After several years of the coronavirus pandemic, the share of insurance claims tied to oncology and heart-related illnesses has grown. Analysts in the corporate accident and sickness insurance sector noted that two out of every three payments under these policies fall into this disease category. This finding comes from a recent study examined by a business news outlet, highlighting how health risks shifted in the wake of the pandemic.
Examining the data more closely, nearly half of the serious illness payouts involve individuals aged between 30 and 50. In addition, about one in five beneficiaries who receive benefits for severe health issues are under 40. The majority of these cases involve women, accounting for around 60 percent of serious health problems reported under accident and sickness plans. Cancer clearly leads as the most common serious illness among insured claims.
Specifically, roughly seven of every ten payments correspond to cancer diagnoses. Cardiovascular diseases account for about 12 percent of observed claims. The study also notes rises in cerebrovascular events, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis among the insured population.
Gender differences emerge in the distribution of these diseases. Cancer is more prevalent among women, appearing in about 80 percent of female cases and 58 percent of male cases. Cerebrovascular diseases are more common in women, while cardiovascular diseases dominate among men in the reported data. When looking at other conditions, women show higher rates of tuberculosis (around 4 percent), cardiovascular disease (roughly 3.5 percent), and multiple sclerosis (about 2.45 percent). Men, on the other hand, exhibit higher incidences of cerebrovascular disease (11.5 percent), kidney disease (around 1.5 percent), and multiple sclerosis (approximately 1.4 percent).
Age groups reveal distinct risk patterns. Women aged 30 to 40 account for about a quarter of the risk, while those aged 40 to 50 represent roughly 30 percent of the risk profile. Men, however, show higher vulnerability in the 50 to 70 age range, where severe diseases are more prevalent, comprising around 60 percent of such cases. The trend underlines how different conditions align with specific life stages for each gender.
In terms of age-related distribution by disease type, cancer tends to be most common among people aged 30 to 50, roughly half of the cases. Cardiovascular diseases predominantly affect those aged 50 to 70, with a substantial share of the total at about 77 percent. Cerebrovascular diseases also skew toward older ages. Tuberculosis appears notably among younger adults within the insured pool, showing a higher incidence in the 30 to 40-year-old group. Multiple sclerosis is another condition that centers in younger to middle-aged adults within this data set.
There is concern about how immunity changes after the COVID-19 outbreak may influence the trajectory of several diseases. Experts warn that delays in routine examinations, gaps in treatment, and lingering effects after infection could contribute to a rise in serious health issues. The observed trend of aging cohorts facing more serious illnesses further underscores the need for timely health assessments and continued vigilance in the management of chronic conditions. This perspective comes from a corporate health insurance leadership figure who notes the importance of proactive care to mitigate long-term risks.
[Attribution: corporate analytics study on accident and sickness insurance patterns]