Product Trends 2026 Q1 RGA Product Trends 2026, product trends, life insurance products, life insurance product development, life and product, reinsurance product design.

| Overview

Product Trends Around the World 2026 Q1 This newsletter provides a quarterly summary of recent product developments in life and health insurance around the world based on public information from various sources. We hope you find this edition of the product trends newsletter informative. As always, we welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. We also thank our colleagues in RGA offices around the world for their contributions to, and insights into, this report. Othmane Akesbi, Vice President, Global Product InitiativesHamza Shaiban, Manager, Global Product InitiativesMatt Berkley, Director, Strategic ResearchGayathri Ravi Shankar, Manager, Strategic Research

Product Trends

Longevity Rethought: How medical progress and technology are changing insurance Dr. A. Osman, January 2026.

Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer and Implications for the Life Insurance Industry Dr. R. Hide, February 2026.

Enabling Protection in China: A health insurance risk management framework rises to the occasion J. Zhang, March 2026.

From Buzzword to Business Case: Wellness in U.S. insurance Dr. D. Rengachary, M. Beaulieu, L. Allen, J. Callaway, O. Akesbi, March 2026.

How Insurers Can Engage Younger Consumers Amid Changing Life TriggersO. Akesbi, J. Rutherford, January 2026.

Selling Simplicity in Life Insurance and Retirement Products P. Hovard, January 2026.

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©2026, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. For requests to reproduce in part or entirely, please contact: publications@rgare.com. RGA has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided in this publication is accurate at the time of inclusion and accepts no liability for any inaccuracies or omissions. None of the information or opinions contained in this publication should be construed as constituting medical advice.

