Latest news with #CALI
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Super funds urged to make faster payouts as mental health insurance claims see 'unprecedented spike'
Mental health illness is now the main reason for total and permanent disability (TPD) claims, with consumer advocates warning insurers and superannuation funds may be dragging out insurance payouts for people with mental illness. New data, looking at insurance held outside of super, found insurers spent almost double the amount in payments in 2024, compared to five years earlier. The data, from the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) and KPMG's Cause of Claims Results report, found life insurers had paid out more than $2.2 billion for retail mental health claims in 2024, with mental health TPD claims accounting for one-third of total claims paid. CALI also found mental health illness made up 20 per cent of income protection claims, which resulted in payouts of $887 million in 2024. "Australia is reaching a tipping point. The entire safety net, not just life insurance, is under pressure," said CALI chief executive Christine Cupitt. "Every year we see a growing number of people, particularly younger Australians, leaving the workforce for good due to mental health conditions," Ms Cupitt said. If you have more information about this story please contact Nassim Khadem at or nassimkhadem@ The Productivity Commission in 2020 calculated that mental illness costs Australia up to $220 billion annually. CALI's data found the rate of TPD claims for mental health among people in their 30s had increased by 732 per cent over the past decade, but Ms Cupitt says a lump sum payout may not provide lasting financial security, particularly for younger Australians with decades of potential working life still ahead. "People are being left with little choice but to label themselves totally and permanently disabled, even where the medical evidence shows there is a chance they could return to work," she said. As retail insurers warn of a spike in mental health claims, consumer advocates warn that, outside of that, many Australians hold TPD insurance within their superannuation fund. They say in cases where people are insured through their super, many are facing delays in mental health illness claims being paid out. Super Consumers Australia's Xavier O'Halloran noted it was a more complex area than physical disability, with many funds placing unnecessary barriers and burdens of proof. "We're seeing a massive increase in the number of mental health claims coming through to superannuation funds," he said. "We're also seeing big claims delays too. He said while the insurance industry has now acknowledged a crisis with mental health-related TPD claims, the corporate regulator warned the industry over four years ago to expect this to happen. While some people prefer to take out insurance cover outside of their super, most superannuation funds provide TPD and death cover to eligible workers between the ages of 25 and 65. Some provide this automatically as part of their default cover, while income protection is opt-in in some funds. The amount paid out by a company in the event of a TPD benefit claim can vary, but the average is $144,000, according to data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). It takes, on average, 3.8 months for TPD claims made through superannuation to be finalised. But APRA's data does not break down what percentage of TPD claims are for mental health illness and it is unknown how many of the rejected claims relate to mental health. Insurance lawyer Patrick Williamson-Hill said there has been an "unprecedented spike in mental health claims especially post the pandemic". Mr Williamson-Hill, a senior associate at Berrill & Watson, observed the biggest reason why claims drag on for beyond six months, up to more than a year, is because Australians often cannot afford to access psychiatric help. "Insurers want to see that people have had some treatment before deciding whether they are TPD within the meaning of the policy." Mr Williamson-Hill said metal health claimants are a very vulnerable subset of claimants within TPD policies, and may be dragging out the average delays across TPD claims generally. "But a lot of that depends on whether or not that person has been able to access psychiatric treatment." Mr Williamson-Hill noted that when people are claiming TPD through their superannuation, "it's often their only financial lifeline". He has argued there needs to be mandatory time frames in which super funds respond to claims. Corporate watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), has undertaken several reviews of TPD claims processing. In a March 2023 review of insurance in super, the regulator found that three in four mental health-related claims are declined, under "activities of daily living" (ADL) tests. ADL tests assess whether a consumer can perform basic activities, such as feeding, dressing or washing themselves. The ASIC review looked at a sample of more than 26,000 TPD claims over a two-year period and found that 4 per cent were assessed under the ADL definition. Of these claims, 60 per cent were declined. ASIC said mental health and musculoskeletal claims were roughly five times more likely to be declined under the ADL definition, compared to the standard "any occupation" definition — where a benefit is paid if a person is unable to engage in gainful employment in any occupation for which the person is reasonably qualified by education, training or experience. The regulator concluded super trustees and insurers should review claims handling practices to assess whether they are fair and appropriate. It found just four of 15 trustees regularly monitor data on