Critical illness risk for type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Applicants with diabetes mellitus are at higher risk for many of the events covered by critical illness insurance. The relative risk of cardiovascular disease has not been quantified from an insurance perspective.


METHODS
A literature search is done to determine the relative risk of cardiovascular disease, followed by an actuarial analysis to estimate the morbidity ratio for newly diagnosed diabetics compared to nondiabetics.


RESULTS
Morbidity ratios are relatively similar in different studies, especially for ages 50 and older. Morbidity ratios are highest for ages 30-39 (300% to 500%), high for ages 40-49 (200% to 400%), and taper to 200% for older ages.


CONCLUSIONS
Morbidity ratios would be high in newly diagnosed diabetics who applied for critical illness insurance, ranging from a high of approximately 300% to 500% at ages 30-39 to a low of 200% at older ages.
Cathcart
John
J
Gen Re LifeHealth, 695 East Main Street, Stamford, CT 06901, USA. jcathca@genre.com
Baillargeon
Andy
A
Pokorski
Robert
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D014481:United States