The medical conditions underpinning death or critical illness insurance claims vary significantly between the genders, with men more affected by cardiovascular conditions and women by cancer, says financial services firm Liberty chief medical officer Dr Philippa Peil.

Liberty paid out R3.57-billion in valid insurance claims during the 2015 financial year. Death claims constituted R2.48-billion (69% by value) of claims and 57% of the total claims paid. Critical illness protection claims of R678-million, which help claimants make life style adjustments following diagnosis, were also paid out.

Cancer and cardiovascular conditions were the predominant causes for death claims and critical illness claims, comprising almost half of all claims paid.

Cancer was cited as the condition for 25% of all claims paid, with cancer-cause claims submitted by 20% of men and 33% of women, indicating its prevalence among all age groups and the impact of breast cancer on the health of women.

Cancer was the main cause for claims sub-mitted by three of the four age segments, constituting 22.5% of the claims submitted by young parents, 26.9% by established providers (financially secure professionals) and 25.6% by empty nesters (with financially independent children).

Breast cancer and prostate cancer contributed to these results to a different extent in each of the age segments, notes Peil.

“There has been a shift in the types of cover linked to cancer. With medical advancements, such as better screening programmes, and more awareness around health and life style, cancers are being diagnosed earlier and at younger ages,” she says.

The division between payouts received for critical illness and deaths, as a result of cancer, is shifting, with more customers qualifying for critical illness payments and surviving longer after diagnosis, she explains.

Cardiac and cardiovascular causes were the second-most common causes, constituting 22.1% of all claims paid.

Cardiovascular conditions resulted in the most claims paid to men (25%) last year, while only 10% of claims made by women were attributed to cardiovascular conditions, indicating the impact of cardiovascular diseases on the health of men.

Cardiovascular conditions were also the second-most common causes for claims in three age segments, constituting 14.5% of the claims submitted by young parents, 21.1% by established providers and 25.3% by empty nesters.

Strokes or central nervous system disorders also contributed significantly to total claims paid, constituting 8% of all claims, while respiratory diseases and disorders constituted 6.2% of all claims.

Meanwhile, R407-million was paid for income protection, including lump sum and monthly income claims.

The fourth age segment, the young achievers, claimed mainly for income protection benefits, with retrenchments being the main cause of such claims. Retrenchment claims accounted for 15.9%, cancer for 12.3%, and motor vehicle accidents (the main cause of claims for young men) for 11.9% of the claims for this segment.

“Young achievers’ greatest assets are their future income – protecting that income and the ability to earn is of paramount importance to them,” concludes Liberty risk product innovation director Nicholas van der Nest.