the cause of claims, for example, whether they related to a musculoskeletal or mental health condition. Consumer advocate Mr O'Halloran said super funds and insurers need to pick up their game and process claims faster, as poor claims processes and unnecessary burdens of proof risk exacerbating people's mental health conditions. "At the moment, we have all these kind of restrictive requirements in the claims process — for example, that someone be seeing a psychiatrist, and receive ongoing treatment in order to successfully claim. "This is when we know there's a real shortage around the country and there are massive affordability barriers. Mr O'Hollaran wants to see the introduction of mandatory customer service standards so insurers and super funds are required to deal with claims in a timely manner and not "drip feed and continue to ask for more and more data and put more and more obligations on people who are experiencing a mental health condition". While retail insurers already fall under a Life Insurance Code of Practice, he argued this needs to be extended to include superannuation funds. The Code specifies that with income-related benefits, a decision should be reached within two months of the date the claim was received, or the end of any waiting period specified in the policy. For lump sum claims, a decision must be made within six months of the date the claim was received, or the end of any waiting period specified in the policy. Mr O'Halloran noted that in 2018 the Productivity Commission recommended a review of insurance in super — "that is still on the government's to-do list". "We'd like to see the assistant treasurer act quickly to improve the lives of Australians who are out of work due to mental health conditions," he said. The federal government recently put super funds on notice that they need to lift their game when it comes to claims processing.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consilio Concludes 17th Annual Symposium Educational Conference and Publishes New eDiscovery Guidebook
Legal professionals chart their own educational adventure at Consilio's largest-ever client event WASHINGTON, July 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consilio, the global leader in legal technology solutions and enterprise legal services, has concluded its largest marquee client education event to date, Consilio Symposium 2025. Over 787 attendees joined the virtual "Choose Your Own Adventure" experience, gaining CLE credits while navigating solutions to today's most pressing legal challenges at the intersection of legal practice, technology, staffing, operations, and cybersecurity. The two-day Symposium (June 17-18) featured an enriching slate of eleven CLE-accredited programs organized by Consilio's Advanced Learning Institute (CALI), allowing attendees to chart their own learning paths through three specialized tracks: Discovery & Investigation, Evolving Technology, and Practicing Efficiently. The Symposium began with an inspiring, interactive keynote address from record-setting adventurer, author, and entrepreneur Jennifer Pharr Davis, recognized as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and a member of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The event culminated in a dynamic panel discussion featuring respected federal judges Andrew Peck (retired, now Senior Counsel at DLA Piper), William Matthewman, Maria Valdez, and Xavier Rodriguez. Live from Consilio's new events facility in Miami, CASA at Coconut Grove, they dissected a spectrum of pressing issues at the intersection of technology and law. The event also included the launch announcement for the latest educational resource from CALI: a 200-page reference book entitled A Practical Guide to eDiscovery. The 16-chapter, 3-unit book covers both fundamentals for newer practitioners and advanced topics for experienced practitioners, and it is available now at "For nearly two decades, our Symposium has proven to be a vital resource for legal professionals to stay abreast of the dynamic landscape of legal, data, and technology practices. This year was no exception," said Michael Pontrelli, Client Experience Officer at Consilio." This year's 'Choose Your Own Adventure' approach allowed attendees to chart their own educational journey while addressing pressing real-world challenges. From the feedback we've received, it's clear that participants find this expert-driven content invaluable in navigating these complex intersections of law and technology." "The Consilio Advanced Learning Institute provides practical, actionable knowledge to guide legal practitioners through uncharted territory," said Matthew Verga, Director of Education for CALI. "Symposium 2025 presented a comprehensive slate of educational content, blending theory and practice to address the newest challenges and drawing record-breaking attendance. We're also very excited about the publication of our new guidebook, which we hope will aid practitioners of all levels. We look forward to continuing to deliver cutting-edge content that drives the legal profession forward at next year's event and in future editions of A Practical Guide to eDiscovery." As a non-commercial center for thought leadership, research, and education for legal practitioners, the Consilio Advanced Learning Institute draws on internal and external experts in forensics, eDiscovery, document review, legal technology, enterprise legal operations, and related subjects to provide accredited CLE content, educational practice guides, whitepapers, articles, and more. About Consilio Consilio stands as the global leader in eDiscovery, document review, flexible legal talent, and legal advisory & transformation consulting services. With its Consilio