Overview

Regions

Products

Distribution

Value-added services

EMEA

APAC

Americas

| Executive summary

| APAC

Australia Acenda Life enters the Australian retirement market with a guaranteed lifetime income annuity product nib and NobleOak launch joint life insurance offering Cambodia Manulife Cambodia launches Korm Pear, a cancer protection plan offering access to early detection and treatment from the earliest stage of diagnosis Hong Kong AIA Alta Club introduces Family Health MedTeam, an industry-first 24/7 cross-boundary medical concierge for high-net-worth families AIA Alta Club launches Brain Health Programme for high-net-worth clients, featuring world-first AI-powered retinal imaging to detect cognitive decline early AIA Hong Kong launches first VHIS plan with no sub-limits and northbound medical care access for policyholders AIA Hong Kong launches ProsperLife Insurance Plan, a participating whole life plan offering lifelong protection with flexible death benefit settlements AXA Hong Kong and Macau introduces limited 2-year premium payment option for WealthAhead II Savings Insurance Series Barings partners with Heng An Standard Life Asia in Hong Kong to offer multi-asset and income-focused investment strategies Cigna Hong Kong rolls out VitalGuard, a new critical illness plan providing comprehensive coverage across major illness categories Manulife Hong Kong launches Genesis Centurion and Prestige Achiever, two participating life insurance savings plans targeting wealth accumulation customers India Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance secures IRDAI approval for ABSLI Index Guaranteed Annuity Plus, India's first Nifty 50-linked guaranteed annuity product Bajaj General Insurance launches NRInsure, a non-resident Indian-focused add-on health cover offering a 35% premium discount Bandhan Life Insurance launches iInvest Ultima ULIP alongside a new Mid Cap fund targeting long-term market-linked wealth creation Canara HSBC Life launches IncomeNow, a non-linked guaranteed income plan offering protection alongside regular income in a volatile market environment ICICI Prudential Life launches SmartKid 360, a child insurance plan combining protection and savings to support children's education goals ICICI Prudential Life launches Wealth Forever, a non-linked whole life savings plan offering lifelong increasing cover and guaranteed returns Kotak Life's Kotak Signature Legacy whole-life participating plan positions itself as a legacy-building solution with lifetime cover LIC announces launch of LIC’s Group Term Ease Plan and LIC’s Group Benefits Secure Plan LIC launches Jeevan Utsav, a single-premium whole life insurance plan offering guaranteed additions and flexible income options SBI Life launches Smart Platina Advantage, a non-linked savings plan offering long-term guaranteed income and life cover Tata AIA introduces pension plan blending guaranteed income with marketlinked returns Tata AIA launches Large Mid Cap Innovation and Global AI & Technology Leaders funds within its ULIPs Indonesia Allianz Life Indonesia and HSBC Indonesia introduce SmartWealth Dollar Equity Global Income Fund, a USD-denominated unit-linked Manulife Indonesia and Bank DBS Indonesia introduce Manulife Ultima+, a multigenerational income assurance plan offering flexible cash benefits Prudential Indonesia and Standard Chartered Indonesia launch PRUTreasure Dollar, a USD-denominated endowment plan Prudential Indonesia launches PRUMapan, a savings and protection plan targeting Millennials and Gen Z customers seeking to avoid the sandwich generation trap Malaysia Sun Life Malaysia launches Sun Save Future, a guaranteed acceptance savings and protection plan with early yearly cash payouts up to 50% of premiums New Zealand AIA New Zealand launches Cover for Life, a flexible life insurance product providing lifelong financial protection with no fixed expiry date St Andrew's enters the New Zealand life insurance market with a simplified term life policy available to customers aged 40 to 80 Philippines bolttech partners with SB Finance and MAAGAP Insurance to offer job-loss protection cover bundled with motorcycle loans in the Philippines Pru Life UK introduces two-year payment life insurance plan Sun Life Philippines partners with Borough Group of Clinics to offer primary care access, wellness education, and preventive health programmes Singapore CapBridge partners with AIA Singapore to distribute customized life insurance products for high-net-worth clients through its wealth management platform HSBC Life Singapore launches a flexible lifetime income indexed universal life plan combining guaranteed income with long-term investment growth potential Manulife Singapore launches participating plans targeting high-net-worth investors Prudential Singapore launches PRUActive Life V, a whole-of-life protection plan covering 182 conditions including mental illness Singlife Singapore launches a universal life plan with income crediting linked to a basket of global indices, targeting flexible long-term wealth accumulation South Korea AIA Life Korea secures nine-month exclusive rights for a new advanced cancer treatment rider covering cutting-edge therapies Hanwha Life launches Signature H Integrated Health Insurance, consolidating cancer, brain, and heart coverage into a single customisable plan Kyobo Life Insurance launches Kyobo The Peace of Mind Dementia Long-Term Care Insurance Samsung Life relaunches Samsung Balance Whole Life Insurance with an enhanced double pension conversion rider Thailand Generali Thailand launches GEN Health Premier, a health insurance plan providing an additional 50% inpatient benefit when the insured is treated for a covered critical illness Muang Thai Life revamps its Smile Club loyalty programme to directly link members' health behaviours with premium discounts and reward benefits SCB and FWD Life Insurance launch Saving to Ninety, a savings plan with cancer coverage offering cash returns until age 90 and a double payout on advanced cancer diagnosis TTB Bank and Prudential Thailand co-launch 99 Wealth Protection Series, a suite of whole life insurance products Vietnam Shinhan Life Vietnam launches Shinhan Sống Khỏe, a standalone term life product with a comprehensive suite of riders for holistic protection

France Crédit Agricole Assurances launches Oriance, a simplified and accessible life insurance product available to bank clients Ireland MetLife enters the Irish group insurance market, launching group life cover for employers and employees Oman BankDhofar launches Dhofar Insurance Endowment Plan, a life insurance product combining smart savings with capital protection Khedmah integrates medical insurance products into its digital payment app through a partnership with Dhofar Insurance, enabling in-app health cover for customers in Oman South Africa Discovery Health brings Stella menopause support app to South Africa, exclusively available to medical scheme members aged 35 to 70 Spain Mapfre launches Confianza Vida Senior, an individual life insurance policy designed for customers aged 55 and above

| EMEA

Brazil Icatu presents life insurance coverage for parents PicPay launches Assistência Saúde with Icatu and expands insurance hub

