGA Reinsurance Company Middle East Limited looks into the health risks of shisha and the underwriting considerations involved.