If you think the increasing number of retrenchments in Singapore is scary, you may want to rethink not having critical illness (CI) insurance. The following scary statistics provide insights on the risk of being diagnosed with a chronic disease, which can aid you in making choice decisions when it comes to protecting your health and wealth. 

Scary statistics on cancer

Cancer can happen to anyone, and the incidence rates have been increasing. The following statistics on cancer may look scary but do keep in mind that you can reduce your risk of cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Do you know of these cancer facts?

• Cancer happens to 1 in 4 Singaporeans(Source: Singapore Cancer Society).

• Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore – accounting for 28.2% of all deaths¹ from 2017 – 2021.

• During the same period, an average of 46 people were diagnosed with cancer every day, amounting to 84,002 cancer cases².

• 49% and 51% of those cases were reported in males and females respectively³. The three most common cancers are:

• While cancer is more common in older people in Singapore, the age-specific incidence rate of cancer has risen more rapidly among the younger age groups aged below 40 years, compared to the older age groups.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that cancer is an old person’s disease. It is also important to keep in mind that advancements in medical technology offer one a better chance of being cured. With early detection and treatments, cancer patients today are living longer.

That’s why it is crucial to have a good CI insurance plan that can provide financial support in times of need. Essential critical secure by Etiqa covers comprehensive coverage for a total of 104 CI conditions across early, intermediate and severe stages. It is also the first-in-the-market to provide monthly cash payouts of up to 200%*of the original sum insured^ upon a severe stage CI diagnosis. What’s more, premiums are waived upon an early or intermediate CI claim so you continue to enjoy coverage without having to worry about the cost. Learn more

Scary statistics on heart disease and stroke

Being a food-loving nation, Singapore’s rising obesity rate underscores higher risks of chronic diseases that may lead to heart attacks and strokes. In Singapore, 30% of us are overweight and 10% of us are obese. Besides your family history, lifestyle is an important factor too! These scary statistics on heart diseases and stroke will put in perspective how these non-communicable diseases are more common than you think.

• On average, 34 people have heart attacks and 23 people die from heart disease daily in Singapore⁴.

• Almost 1 out of 3 deaths in Singapore is due to heart disease or stroke. Such cases accounted for 31.4% of all deaths in 2022⁵.

• Stroke in Singapore is the 4th leading cause of death, with a prevalence of 3.65% among adults aged 50 years and above⁶.

• Stroke is the seventh leading cause of adult disability⁶ in Singapore.

• High cholesterol is a leading risk factor for stroke in Singapore. Data found that 83% of stroke patients had high cholesterol⁷ in the year 2020.

Scary statistics on mental health

Stress, amongst many other factors, can affect your mental health. Did you know that females are more affected by poor mental health than males? Nobody is immune to mental illness though.

• The Ipsos World Mental Health Day survey revealed that close to half (46%) of Singaporeans place mental health as the biggest health problem facing the country today, followed by cancer (38%) and stress (35%)⁸.

• In Singapore, the prevalence of poor mental health increased from 13.4% in 2020 to 17% in 2022, according to the National Population Health Survey⁹.

• More than 3 in 10 youth have poor mental health. 1 in 10 teenagers suffer from a mental health disorder. Depression diagnoses amongst Singapore’s youth grew 4 times between 2013 and 2018¹⁰.

• Mental illness is a pertinent risk factor related to suicide. There were 476 suicides reported in Singapore in 2022, rising 25.9% from the previous year¹¹.

• Suicide is the cause for the highest number of deaths among youths aged 10 to 29 from 2020 – 2022¹². 1 in 4 youths considered self-harm in the past year⁸.

There are many common misconceptions regarding mental illnesses. Contrary to popular belief, many people with mental health conditions can get better and make a full recovery. There are more treatments and community support than ever before.

In fact, you can now protect yourself and your loved ones with CI insurance that covers chronic diseases as well as mental health conditions. Essential critical secure by Etiqa supports and empowers your mental well-being with benefits for 7 mental health conditions. Learn more

Critical illness insurance is important

These statistics may look scary but they are crucial to understanding trends. According to the Life Insurance Association Protection Gap Study 2022, the average Singaporean has a CI protection gap of 74%.

With high medical inflation, the cost of medical treatments will become increasingly expensive over time. While hospitalisation plans may be able to cover part of the cost of medical bills, the cost of not being able to work remains. The good news is, from just S$0.86 per day^#, you can get S$100,000 of Critical Illness Benefit PLUS up to S$200,000^* of Continuous Care Benefit. Essential critical secure offers affordable and comprehensive protection up to age 100 so that you can focus on recovery without worrying about expensive treatment costs or your daily living expenses.

Sources:

¹https://www.nrdo.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider3/default-document-library/scr-ar-2021-web-report.pdf

²https://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg/learn-about-cancer/cancer-basics/common-types-of-cancer-in-singapore.html

³https://www.nccs.com.sg/patient-care/cancer-types/cancer-statistics

⁴https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/launch-of-nationwide-preventive-heart-health-study-to-help-pick-up-hidden-diseases

⁵https://www.myheart.org.sg/health/heart-disease-statistics/

⁶https://www.world-stroke.org/news-and-blog/news/sso-spotlight-singapore  

⁷https://www.health365.sg/stroke-in-singapore-statistics-causes-risk-factors/

⁸https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/mental-health-survey-youth-self-harm-singaporeans-stress-2278061  

⁹https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-struggle-mental-health-issues-stress-emotions-work-studies-wellness-3883091

¹⁰https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/commentary-latest-suicide-stats-show-singapore-youths-are-not-coping-heres-how-help-them-2209396

¹¹https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/suicides-reported-singapore-476-2022-highest-more-20-years-3597791

¹²https://www.sos.org.sg/pressroom/singapores-suicide-rates-decrease-yet-rising-youth-numbers-cause-for-concern/

*Subject to a maximum of 2 claims. The total amount payable for the Continuous Care Benefit does not exceed 200% of the original sum insured per policy.

^Original sum insured means the sum insured of the Essential critical secure policy before the reduction in sum insured due to prior claim(s) for CI Benefit and Severe Mental Health Benefit.

^#Premium is illustrated based on a female aged 1 year, non-smoker and a sum insured of S$100,000 for a premium and policy term of up to age 70 on a yearly premium frequency.

This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd., a member of Maybank Group.

This content is for reference only and is not a contract of insurance. Full details of the policy terms and conditions can be found in the policy contract.

As this product has no savings or investment feature, there is no cash value if the policy ends or if the policy is terminated prematurely. You should seek advice from a financial adviser before deciding to purchase the policy. If you choose not to seek advice, you should consider if the policy is suitable for you. The information contained on this product advertisement is intended to be valid in Singapore only and shall not be construed as an offer to sell or solicitation to buy or provision of any insurance product outside Singapore.

This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact Etiqa or visit the Life Insurance Association (LIA) or SDIC websites (www.lia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The information on this page is correct as of 5 April 2024.