| LatAm region

Argentina Allianz partners with Ualá Neobank to sell life and accident products Canada Alan launches Alan Clinic in Canada, bringing in-app mental health therapy directly to group insurance members in Ontario BMO Insurance partners with Empathy to provide bereavement support and estate navigation services to group life insurance beneficiaries in Canada Empire Life integrates caregiver navigation support into group benefits through a partnership with Teladoc Health Canada's Mental Health Navigator service Equitable Life adds AI-powered nutrition app RxFood to all group benefits plans at no additional cost to plan members Equitable Life launches enhanced bereavement and estate support service for policyholders through a partnership with Empathy Manulife Canada partners with Osara Health to launch Cancer Coach, Offering personalized, clinician-led cancer support for Group Benefits members with disability coverage PolicyMe partners with Wave to offer term life and critical illness insurance to small business owners through a referral distribution arrangement Colombia Comfama and BMI Seguros Colombia launch Ahorro Seguro, a combined life insurance and savings product United States Aflac adds a long-term care rider to its Group Life Term to 120 product, creating a hybrid worksite solution with flexible home and facility-based care benefits Allianz Life introduces Index Advantage+ Select Income registered index-linked annuity with dynamic lifetime income benefits Assurity launches Income Protection+, a flexible long-term disability insurance product covering expanded occupation classes for a broader range of clients Combined Insurance launches Worksite Term Life, a voluntary group life product designed to expand financial protection for employees at the workplace Continental General partners with Reframe Financial to distribute Reframe LifeStage, a next-generation hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product Ethos and Banner Life deepen partnership to launch Simplified Issue and Guaranteed Issue whole life final expense coverage Ethos and North American collaborate to offer an accumulation-focused indexed universal life product through Ethos's digital distribution platform F&G Annuities & Life joins Voya Financial's annuity platform, expanding advisor and client access to fixed and indexed annuity solutions John Hancock enhances LifeCare, its hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product Lincoln Financial launches WealthProtector IUL, a protection-focused indexed universal life product designed to strengthen its Elite IUL portfoli MassMutual Ascend launches Income Ascender optional rider on fixed-indexed annuities, offering guaranteed future income growth National Guardian Life launches HonestLTC, a long-term care insurance solution with monthly benefits and shared benefit pools for couples Nationwide and Beam Benefits expand their dental and vision insurance partnership to cover 34 US states, broadening access to employer-sponsored ancillary benefits Pacific Life launches Payout Plus, an indexed benefit option for structured settlement annuities Prudential launches ActiveIncome, an insurance overlay on Franklin Templeton's Canvas platform enabling wealth managers to integrate income protection into client portfolios Sammons Institutional Group launches Summit Laddered, a multi-year guaranteed annuity solution designed to help advisors build laddered retirement income strategies SBLI adds a Chronic Illness Rider to its EasyTrak Digital Term product at no additional premium cost, expanding living benefits for all policyholders Sun Life proactively offers second medical opinions on cancer diagnoses to members at the point of filing a cancer-related insurance claim Symetra enhances its fixed indexed annuity lineup with the introduction of the Franklin Large Cap Value Talcott Financial Group launches three fixed annuity products: EverGuard Aspire Series, EverGuard Assurance, and EverStead MYGA, to meet retail demand for guaranteed retirement income TIAA launches MyChoice MYGA, an industry-first flexible premium multi-year guaranteed annuity designed to give retirees greater control over their savings timeline Transamerica partners with Empathy to offer bereavement support and estate settlement services to life insurance beneficiaries in the US

