MEDIA RELEASE
Sydney, 18 March 2026 – Over the past year, MetLife Australia has improved turnaround times, with more than 25% Straight-Through-Underwriting (STU) and expanded use of Tele PMARs, simplifying and streamlining processes to give advisers and their clients a better, faster, and more efficient experience.
We’ve removed administrative bottlenecks in our processes alongside real-time access to medical insights, combining digital solutions with the professionalism of our underwriters for speed with empathy, allowing us to address effectively every point in the end-to-end experience
MetLife’s new Underwriting Rules Engine (URE), powered by UnderwriteMe, has increased STU, enabling immediate decisioning on applications. MetLife is also driving continuous question optimisation, to further increase automated decisioning.
The expanded use of telephone based medical reports is enabling rapid access to relevant information, where underwriting is required. MetLife now receives the medical information 55% faster, in as little as 8 days (on average, compared to 18 days for form-based reports). This both reduces the burden on healthcare providers and supports more informed and timely underwriting decisions, giving advisers and their clients a hassle-free experience.
These digital solutions combined with our expert underwriting team, means that advisers know that the process will be quicker and smoother, letting them spend more time focused on their client’s needs.
Continuous investment in digital innovation and customer-focused execution has reduced the journey from application to claim, smoothing the path while speeding up the process to create better experiences. Paired with additional benefits such as its award-winning 360Health program that supports customers to manage their own health, MetLife helps Australians to build a more confident future.
Notes:
Tele PMARs (Personal Medical Attendant Reports) are conducted by qualified nurses who engage directly with treating doctors to record their expert opinions. These conversations are transcribed and reviewed by the doctors, ensuring accuracy and quality.
UnderwriteMe provides technology products that enable its partners to transform and disrupt the life insurance industry worldwide. Founded in 2012, the journey started with the Underwriting Engine and Protection Platform in the UK. UnderwriteMe grown to become a leading InsureTech provider across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America with an expanding product portfolio. UnderwriteMe is backed by Pacific Life Re, a global reinsurer who share the ambition to positively transform the way protection is bought and sold. www.underwriteme.com
