Cancer remains the main cause of specified illness and death benefit claims in Mayo, according to the latest figures from Irish Life, the country’s largest provider of life assurance and specified illness cover. The Irish Life figures show that cancer accounted for 60 per cent of specified illness claims and death benefit in Mayo in 2008 while heart conditions accounted for 20 per cent of claims.
These figures compare with the national average of 50 per cent for cancer-related claims and 22 per cent for heart-related claims. The figures also compare with a Connacht average of 57 per cent for cancer-related claims and 19 per cent for heart-related claims
The figures show that Irish Life paid out €2.3 million in respect of 31 death benefit claims in Mayo in 2008 and a further €650,000 in 14 specified illness claims. The average age in Mayo for whom death benefit was paid was 57 for both males and females.