| Americas

Combo products

Living benefits

Life + investment

Life

Annuity

Employee benefits

Digital

Alternative distribution

Legacy planning

Wellness

Life Aflac adds a long-term care rider to its Group Life Term to 120 product, creating a hybrid worksite solution with flexible home and facility-based care benefits AIA New Zealand launches Cover for Life, a flexible life insurance product providing lifelong financial protection with no fixed expiry date Combined Insurance launches Worksite Term Life, a voluntary group life product designed to expand financial protection for employees at the workplace Equitable Life launches enhanced bereavement and estate support service for policyholders through a partnership with Empathy Ethos and North American collaborate to offer an accumulation-focused indexed universal life product through Ethos's digital distribution platform Kotak Life's Kotak Signature Legacy whole-life participating plan positions itself as a legacy-building solution with lifetime cover LIC announces launch of LIC’s Group Term Ease Plan and LIC’s Group Benefits Secure Plan LIC launches Jeevan Utsav, a single-premium whole life insurance plan offering guaranteed additions and flexible income options Mapfre launches Confianza Vida Senior, an individual life insurance policy designed for customers aged 55 and above MetLife enters the Irish group insurance market, launching group life cover for employers and employees Muang Thai Life revamps its Smile Club loyalty programme to directly link members' health behaviours with premium discounts and reward benefits nib and NobleOak launch joint life insurance offering PolicyMe partners with Wave to offer term life and critical illness insurance to small business owners through a referral distribution arrangement Prudential Singapore launches PRUActive Life V, a whole-of-life protection plan covering 182 conditions including mental illness SCB and FWD Life Insurance launch Saving to Ninety, a savings plan with cancer coverage offering cash returns until age 90 and a double payout on advanced cancer diagnosis Shinhan Life Vietnam launches Shinhan Sống Khỏe, a standalone term life product with a comprehensive suite of riders for holistic protection St Andrew's enters the New Zealand life insurance market with a simplified term life policy available to customers aged 40 to 80 Life + investment AIA Hong Kong launches ProsperLife Insurance Plan, a participating whole life plan offering lifelong protection with flexible death benefit settlements Allianz Life Indonesia and HSBC Indonesia introduce SmartWealth Dollar Equity Global Income Fund, a USD-denominated unit-linked AXA Hong Kong and Macau introduces limited 2-year premium payment option for WealthAhead II Savings Insurance Series Bandhan Life Insurance launches iInvest Ultima ULIP alongside a new Mid Cap fund targeting long-term market-linked wealth creation BankDhofar launches Dhofar Insurance Endowment Plan, a life insurance product combining smart savings with capital protection Barings partners with Heng An Standard Life Asia in Hong Kong to offer multi-asset and income-focused investment strategies BMO Insurance partners with Empathy to provide bereavement support and estate navigation services to group life insurance beneficiaries in Canada Canara HSBC Life launches IncomeNow, a non-linked guaranteed income plan offering protection alongside regular income in a volatile market environment CapBridge partners with AIA Singapore to distribute customized life insurance products for high-net-worth clients through its wealth management platform Comfama and BMI Seguros Colombia launch Ahorro Seguro, a combined life insurance and savings product Continental General partners with Reframe Financial to distribute Reframe LifeStage, a next-generation hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product Crédit Agricole Assurances launches Oriance, a simplified and accessible life insurance product available to bank clients Ethos and Banner Life deepen partnership to launch Simplified Issue and Guaranteed Issue whole life final expense coverage HSBC Life Singapore launches a flexible lifetime income indexed universal life plan combining guaranteed income with long-term investment growth potential ICICI Prudential Life launches SmartKid 360, a child insurance plan combining protection and savings to support children's education goals ICICI Prudential Life launches Wealth Forever, a non-linked whole life savings plan offering lifelong increasing cover and guaranteed returns John Hancock enhances LifeCare, its hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product LIC launches Jeevan Utsav, a single-premium whole life insurance plan offering guaranteed additions and flexible income options Lincoln Financial launches WealthProtector IUL, a protection-focused indexed universal life product designed to strengthen its Elite IUL portfolio Manulife Hong Kong launches Genesis Centurion and Prestige Achiever, two participating life insurance savings plans targeting wealth accumulation customers Manulife Indonesia and Bank DBS Indonesia introduce Manulife Ultima+, a multigenerational income assurance plan offering flexible cash benefits Manulife Singapore launches participating plans targeting high-net-worth investors Pru Life UK introduces two-year payment life insurance plan Prudential Indonesia launches PRUMapan, a savings and protection plan targeting Millennials and Gen Z customers seeking to avoid the sandwich generation trap Prudential Indonesia and Standard Chartered Indonesia launch PRUTreasure Dollar, a USD-denominated endowment plan Samsung Life relaunches