Complete suite of capabilities, the company empowers multinational law firms and corporations using innovative software, cost-effective managed services, and deep legal and regulatory industry expertise. Renowned for its expertise in litigation, HSR second requests, internal and regulatory investigations, eDiscovery, document review, information governance, compliance risk assessments, cybersecurity, law department management, and contracts management, Consilio also excels in legal staffing and recruitment through its Lawyers On Demand division. Consilio globally employs leading professionals in the industry, applying defensible workflows with patented and industry-proven technology across all phases of the eDiscovery and risk management lifecycle. ISO\IEC 27001:2022 certified, the company operates offices, document review, and data centers across Europe, Asia, and North America. Discover more about Consilio's commitment to legal excellence and innovation at View source version on Contacts Media Contact Celia Dewyercdewyer@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Consilio Concludes 17 th Annual Symposium Educational Conference and Publishes New eDiscovery Guidebook
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consilio, the global leader in legal technology solutions and enterprise legal services, has concluded its largest marquee client education event to date, Consilio Symposium 2025. Over 787 attendees joined the virtual 'Choose Your Own Adventure' experience, gaining CLE credits while navigating solutions to today's most pressing legal challenges at the intersection of legal practice, technology, staffing, operations, and cybersecurity. The two-day Symposium (June 17-18) featured an enriching slate of eleven CLE-accredited programs organized by Consilio's Advanced Learning Institute (CALI), allowing attendees to chart their own learning paths through three specialized tracks: Discovery & Investigation, Evolving Technology, and Practicing Efficiently. The Symposium began with an inspiring, interactive keynote address from record-setting adventurer, author, and entrepreneur Jennifer Pharr Davis, recognized as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and a member of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The event culminated in a dynamic panel discussion featuring respected federal judges Andrew Peck (retired, now Senior Counsel at DLA Piper), William Matthewman, Maria Valdez, and Xavier Rodriguez. Live from Consilio's new events facility in Miami, CASA at Coconut Grove, they dissected a spectrum of pressing issues at the intersection of technology and law. The event also included the launch announcement for the latest educational resource from CALI: a 200-page reference book entitled A Practical Guide to eDiscovery. The 16-chapter, 3-unit book covers both fundamentals for newer practitioners and advanced topics for experienced practitioners, and it is available now at "For nearly two decades, our Symposium has proven to be a vital resource for legal professionals to stay abreast of the dynamic landscape of legal, data, and technology practices. This year was no exception," said Michael Pontrelli, Client Experience Officer at Consilio." This year's 'Choose Your Own Adventure' approach allowed attendees to chart their own educational journey while addressing pressing real-world challenges. From the feedback we've received, it's clear that participants find this expert-driven content invaluable in navigating these complex intersections of law and technology." 'The Consilio Advanced Learning Institute provides practical, actionable knowledge to guide legal practitioners through uncharted territory," said Matthew Verga, Director of Education for CALI. 'Symposium 2025 presented a comprehensive slate of educational content, blending theory and practice to address the newest challenges and drawing record-breaking attendance. We're also very excited about the publication of our new guidebook, which we hope will aid practitioners of all levels. We look forward to continuing to deliver cutting-edge content that drives the legal profession forward at next year's event and in future editions of A Practical Guide to eDiscovery." As a non-commercial center for thought leadership, research, and education for legal practitioners, the Consilio Advanced Learning Institute draws on internal and external experts in forensics, eDiscovery, document review, legal technology, enterprise legal operations, and related subjects to provide accredited CLE content, educational practice guides, whitepapers, articles, and more. About Consilio Consilio stands as the global leader in eDiscovery, document review, flexible legal talent, and legal advisory & transformation consulting services. With its Consilio Complete suite of capabilities, the company empowers multinational law firms and corporations using innovative software, cost-effective managed services, and deep legal and regulatory industry expertise. Renowned for its expertise in litigation, HSR second requests, internal and regulatory investigations, eDiscovery, document review, information governance, compliance risk assessments, cybersecurity, law department management, and contracts management, Consilio also excels in legal staffing and recruitment through its Lawyers On Demand division. Consilio globally employs leading professionals in the industry, applying defensible workflows with patented and industry-proven technology across all phases of the eDiscovery and risk management lifecycle. ISO\IEC 27001:2022 certified, the company operates offices, document review, and data centers across Europe, Asia, and North America. Discover more about Consilio's commitment to legal excellence and innovation at
