Digitalisation Revolutionises Life Insurers’ Medical Report Process

The process of obtaining Personal Medical Attendant Reports (PMARs) has been a significant administrative issue for Australian life insurers.

General Practitioners (GPs) often face an overwhelming amount of paperwork, dedicating nearly a full workday each week to administrative tasks.

PMARs, essential for assessing applicants’ health for life insurance, have traditionally been cumbersome and time-consuming, with many GPs delaying their completion.

However, the development of digital solutions is set to transform this process and improve efficiency drastically.

EQ Pathology, an innovative insurtech company, has introduced HealthIQ, the first fully digital and automated medical reporting system. This technology replaces the traditional paper-based PMARs with a structured online format, allowing insurers to gather precise medical information more quickly. This transformation enables straight-through processing, leading to much faster policy approvals and a significant reduction in the administrative burden for doctors. As a result, this innovation represents a pivotal change in the life insurance landscape, promising substantial benefits for all parties involved.

The digital transformation of PMARs holds significant implications for the life insurance sector in Australia. By streamlining the information-gathering process, insurers can make quicker and more informed decisions, leading to faster policy issuance. For GPs, the reduction in paperwork allows them to allocate more time to patient care, thereby improving patient outcomes. Additionally, prospective policyholders benefit from reduced waiting times, gaining access to necessary coverage without prolonged delays. This progress addresses a critical inefficiency in the industry, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and experience.

As digital PMARs gain traction, further advancements in the integration of medical reporting systems directly into GPs’ practice management tools are expected. This integration will streamline the reporting process, making it even more seamless for doctors and insurers. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence in underwriting can further refine data analysis, allowing insurers to make more accurate and efficient policy decisions. Insurers like Acenda are already leading the way in adopting these technologies, as evidenced by their collaboration with EQ Pathology. Their efforts in transforming the underwriting process have been recognised with industry awards, highlighting the potential of digital solutions to reshape the life insurance sector in Australia.

Published:Monday, 4th Aug 2025
Source: Paige Estritori

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Knowledgebase

Waiting Period:
The time period that must pass after filing a claim before the insurance coverage becomes effective or benefits are paid.