Samsung Balance Whole Life Insurance with an enhanced double pension conversion rider SBI Life launches Smart Platina Advantage, a non-linked savings plan offering long-term guaranteed income and life cover Singlife Singapore launches a universal life plan with income crediting linked to a basket of global indices, targeting flexible long-term wealth accumulation Sun Life Malaysia launches Sun Save Future, a guaranteed acceptance savings and protection plan with early yearly cash payouts up to 50% of premiums Tata AIA launches Large Mid Cap Innovation and Global AI & Technology Leaders funds within its ULIPs TTB Bank and Prudential Thailand co-launch 99 Wealth Protection Series, a suite of whole life insurance products Living benefits Aflac adds a long-term care rider to its Group Life Term to 120 product, creating a hybrid worksite solution with flexible home and facility-based care benefits Allianz partners with Ualá Neobank to sell life and accident products Assurity launches Income Protection+, a flexible long-term disability insurance product covering expanded occupation classes for a broader range of clients bolttech partners with SB Finance and MAAGAP Insurance to offer job-loss protection cover bundled with motorcycle loans in the Philippines Cigna Hong Kong rolls out VitalGuard, a new critical illness plan providing comprehensive coverage across major illness categories Hanwha Life launches Signature H Integrated Health Insurance, consolidating cancer, brain, and heart coverage into a single customisable plan John Hancock enhances LifeCare, its hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product Kyobo Life Insurance launches Kyobo The Peace of Mind Dementia Long-Term Care Insurance Manulife Cambodia launches Korm Pear, a cancer protection plan offering access to early detection and treatment from the earliest stage of diagnosis Manulife Canada partners with Osara Health to launch Cancer Coach, Offering personalized, clinician-led cancer support for Group Benefits members with disability coverage National Guardian Life launches HonestLTC, a long-term care insurance solution with monthly benefits and shared benefit pools for couples PolicyMe partners with Wave to offer term life and critical illness insurance to small business owners through a referral distribution arrangement Prudential Singapore launches PRUActive Life V, a whole-of-life protection plan covering 182 conditions including mental illness SBLI adds a Chronic Illness Rider to its EasyTrak Digital Term product at no additional premium cost, expanding living benefits for all policyholders Sun Life proactively offers second medical opinions on cancer diagnoses to members at the point of filing a cancer-related insurance claim Medical AIA Hong Kong launches first VHIS plan with no sub-limits and northbound medical care access for policyholder AIA Life Korea secures nine-month exclusive rights for a new advanced cancer treatment rider covering cutting-edge therapies Alan launches Alan Clinic in Canada, bringing in-app mental health therapy directly to group insurance members in Ontario Bajaj General Insurance launches NRInsure, a non-resident Indian-focused add-on health cover offering a 35% premium discount Discovery Health brings Stella menopause support app to South Africa, exclusively available to medical scheme members aged 35 to 70 Empire Life integrates caregiver navigation support into group benefits through a partnership with Teladoc Health Canada's Mental Health Navigator service Generali Thailand launches GEN Health Premier, a health insurance plan providing an additional 50% inpatient benefit when the insured is treated for a covered critical illness Hanwha Life launches Signature H Integrated Health Insurance, consolidating cancer, brain, and heart coverage into a single customisable plan Khedmah integrates medical insurance products into its digital payment app through a partnership with Dhofar Insurance, enabling in-app health cover for customers in Oman Annuity Acenda Life enters the Australian retirement market with a guaranteed lifetime income annuity product Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance secures IRDAI approval for ABSLI Index Guaranteed Annuity Plus, India's first Nifty 50-linked guaranteed annuity product Allianz Life introduces Index Advantage+ Select Income registered index-linked annuity with dynamic lifetime income benefit F&G Annuities & Life joins Voya Financial's annuity platform, expanding advisor and client access to fixed and indexed annuity solutions MassMutual Ascend launches Income Ascender optional rider on fixed-indexed annuities, offering guaranteed future income growth Pacific Life launches Payout Plus, an indexed benefit option for structured settlement annuities Prudential launches ActiveIncome, an insurance overlay on Franklin Templeton's Canvas platform enabling wealth managers to integrate income protection into client portfolios Sammons Institutional Group launches Summit Laddered, a multi-year guaranteed annuity solution designed to help advisors build laddered retirement income strategies Symetra enhances its fixed indexed annuity lineup with the introduction of the Franklin Large Cap Value Talcott Financial Group launches three fixed annuity products: EverGuard Aspire Series, EverGuard Assurance, and EverStead MYGA, to meet retail demand for guaranteed retirement income TIAA launches MyChoice MYGA, an industry-first flexible premium multi-year guaranteed annuity designed to give retirees greater control over their savings timeline Tata AIA introduces pension plan blending guaranteed income with marketlinked returns

