Concerning rise in murder and mental health claims, says life insurer Momentum.

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GUEST – George Kolbe, Head of Life Insurance Marketing at Momentum

Cardiovascular diseases reclaimed a previously held position as the leading cause of death claims for Momentum in 2022, but the life insurer has also seen a concerning rise in unnatural deaths, notably murder, especially among men. Announcing its 2022 statistics on Friday, Momentum's head of life insurance marketing, George Kolbe, said the insurer received some breathing space during the year as Covid-19-related claims abated, reducing the group's overall claims by 31% from 2021. But as the virus moved down the ranks, unnatural deaths claims moved up.

Men accounted for 82% of Momentum's unnatural death claims, which include accidents - mostly motor vehicle-related - as well as murder, suicide and surgery complications. But while car accidents accounted for most unnatural deaths among its clients, the biggest jump year-on-year was cases attributable to murder, which surged by 72% from 2021.

Suicides decreased by 7%. Accidents claimed just over a third of those who received payouts, followed by murder (20%) and suicide (19%). But for clients younger than 30, motor accidents are even more of a concern, claiming 67% of lives lost through unnatural causes.

While Covid-19 accounted for 12% of Momentum's death claims in 2022, unnatural death claims increased by 11% year-on-year, representing 11% of all pay-outs. It was ranked in the fourth spot for causes of death claims.
10 Jul 2023 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

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