Is your practice experiencing more clients lodging claims for mental health-related conditions?
- No (50%)
- Yes (38%)
- Not sure (12%)
Loading ...Our poll seeking to discover if practices are seeing more clients lodging claims for mental health-related conditions, has delivered very mixed results.
As we go to press, 39% of advisers report they are seeing more clients lodging claims for mental health-related conditions, with exactly the same percent saying they are not seeing more claims. However a notably sizable 22% are not sure.
Our poll question arose in light of AIA NZ’s report on its 2024 claims data which puts a spotlight on mental health.
The insurer says the Ministry of Health estimates that around half of New Zealanders may struggle with their mental health at some time in their lives (see: AIA Pays $830 Million in Total Claims).
In its 2024 Claims Compass AIA NZ says it paid $25.7 million towards mental health-related claims in the year and $8.1 million for suicide claims. In the 2023 year it paid $22.3 million in mental health claims and $11 million in suicide claims.
The top 2024 AIA mental health claims were:
- Depressive disorders – 44%
- Anxiety/panic disorders – 14%
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – 4%
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -3%
- Chronic Pain Syndrome – 2%
And, the company says, the group most affected by – and claiming for mental health related support – are customers aged between 40 and 59 ($17.7 million), particularly men.
Our poll is open for another week and we are interested to know your thoughts….