Does Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO) — RG 274 apply to private health insurers?
A computed answer from the Rules Mate applicability engine, with the exact condition, the outcome for every structure and size, and the primary source.
Short answer: Yes
Yes. This obligation applies to private health insurers whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: Private health insurer — APRA-regulated.
The obligation in brief
Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO) — RG 274. Section 994B Corporations Act. Issuers must make TMD identifying class of consumers + review triggers.
Trigger: Issuing or distributing in-scope retail product.
Why private health insurers get a different answer
Rules Mate runs its applicability engine across 9 business structures and 6 size bands for each of the 35 industries it maps. For 31 of those industries the answer for "Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO) — RG 274" is no. Private health insurers is one of the 4 where the answer is different: yes.
The deciding fact for private health insurers: Private health insurer — APRA-regulated.
About the industry: Insurers regulated by APRA under the Private Health Insurance Act.
Compare a professional services (general) business with 6–19 employees structured as a Pty Ltd company: the obligation does not apply (Requires issues products or an ACL or APRA regulation).
Answer by business structure and size
Each cell is the engine's outcome for a business in private health insurers with that structure and size, assuming it sells to consumers and small businesses and holds customer contact details. "Check" means the obligation turns on a fact the industry does not settle.
| Structure | No employees | 1–5 employees | 6–19 employees | 20–99 employees | 100–499 employees | 500+ employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Partnership | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trust | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pty Ltd company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Not-for-profit (unregistered) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered charity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Super fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What the obligation requires
- When due
- TMD before first distribution; review on triggers; significant dealings within 10 business days.
- Evidence to keep
- TMD; distribution monitoring; significant dealings notifications; periodic review.
- Regulator
- ASIC
- Jurisdiction
- Commonwealth (national)
Other obligations where private health insurers differ from the norm
- Comply with Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO): Yes
- Comply with APRA CPS 230 (Operational Risk Management): Yes
- Comply with APRA CPS 234 (Information Security): Yes
- Comply with Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) accountability obligations: Yes
- FAR deferred remuneration arrangements (40% deferral 4 years): Yes
- Comply with Private Health Insurance Act 2007 + APRA rules: Yes
Other industries with a non-default answer
Questions
- Does Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO) — RG 274 apply to private health insurers?
- Yes. This obligation applies to private health insurers whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: Private health insurer — APRA-regulated.
- Is the answer the same for every industry?
- No. For 31 of the 35 industries Rules Mate maps, the answer is no. Private health insurers is one of 4 industries with a different answer.
Related
Sources
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.