| Products

Wellness AIA Alta Club introduces Family Health MedTeam, an industry-first 24/7 cross-boundary medical concierge for high-net-worth families AIA Alta Club launches Brain Health Programme for high-net-worth clients, featuring world-first AI-powered retinal imaging to detect cognitive decline early Alan launches Alan Clinic in Canada, bringing in-app mental health therapy directly to group insurance members in Ontario BMO Insurance partners with Empathy to provide bereavement support and estate navigation services to group life insurance beneficiaries in Canada Discovery Health brings Stella menopause support app to South Africa, exclusively available to medical scheme members aged 35 to 70 Empire Life integrates caregiver navigation support into group benefits through a partnership with Teladoc Health Canada's Mental Health Navigator service Equitable Life adds AI-powered nutrition app RxFood to all group benefits plans at no additional cost to plan members Equitable Life launches enhanced bereavement and estate support service for policyholders through a partnership with Empathy Generali Thailand launches GEN Health Premier, a health insurance plan providing an additional 50% inpatient benefit when the insured is treated for a covered critical illness John Hancock enhances LifeCare, its hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product Kotak Life's Kotak Signature Legacy whole-life participating plan positions itself as a legacy-building solution with lifetime cover Kyobo Life Insurance launches Kyobo The Peace of Mind Dementia Long-Term Care Insurance Manulife Canada partners with Osara Health to launch Cancer Coach, Offering personalized, clinician-led cancer support for Group Benefits members with disability coverage MetLife enters the Irish group insurance market, launching group life cover for employers and employees Nationwide and Beam Benefits expand their dental and vision insurance partnership to cover 34 US states, broadening access to employer-sponsored ancillary benefits Sun Life Philippines partners with Borough Group of Clinics to offer primary care access, wellness education, and preventive health programmes Sun Life proactively offers second medical opinions on cancer diagnoses to members at the point of filing a cancer-related insurance claim Transamerica partners with Empathy to offer bereavement support and estate settlement services to life insurance beneficiaries in the US

| Value-added services

Alternative distribution Allianz partners with Ualá Neobank to sell life and accident products bolttech partners with SB Finance and MAAGAP Insurance to offer job-loss protection cover bundled with motorcycle loans in the Philippines CapBridge partners with AIA Singapore to distribute customized life insurance products for high-net-worth clients through its wealth management platform Khedmah integrates medical insurance products into its digital payment app through a partnership with Dhofar Insurance, enabling in-app health cover for customers in Oman PolicyMe partners with Wave to offer term life and critical illness insurance to small business owners through a referral distribution arrangement Bancassurance Allianz Life Indonesia and HSBC Indonesia introduce SmartWealth Dollar Equity Global Income Fund, a USD-denominated unit-linked BankDhofar launches Dhofar Insurance Endowment Plan, a life insurance product combining smart savings with capital protection Manulife Indonesia and Bank DBS Indonesia introduce Manulife Ultima+, a multigenerational income assurance plan offering flexible cash benefits Prudential Indonesia and Standard Chartered Indonesia launch PRUTreasure Dollar, a USD-denominated endowment plan TTB Bank and Prudential Thailand co-launch 99 Wealth Protection Series, a suite of whole life insurance products Digital Continental General partners with Reframe Financial to distribute Reframe LifeStage, a next-generation hybrid indexed universal life and long-term care product Khedmah integrates medical insurance products into its digital payment app through a partnership with Dhofar Insurance, enabling in-app health cover for customers in Oman SBLI adds a Chronic Illness Rider to its EasyTrak Digital Term product at no additional premium cost, expanding living benefits for all policyholders Employee benefits Aflac adds a long-term care rider to its Group Life Term to 120 product, creating a hybrid worksite solution with flexible home and facility-based care benefits Alan launches Alan Clinic in Canada, bringing in-app mental health therapy directly to group insurance members in Ontario Equitable Life adds AI-powered nutrition app RxFood to all group benefits plans at no additional cost to plan members Equitable Life launches enhanced bereavement and estate support service for policyholders through a partnership with Empathy LIC announces launch of LIC’s Group Term Ease Plan and LIC’s Group Benefits Secure Plan Manulife Canada partners with Osara Health to launch Cancer Coach, Offering personalized, clinician-led cancer support for Group Benefits members with disability coverage MetLife enters the Irish group insurance market, launching group life cover for employers and employees Nationwide and Beam Benefits expand their dental and vision insurance partnership to cover 34 US states, broadening access to employer-sponsored ancillary benefits Transamerica partners with Empathy to offer bereavement support and estate settlement services to life insurance beneficiaries in the US

