Irish Life paid almost €1bn in protection and health claims in 2025

Irish Life paid out €581m across 974,663 health insurance claims in 2025

Irish Life paid €985.3m in claims in 2025 - almost €4m a day - across its life assurance and health insurance businesses, the company said on Monday.

Irish Life paid €985.3m in claims in 2025 - almost €4m a day - across its life assurance and health insurance businesses, the company said on Monday.

Irish Life Health paid out €581m across 974,663 health insurance claims in 2025, an average of almost 19,000 claims every week and more than €2.2m every working day.

Hospital claims accounted for the majority of payments, at €501m across 417,199 claims. Outpatient claims totalled €80m across 557,464 claims.

The company said that over the five years from 2021 to 2025, Irish Life Health has paid €2.377bn across more than 4m claims. C,aim volumes rose by 56%, from 623,178 to 974,663, over the period. Irish Life said outpatient claims have been the fastest growing category by volume, up almost 75% since 2021, as customers make increasing use of the day-to-day benefits on their plans.

Meanwhile the company's protection business saw €404.3m in protection claims paid out in 2025.  Living benefits accounted for the majority of protection claims by volume, with Irish Life paying 5,075 living benefit claims across individual and group plans, representing 63% of claim cases and €138m in payments. These included Specified Illness Cover, Income Protection, terminal illness and rider benefits. Death benefits accounted for 2,831 cases, representing 37% of claim cases, with total payments of €265m. 

“Our 2025 claims data show how Irish Life is supporting customers and their families when they need it most. Notably, we are continuing to see claims paid at younger ages and at stages of life when people are building careers, raising families and taking on long-term financial commitments," said Irish Life Assurance head of claims Sarah Parks.

Cliona Merrigan, Irish Life head of claims strategy and clinical partnerships said the company paid almost 19,000 claims every week in 2025, and said claims payments have grown by two thirds over the past five years. "We are particularly encouraged to see customers making ever greater use of the day-to-day benefits on their plans, with outpatient claims up almost 75% since 2021," said Ms Merrigan.