Swiss Re
Summary
Swiss Re is a leading global reinsurer known for its strong capitalisation, extensive risk knowledge, and innovative solutions across property and casualty, and life and health reinsurance.
Company Overview
Swiss Re Life & Health Australia Limited is the Australian life reinsurance division of Swiss Re Group, one of the world’s largest and most respected reinsurance companies. Swiss Re supports Australia’s major life insurers by providing capital support, underwriting expertise, product innovation, and claims management guidance.
While Swiss Re does not sell life insurance directly to Australian consumers, it plays a critical role behind the scenes, helping insurers develop sustainable life insurance products and maintain financial strength.
Key Information
Registered Name: Swiss Re Life & Health Australia Limited
Parent Company: Swiss Re Group (Switzerland)
Type: Life Reinsurer
Operates in Australia Since: 1956
Regulator: APRA
Head Office: Sydney, NSW
Market Role: Provides reinsurance services to Australian life insurers
Products Supported: Life, TPD, Trauma, Income Protection, Longevity Risk Solutions
History and Milestones
Swiss Re was founded in 1863 in Zurich, Switzerland. The company expanded into Australia in the 1950s, bringing international reinsurance expertise to the local market. Swiss Re Life & Health Australia has been instrumental in supporting innovation in Australia’s life insurance industry for decades, helping direct insurers adapt to changing risk environments.
Today, Swiss Re continues to focus on sustainable insurance solutions, predictive modelling, and digital innovation to strengthen the Australian life insurance sector.
Key Milestones
- 1863: Swiss Re founded in Zurich.
- 1956: Swiss Re enters the Australian market.
- 1990s: Expansion of Life & Health reinsurance division in Australia.
- 2010s: Launch of digital underwriting support platforms.
- 2025: Leading efforts on sustainability-linked insurance models globally.
Key Strengths
Key Strengths
Swiss Re - Key Strengths
- Global Reinsurance Leadership: Top 3 reinsurer worldwide.
- Strong Financial Ratings: Rated highly by Moody’s, S&P, and A.M. Best.
- Innovation in Risk Modelling: Leaders in mortality, morbidity, and longevity forecasting.
- Local Expertise: Over 65 years supporting Australian life insurers.
- Data-Driven Underwriting Support: Pioneers in automated underwriting engines.
- Sustainability Commitment: Champions of ESG-aligned insurance development.
Awards and Recognition
Swiss Re - Awards and Achievements
- Best Global Reinsurer (Reactions Awards) — multiple years.
- IFRS 17 Innovation Leadership Recognition — 2023.
- Longevity Risk Excellence Award — Global awards for pension and life insurance solutions.
- Global Sustainability Leader in Reinsurance (Dow Jones Sustainability Index)
Why Choose Swiss Re
✓ Stable premiums
Due to Swiss Re’s advanced global risk pricing models they offer more stable and sustainable premiums.
✓ Product Design
Swiss Re have great product design, drawing on their international research and market insights.
✓ Claims performance
As insurers benefit from Swiss Re’s support in risk modelling and claims analytics, they benefit from strong claims performance.
✓ Insurer resilience
Swiss Re have increased insurer resilience, especially during economic downturns or public health crises.
✓ Global expertise
With local adaptation, Swiss Re have global expertise offering policyholders confidence in their insurer’s ability to meet obligations over the long term.
Features and Benefits
Advanced Mortality Research (as a Reinsurer)
Provides Australian insurers with local and global mortality insights to improve pricing accuracy and risk management.
Product Innovation Support (as a Reinsurer)
Works with insurers to design next-generation life insurance products that are more relevant, affordable, and flexible for consumers.
Claims Analytics & Support (as a Reinsurer)
Helps partner insurers reduce claims processing times and disputes through predictive modelling and structured claims insights.
Sustainability & ESG Leadership (as a Reinsurer)
Supports the development of ESG-aligned insurance frameworks, helping insurers meet growing consumer and regulatory expectations around sustainability.
Longevity and Retirement Risk Solutions (as a Reinsurer)
Offers insurers and superannuation providers tools to manage longevity risk — vital for Australia’s ageing population and retirement sector.
Predictive Underwriting Tools (as a Reinsurer)
Delivers cutting-edge analytics platforms that improve underwriting speed, consistency, and risk selection.
Cover Amount Ranges
Swiss Re cover amounts
Swiss Re does not issue policies directly. However, typical ranges they reinsure with their partner insurers include:
- Life Cover: $100,000 to $10 million+
- TPD Cover: $100,000 to $5 million
- Trauma Cover: $50,000 to $2 million
- Income Protection: Monthly benefits up to $30,000 (depending on insurer partner)
Special Promotions & Discounts
Life Insurance Compare Australia
Swiss Re does not currently have any special promotions with Life Insurance Compare, however you can use the comparison tool to compare Swiss ReLife Insurance policies with other providers.
Pros & Cons of Swiss Re
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Global leader in reinsurance expertise and financial security. | Not consumer-facing — no direct policies sold. |
| Trusted by Australia’s major life insurers. | Brand not widely recognised by the general public. |
| Strong commitment to sustainability and responsible investing. | Benefits are indirect — depends on insurer implementation. |
| Innovation leaders in data-driven underwriting and claims. | No public pricing, benefits, or loyalty programs for consumers. |
| Local Australian office with APRA regulation. |
Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
Swiss Re - Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
Swiss Re’s sustainability framework includes:
- Net-zero operations by 2030 goal.
- Sustainable investing mandates for reserve assets.
- UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance signatory.
- Sustainability-linked reinsurance programs tied to ESG performance.
- Annual reporting under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) standards.
Technology and Innovation
Swiss Re - Technology and Innovation
Swiss Re is at the forefront of leveraging technology and innovation in its life insurance reinsurance offerings:
- MAGNUM, their globally used proprietary automated underwriting platform, streamlines the underwriting process for insurers, leading to faster turnaround times and improved efficiency.
- They utilise Predictive Risk Scoring, employing machine learning to enhance the accuracy of insurer underwriting by identifying and assessing risks more effectively.
- Their Claims Analytics Engines significantly reduce the time needed for claims assessment, enabling partner insurers to process claims more rapidly and improve customer satisfaction.
- By applying AI-Driven Customer Insights, Swiss Re helps insurers develop more tailored and relevant product offerings based on a deeper understanding of customer needs and behaviours.
- While still in the pilot phase, their exploration of Blockchain Pilots indicates a forward-thinking approach to potentially revolutionise reinsurance contract management for increased transparency and efficiency.
Pricing and Premiums
Swiss Re Pricing and Premiums
Swiss Re does not set retail prices.
However, their role impacts:
- Premium stability through better risk modelling.
- Sustainable pricing strategies to reduce insurer shock premiums.
- Encouraging insurers to offer fair, long-term pricing models rather than aggressive short-term discounting.
Product Disclosure Statement
Swiss Re - Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)
Swiss Re does not publish a PDS for consumers.
PDS documents are issued by direct insurers who may partner with Swiss Re behind the scenes for reinsurance support.
Target Market Determination
Swiss Re - Target Market Determination (TMD)
Swiss Re does not produce retail TMDs.
However, their actuarial input often supports insurers in:
- Defining target markets by age, occupation, and health risk.
- Refining policy suitability profiles.
Contact Details
Swiss Re - Contact Details
Company Name: Swiss Re Life & Health Australia Limited
ABN: 74 000 218 306
Phone: +61 2 8295 9500
Address: Level 36, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW 2000