| Distribution

Medical

Bancassurance

In the first quarter of 2026, life and health insurers worldwide launched a broad range of products across the Americas, Asia‑Pacific (APAC), and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). These offerings included death and living benefits, medical insurance products, and solutions that combine protection with a cash value or investment component. In the Americas and APAC, new launches also featured annuity products. The section below describes select product launches observed in 2026 Q1, highlighting interesting new offerings, as well as themes where we have seen increased market activity lately. These include Universal Life (UL) insurance innovation, protection solutions targeted at underserved segments such as seniors and low-income individuals, cancer‑related benefits and services, wellness value-added services - addressing menopause, bereavement, nutrition, cognition, and caregiving support - as well as bancassurance and alternative distribution initiatives. UL Innovation: Long-term income and digital customer journeysIn Singapore, HSBC launched Life Indexed Flexi Income, an indexed universal life (IUL) plan that allows policyholders to convert accumulated value into a guaranteed lifetime monthly income. The income is payable from as early as the 25th policy month and up to age 120, even after the account value is depleted. Premiums can be allocated between a general fixed account and an index account linked to global equity indices, with a crediting rate floor of up to 1% per year to protect against market downturns. Singlife also launched an IUL product with long-term income options. The product, Legacy Indexed Income, offers customized index‑linked income up to age 120. The premium is allocated between a fixed account and an index account tied to five global indices, with a 0% crediting rate floor, ensuring that negative index performance does not reduce credited returns. Policyholders can design up to five customized income phases, each with a start date, duration, and target maximum annual payout amount of their choosing. During these phases, the actual annual income paid is linked to the performance of the selected index, subject to the maximum chosen by the policyholder. Any index‑linked gains above the policyholder’s targeted annual income are automatically reinvested. In the U.S., Ethos partnered with North American Company for Life and Health Insurance to launch an IUL product on Ethos' digital platform. A key differentiator is the fully digital experience, with instant underwriting decisions and no medical exams required. This reflects a broader trend of digitization in permanent life insurance, with similar examples noted in previous quarterly reports (2025 Q2, 2025 Q3, and 2025 Q4). Targeting underserved segmentsIn Spain, Mapfre launched Confianza Vida Senior, a life insurance product designed for people between the ages of 55 and 77, addressing the needs of the growing senior segment. The product is structured as an annually renewable policy with no maximum exit age, allowing policyholders to maintain coverage until death. The product is bundled with value-added services tailored to seniors, such as telemedicine, psychological support, and in‑home assistance after hospital stays. In the Philippines, consumer finance company SB Finance partnered with bolttech, an insurtech specializing in embedded insurance, and MAAGAP Insurance to introduce the country’s first bundled loss‑of‑employment protection embedded in motorcycle loans. The coverage is built into SB Finance’s MotorsikLOAN program, which targets underserved working-class Filipino riders. Mandatory for all new loans, the bundled insurance plan covers one monthly loan installment payment in the event of involuntary loss of employment, and includes accidental death and disablement coverage, as well as a daily hospital cash benefit for hospitalization resulting from an accident or sickness. Cancer benefits and servicesIn Thailand, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) partnered with FWD Life Insurance to distribute Saving to Ninety, a long‑term endowment plan that pays cash benefits every year until age 89. Policyholders receive double annual benefits for up to 10 years if they are diagnosed with advanced‑stage cancer. In South Korea, AIA Life Insurance has been granted nine months of exclusive usage rights by the Life Insurance Association of Korea for its new “Non-Participating Specific Advanced Medical Treatment Rider,” applicable to coverage of three advanced cancer therapies, considered as alternatives for patients who cannot undergo surgery or who face a high risk of recurrence or metastasis: percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation, percutaneous microwave thermal ablation, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. In Asia, Manulife partnered with Guardant Health, a U.S.-based precision oncology company, to become the first insurer to offer Guardant Health's Shield Multi-Cancer Detection (MCD) test to clients in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. The Shield MCD test is a methylation-based blood test for the detection of multiple cancer types in individuals aged 45 or older who are at typical average risk for cancer. The test will be available to eligible Manulife clients beginning in April 2026.

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Life Insurance Industry Overview: Insights from Ron Herrmann R. Herrmann, January 2026.

