Bridging the protection gap - insurers need to work harder
According to recent research carried out by Swiss Re, the protection gap in New Zealand is valued at $670 billion with 64% of Kiwi households under-protected and one in five households with a very high gap of more than 90%.
Managing director of Chatswood Consulting Russell Hutchinson says that's a gap of around $200,000 per person.
He says the insurance industry is well aware of it but has struggled to reach underinsured customers.
However, a panel of insurance experts agree - a lack of financial literacy, a poor appreciation of risk, low consumer engagement, the cost of cover and an inherent mistrust of insurance advisers present some of the biggest challenges to bridging it.
Swiss Re's head of life and health for New Zealand, Kresh Wright says one of the answers is to tailor products to individual situations as well as the better education of Kiwi consumers.
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