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€168m in claims were paid out by Irish Life last year --- including one of over a million euro

Data from the company’s 2013 accounts shows cancer accounted for almost half of all life insurance claims.

NEW DATA FROM the country’s largest life assurance company shows that cancer accounted for 44 per cent of all Life Insurance claims last year, and 58 per cent of Special Illness Cover claims.

In total, €168 million was paid out by Irish Life in 2013. Heart-related conditions accounted for 16 per cent of Life Insurance pay-outs and 22 per cent of Special Illness Cover claims.

The company’s claims book also gives details of the largest claims. A €1 million Life Insurance claim was paid in respect of a man in his 50s. The corresponding figure for a female was €800,000, paid in respect of a woman in her fifties.

The largest Specified Illness Cover claim (paid in in the event that a person contracts one of 44 illnesses) was €1.1, paid to a man in his 40s suffering from cancer.

The average pay-out was €65,560 for Life Insurance and €69,638 for Specified Illness.

The figures also show that of the 138 claims paid out for accidental death, 25 were the result of a road traffic accident — equating to €2 million in payments. Alcohol was a factor in 6 per cent of all accident claims — down slightly from 7 per cent in 2012, and from 14 per cent in 2011.

Figures from the Department of Health show that heart-related illnesses accounted for 36 per cent of all deaths registered in 2012, compared to 19 per cent of deaths for those under 65.

19 per cent of all deaths in 2012 were due to external causes like accidents and suicide, compared to 2 per cent of deaths amongst those over 65.

Read: Health insurance white paper could be published in coming weeks

Read: Minister admits health plans ‘not very detailed’ and ‘there are still difficulties’

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7 Comments
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    Mute Jarlath Murphy
    Favourite Jarlath Murphy
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:25 AM

    Unfortunately you have to die to claim your life insurance.

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    Mute Banking Bad
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:29 AM

    Yeh, that’s how they get ya. Complete racket.

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    Mute Vincent Meehan
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:39 AM

    Actually you dont. If your diagnosed with a terminal condition then they pay out. In fact I know someone who that happened to, he made a complete health turn around and was set up for life. Albeit he would have regular checkups for the rest of his days.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Connor
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:30 AM

    And how much did they take in ? And how many claims were refused for made up reasons. These statistics make a lovely advertisement for Irish life.

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    Mute Banking Bad
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:35 AM

    Irish Life are actually one of the better life companies to be with. They pay oit a higher % of claims than anyone else, and they cover far more specified illness. They also cover children for free on certain policies.

    Not the bad guys at all. Fair play to them.

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    Mute sportsmad
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:18 AM

    I hope the largest specified illness claim was more than €1.1

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    Mute Paul Che Waldron
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    Mar 12th 2014, 7:41 AM
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