In the U.S., Sun Life expanded its Expert Cancer Review (ECR) service to proactively contact eligible group plan members who file a cancer-related disability or critical illness (CI) insurance claim, connecting them with an independent oncology specialist for a documented second opinion closer to the time of diagnosis. Sun Life reported that in 2024-2025, 41% of the second opinions they facilitated resulted in a change in diagnosis, diagnostic strategy, or treatment. In Canada, Manulife announced a partnership with Osara Health to pilot Cancer Coach for select group benefits members with disability coverage. Cancer Coach pairs eligible members with a dedicated health coach who provides one-on-one support through treatment, recovery, and return-to-work planning. Members also receive weekly digital education, symptom logging, progress tracking through Osara's app, and personalized guidance for managing sleep, energy, nutrition, and stress. Wellness value-added servicesIn South Africa, Discovery Health partnered with UK-based digital health company Vira Health to bring its Stella menopause support app to South Africa for the first time. Eligible members aged 35 to 70 receive complimentary 12‑month access to Stella’s premium features, including symptom tracking, personalized behavioral and lifestyle plans, one‑on‑one coaching, and a library of evidence‑based resources. They also gain access to virtual consultations with menopause‑trained general practitioners (GPs) to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and post‑menopause. In Canada, Equitable announced the addition of RxFood, a clinically validated, AI-powered nutrition platform, to all its group benefits plans at no additional cost to plan members, effective April 1, 2026. RxFood uses photo-based food logging and advanced analytics to deliver personalized nutrition insights, practical tips, and tailored recommendations to support health goals and help prevent or manage chronic health conditions. After a few days of logging, users receive a nutrition summary tied to their goals. RxFood then offers tailored feedback, recipes, grocery planning, and easy food swaps. Empire Life added the Teladoc Health Caregiver Program to its group health benefit plans at no additional cost to plan sponsors or members. The program connects caregivers with specialized nurses and social workers providing mental health and burnout screenings, customized care strategies with tailored advice, assistance with the daily logistics of care including financial and legal considerations, and proactive follow-ups at one, three, and six months. Also in Canada, BMO Insurance began offering Empathy's Loss Support program - at no extra cost to policyholders - for its term life, term 100, universal life, whole life, and CI policies with return of premium on death (ROPD). The program provides one-to-one guidance, estate settlement plans, grief resources, and identity theft protection services. Empathy also announced other partnerships with Equitable in Canada, as well as Transamerica and Symetra in the U.S. Bereavement support continues to gain traction as a value-added service, a trend we have highlighted in our 2025 Q1 and 2025 Q2 reports.

In Hong Kong, the AIA Alta Club, AIA’s loyalty program for high‑net‑worth (HNW) policyholders, introduced the Brain Health Programme, a new service that focuses on early detection and proactive prevention of cognitive decline. It uses an AI‑powered retinal scan, along with a cognitive test assessing memory and attention to detect risk factors for dementia before symptoms appear. Based on the results, members receive personalized coaching and science‑based care plans that include lifestyle guidance and anti‑aging supplements to support brain function. Bancassurance and alternative distributionIn Argentina, Ualá, a Latin American neobank, partnered with Allianz to launch fully digital life insurance and personal accident products. The life insurance range includes three benefits: death, disability, and CI. Personal accident options are aimed at independent workers who need protection for work-related risks. Users can get a quote and purchase policies entirely within the app with instant issuance. Ualá reported that these products generated over 300,000 quotes within weeks of their launch. In Singapore, CapBridge, a digital investment platform serving accredited and HNW investors, partnered with AIA Singapore to distribute AIA's existing customized insurance solutions through its digital ecosystem. Under this partnership, CapBridge will offer AIA's wealth structuring, protection, and legacy planning products alongside its existing suite of private market investments and advisory services. In Australia, nib, one of the country’s largest private health insurers, partnered with NobleOak Life to launch a suite of nib-branded life insurance products, including life, total and permanent disability (TPD), trauma, and income protection cover - all fully underwritten by NobleOak. The products are sold direct-to-consumer through nib's digital channels and are available to both existing nib members and new clients, with eligible nib members receiving a 10% premium discount each year, and a complimentary $10,000 life cover benefit. In Canada, digital insurance platform PolicyMe partnered with Wave, a small business accounting software provider, to distribute life and CI insurance to small business owners and freelancers. Clients can apply online, with licensed advisors available for guidance if needed. In Oman, Khedmah, a digital payments and services platform, launched a comprehensive range of in-app medical insurance products in partnership with Dhofar Insurance. The offering embeds health coverage directly into Khedmah's digital ecosystem, allowing individuals, families, SMEs, and household employers to buy insurance within the app. These examples illustrate some of the life and health insurance product launches observed worldwide in the first quarter of 2026. A more extensive list is available below.

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