Review of the Nominal Insurer
We are seeking your submission to assist SIRA with its compliance and performance review of the workers compensation Nominal Insurer, icare.
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The Issue
Consultation period: 16/05/2019 12:00 am to 05/07/2019 11:59 pm
Overview
SIRA commissioned a compliance and performance review of the NSW workers compensation Nominal Insurer, which is managed by Insurance and Care NSW (icare). The review included work undertaken on behalf of the Nominal Insurer’s agents, Allianz, EML and GIO.
Details
The Nominal Insurer is the largest insurer in the NSW workers compensation system and accounts for approximately 65% of total active claims. It provides workers compensation cover for more than 320,000 employers, collects $2.3 billion in premiums, and pays out approximately $1.97 billion in claim related costs per year.
During 2018, SIRA closely monitored and considered analysis of aspects of the compliance and performance of the Nominal Insurer scheme, including trends in liability valuations and costs, premium setting, operational reforms and risk management, return to work rates, data quality, customer complaints and concerns raised by business representatives, unions and other stakeholders.
The review was undertaken recognising that, given the dominance of the Nominal Insurer within the NSW market, its success is critical to the success of the NSW workers compensation system.
The review was conducted by Independent Reviewer, Ms Janet Dore, and supported by independent actuaries Ernst and Young and authorised officers of SIRA.
We released a discussion paper to submissions from employers, workers, insurers and other interested stakeholders. Submissions relating to matters outside of the scope of the review addressed directly by SIRA.
The public consultation period closed on 5 July 2019.
Next steps
We have published submissions which are non-confidential or confidential only in part. The Independent Reviewer has reviewed identifiable versions of all the submissions received.
A number of people making submissions have requested confidentiality. Some submissions contain personal information about injuries and individuals, which will not be published for privacy reasons. We are committed to publishing submissions where appropriate, and did so after completing a due diligence process.
The Independent Reviewer’s final report is expected to be published in late 2019.
For more information, including the terms of reference and a biography of the independent reviewer, visit the Review of the Nominal Insurer webpage.
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Milestones
Review commenced February 2019 Public consultation 16 May - 5 July 2019 Meetings with stakeholder groups March - July 2019 Publishing submissions September 2019 Final report published End 2019 We will receive regular progress reports and may take immediate action on any significant compliance issues identified by the review in advance of the final report.
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Outcomes
We received submissions from a range of stakeholder groups including workers, unions, employers, brokers, industry/ business associations, providers and solicitors.
We are publishing those submissions which are non-confidential or confidential only in part. The Independent Reviewer has reviewed identifiable versions of all the submissions received.