Swiss Re’s US CEO discusses excess mortality, long COVID and GLP-1 drugs

Mortality has become a topic of great importance in the life insurance industry following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Death rates have not rebounded quite as researchers expected in the years since. In addition to COVID, increased deaths from heart disease, diabetes, chronic liver disease/cirrhosis, along with drug overdoses contributed to excess mortality.

Swiss Re is among the leading industry researchers of mortality, with annual studies into various aspects. In its most recent study released in September, Swiss Re's optimistic scenario estimates GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could lead to a reduction in cumulative all-cause mortality in the U.S. general population of 6.4% over the next 20 years.

Neil sat down with InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton for a candid interview about all things mortality during the LIMRA 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Neil Sprackling has more than 40 years of experience in the reinsurance industry, joining Swiss Re in 1997.

Before assuming his current post as president of Swiss Re's U.S. Life & Health division, Neil was head of the insurer's life and health business in Australia and New Zealand. He has led various business and industry programs on behalf of Swiss Re. Prominent among these is the protection gap initiative, addressing the issue of underinsurance.

InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton has covered business and other beats in more than 20 years of daily journalism. John may be reached at john.hilton@innfeedback.com. Follow him on Twitter @INNJohnH.