I posted a story the other day about an Indiana insurance executive who dropped a bombshell statistic during an end-of-year virtual news conference, reporting a “stunning” 40% increase in the death rate among 18- to 64-year-old adults compared to pre-pandemic levels. Even though for the time being, at least, other U.S. insurers do not appear to be sharing data or observations about increased non-COVID hospitalization and death claims.

However, the press in India is openly discussing the same unprecedented trends as Indiana.

The Times of India reported in late October that health insurers are seeing a “huge surge in non-COVID claims.” Again, citing the magic number of 40%, the head of interventional cardiology at a Mumbai hospital noted a 40% increase in heart problems — acute coronary syndrome, sudden heart attacks and cardiac arrest — over the previous six to eight months

The cardiologist also observed that “even patients who have been stable for years are coming in with acute heart emergencies.”

That same month, the New Indian Express reported on widespread concern about the growing prevalence of heart attacks in those under age 45. although these young adults — including a number of celebrities — typically have “no conventional risk factors,” Indian heart doctors are blaming the mysterious rise in heart attacks on “lifestyle choices.”

Around the same time in late December that OneAmerica’s Davison shared his remarks, Fortune India reported on data from the nation’s Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority showing a 41% increase (there’s that number again) in death claims in fiscal year 2021. In comparison, death claims rose by 11% in fiscal year 2020.

Describing the increase in non-COVID-19 deaths, a life insurance executive suggested the industry might end up posting “a 200% – 300% increase in claims” for 2021. For now, however, 18 of the 24 life insurance companies operating in India in 2020-21 are reporting profits.

India launched the “world’s biggest” COVID vaccination drive in January 2021, primarily administering AstraZeneca’s vaccine (manufactured by India’s Serum Institute under the brand name Covishield) and Covaxin, an India-developed vaccine perceived as having garnered a “hasty” approval and which resulted in one acknowledged death during clinical trials.

And, to get 2022 off to an ambitious start, India just administered Covaxin to more than 3.8 million teenagers (ages 15-18) in the span of a single day. With 120 million youngsters between ages 15 and 19, India has the largest adolescent population in the world, which will remain the target of COVID vaccination efforts.

Kinda makes you wonder about our intrepid media huh, given this story from India was first reported back in October of last year, seems rather other that none of our “churnalists” ever picked up on it and bothered reporting it. I’m guessing that if this is happening in India and Indiana it’s only a matter of time before “the other shoe drops” and we begin to hear similar stories from other insurers, both in Canada and elsewhere!

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/health-insurers-see-huge-surge-in-non-covid-claims/articleshow/87245762.cms