The case for Critical Illness Insurance

One of the most popular forms of personal insurance cover in the developed world is Critical Illness cover - and for very good reasons.

Yet in New Zealand it is still relatively unknown to most of the population, and most New Zealanders are more at risk than they realise.

Trauma Insurance or Living Insurance

 Before considering the case for Critical Illness, we should dispel some myths. Critical Illness is often referred to as "trauma insurance", and it becomes an implied understanding that anything that is a "trauma" might be covered. This is not the case, as trying to cover anything that might be traumatic (which could vary enormously from person to person) is nearly impossible to calculate. To make it clear for people wanting insurance to step in while they are alive and suffering from a major critical condition, the insurers provide a list of covered conditions that you are insured for. There can be quite a number of conditions on a Critical Illness policy that would trigger a claim, however the most common claims come from a relatively short list of very serious health conditions. The purpose of this type of cover is to provide money to people when they need it most, after suffering a specified major health problem - and still being alive.  It is sometimes known as "living insurance" for that reason.

The Most Common Health Problems

The most common major health problems are heart disease, cancer, and strokes.  An increasing issue is also Alzheimer's Disease.  To best consider the case for having Critical Illness cover we are best to look at the actual experience of people in Australia & New Zealand (to provide a large population and statistical sample).

Here are the facts:

• 2 out of 5 people will suffer a critical illness before they reach 65 (Source: General Cologne Life RE. 2002)
• 2 out of 5 people will be unable to work for 6 months or more because of sickness or accident between the ages of 30 and 65 (Source: ACC BERL Report. 1996)
• 5 out of every 10 males and 7 out every 10 females, aged 25 years are likely to become at least temporarily disabled due to an accident or illness before they turn 65 (Source: Davies Financial and Actuarial Limited). (Note:  ACC covers accident only)
• The leading cause of disability is disease or illness (40%) followed by accident or injury (30%)(Source: Statistics NZ (2001) Disability Survey)
• In NZ, 1 in 20 adults have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease that resulted in them being hospitalise. This is approximately 161,000 adults. (Source: New Zealand Heart Foundation)
• 80% of first Heart Attack patients are still alive after one year (Source: Swiss Re life and Health)
• 7 women a day are diagnosed with Breast Cancer (Source: NZ Breast Cancer Foundation)
• 50% of cancer patients are still alive after 3 years (Source: Swiss Re Life and Health).
• The most common types of cancer vary with age, with leukaemia most common amongst children and youth; malignant melanoma of the skin most likely for 25 to 44 year-old males; breast cancer the most common for 25to 44 year old females; prostate cancer for males 45 years and older; and also; cancer of the breast amongst females 45 years and older. (Source: NZHIS, Cancer: New Registrations and Deaths 2004)
• On average 22 New Zealanders have a stroke every day. (Source: The Stroke Foundation of New Zealand)
• On average, New Zealanders have a 1 in 8 chance of having a stroke in their lifetime.  Approximately one third die within the first month of having a stroke. After six months 80 per cent of the survivors will be living at home, and some 50 per cent are likely to have ongoing disability as a consequence. (Source: The Stroke Foundation of New Zealand)
• 25 per cent of Stroke sufferers on average are under 65 years of age. (Source: The Stroke Foundation of New Zealand)
• Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting approximately 17,000 to 21,000 New Zealanders presently, though many remain undiagnosed for some time. Between 1000 and 2000 new cases are diagnosed each year. (Source: http/www.everybody.co.nz)

Critical illnesses are relatively common in our society, and obviously have a number of severe impacts upon the individual affected, their family, workplace and wider society.  For the critically ill patient it often results in them being unable to work for many months, seriously reducing the household income.  Often a partner has to take time away from their own employment to provide additional care.  This impact has been monitored in Australia, where they found that in New South Wales, 57% of cancer survivors there spent at least 5 months off work after their diagnosis. Some 71% then required an average of 40-plus hours of family care at home per week at an average cost of nearly $700 a week thereafter.

Unfortunately increased medical and nursing care expenses are relatively common.  This, together with reduced household income at the time of critical illness, often results in significant additional stress and pressure for the household as financial concerns mount.

Critical Illness insurance however can make the difference by providing a sum of money when a critical illness occurs.  The insurance does not stop the health problem occurring, but the money does give families a better chance of dealing with the issues, without having financial concerns added on in a time of crisis.

If you would like to discuss Critical Illness Insurance ring us on 07 578 3863.