Ombudsman release long-term insurance statistics
Judge Ron McLaren is in favour of transparency when it comes to complaints data, hoping it will motivate the industry to improve service.
The Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance released an annual report and accompanying statistics regarding life policies, funeral cover and hospital cash plan complaints amongst others on Tuesday 8 April.
“Complaints about life polices, funeral covers and hospital cash plans top the list of the complaints,” said Judge Leona Theron, appointed Chairperson of the Council of the Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance.
According to the 2012/ 2013 annual report, the number of complaints lodged with this Ombudsman continued to grow in 2013 where a total of 10 028 complaints were received by the office. That indicates an increase of 4.5 per cent over 2012, which is a new record for the office.
Theron believes that the consistent increase in complaints received over the past few years is driven by the significant growth in the number of policies that the insurance industry sells. The fact that public awareness of the Ombudsman offices is increasing contributes to that development.
Accompanying the report, damning complaints data was published, indicating that only 33 per cent of cases were resolved wholly or partially in favour of complainants.
