Irish not financially ready to face illness - study

The New Ireland Life Assurance firm has claimed Irish people do not make enough provision for their financial security in the event of an illness.

It said research it commissioned showed Irish people were unwilling to confront the fact they could suffer a serious illness at any time.

New Ireland said research also found that one third of critical illness claimants last year were under the age of 40, proving that serious illness can strike at any time.