The number of prostate and testicular cancer claims insurers are handling appear to have dipped during the pandemic with a worrying trend also appearing.
As Movember, the annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues enters full swing, Health & Protection has discovered the number claims for these types of cancer appear to have dipped during the pandemic.
Data from Legal & General suggests prostate and testicular cancers are potentially being caught at a later stage, with its data indicating that life insurance claims are growing while critical illness claims are falling.
The insurer revealed that it had 87 prostate life insurance claims in 2020, up from 74 in 2019, meanwhile there were 101 prostate cancer critical illness claims in 2020, down from 167 in 2019.
Last year the insurer had a single testicular cancer life insurance claim compared with none in 2019 and 48 testicular cancer critical illness claims in 2020 compared with 67 in 2019.
L&G could not provide relevant 2021 data.
Zurich revealed that in H1 2021 it paid out more than £2.5m in claims for prostate and testicular cancer – less than half the pre-pandemic total.
This compares with more than £5.8m in 2020 and more than £6.4m in 2019.
Vitality revealed that while its serious illness cover claims for testicular cancer have remained consistent with pre-pandemic levels, it has seen a lower amount of prostate cancer claims.
The provider added that it has made allowances for this difference to be made up in this year’s claims numbers as screenings return to pre-pandemic levels.
Cirencester Friendly’s data shows it has had no prostate or testicular cancer claims this year.
In 2020, the mutual had just the single prostate claim and no testicular claims compared with two testicular and seven prostate in 2019.
Meanwhile William Russell revealed it has been handling nine prostate cancer claims in 2021, five new diagnosed cases and four ongoing cases in six different countries with a total claim amount of US$67,249. for 10 months so far.
This compares with seven prostate cancer claims for 2020, three new and four ongoing in three countries with a total claim amount of US$51,296.
In 2019, the insurer had 11 prostate cancer claims, five new and six ongoing cases in seven different countries with a total claim amount of US$218,751.