MEN LAG IN CLAIMS OVER ILLNESS

Almost a fifth of specified illness claims made in Ireland were made by people under the age of 40, says AA Life Insurance.

Men were also found to have made up a lower percentage of the number of claims made in 2016 in comparison to 2015.

While the average age of male claimants in 2016 was between 49 and 53, this figure dropped to an average age of 42 among women.

In addition, an overwhelming majority of specified illness claims made by women (83%) related to a form of cancer, compared to 54% of claims made by men.