BURY YOUR head IN IT, OR WALK ON IT?

Just because men tend to take a more ‘head in the sand’ approach to health risks, it does not mean that they are any less at risk of contracting a life-threatening condition.

When advising men on critical illness (CI) insurance, or Income Protection, it helps to know the value this kind of cover provides. Making them aware of a few facts about the risks men have of being diagnosed with certain conditions just might encourage them to get the cover they need. If a man is married and has a family, it is normally him and not his wife who will have either Critical Illness or Income Protection cover in place. However, a lot of women are now getting in on the act, especially in these days of equal opportunity, they seem to have a higher awareness of the necessity to have regular health checks.

Statistics point to the fact that there are more male critical illness buyers. The take up in both critical illness and income protection has increased with the booming mortgage market as many policies are sold at the same time as mortgages are started. With rates over the last few years looking more affordable, many sign up for critical illness or income protection because it gives them peace of mind without breaking the bank.

According to research the average age at claim is 39 years, and cancer is the most common critical illness payout for men, with testicular cancer top of the list. Understandably critical illness cover seems more attractive as you get older, as it is then that people become more aware of deteriorating health. Many believe it is not worth taking it out when they are younger, however testicular cancer, one of the conditions that sees the most claims is an illness that is most common among men under the age of 36. The other most common for men being prostate cancer, affecting around 22,000 men each year in the UK and accounting for around 10,000 deaths. It is on the increase and set to become the most common from of cancer in men by the year 2003.

There are many forms of cancer for both men and women, and nobody is immune, but there are also many other medical problems that can lead to either being unable to work, or at least unable to perhaps do the job we were trained for. Because of these facts it is essential that we raise awareness of the problems that can arise, and protect ourselves financially for our own sake as well as for our families, and stop burying our heads in the sand once and for all.

Back to Resources/Articles Page