Cancer passes heart problems as men's main serious illness

Cancer has overtaken heart-related problems as the number one cause of serious illness claims for men in Ireland, new figures revealed today.

More than €76m was paid out to over 2,200 sick people during 2006, Irish Life revealed.

The figures, published by the largest life assurance provider in the country, analysed total payments made to life cover and specified illness cover customers last year.

It reported that out of payments made to serious illness policy holders in 2006, 63% related to cancer ailments, up 10% on 2005.

It also revealed 24% of payments related to heart illness – a fall of 1% on 2005 figures – with 6% paid to stroke victims, 2% to multiple sclerosis sufferers, and 5% covering a variety of other illnesses.

When analysing claims for men and women together, cancer illnesses generated twice as many claims as heart-related illnesses.

The most common illness amongst women was cancer, with over 85% of female claims relating to the disease – an increase of 9% from the 2005. Just 4% of claims relating to heart related illness.

In a reversal of previous years the payments made to male customers in 2006 show that 47% of claims relate to cancer related illness, this was an increase of 12% on 2005, while 39% of claims accounted for heart related illness, in line with the 2005 figure of 40%.

Accidents accounted for 10% of all life cover payments made by Irish Life, with just under half of those aged under 40.

The figures showed that the average hospital stay experienced by customers was eight days, a rise of two days from 2005 figures, with the average age of those dying as a result of accident just 41 years old.

“During 2006 we paid a total of €76m, to over 2,200 customers of our life cover and serious illness cover products,” said Kevin Murphy, Head of Irish Life Retail.

“The average payments made to life cover customers increased from 38,000 euro in 2005 to over €52,500 in 2006.

“The average payment made to specified illness customers rose from €48,000 in 2005 to €55,700 in 2006.

“Worryingly there seems to be an increase in the percentage of our customers suffering from cancer related illnesses. However, this increase may be partly due to people addressing the issues that lead to heart illness thus reducing the numbers experiencing heart ailments.”