R6.6 Billion in Sanlam Payouts Highlights Health Wake-Up Call for South Africans

If there was ever a sign that South Africans need to take their health more seriously, it’s this: Sanlam has paid out a staggering R6.62 billion in claims for death, disability, and severe illness so far in 2024, a nearly 10% jump from last year.

Behind that number lies a deeper story, one of delayed diagnoses, rising lifestyle-related illnesses, and a population increasingly vulnerable to conditions once considered rare in younger people.

Cancer and heart disease top the list

Sanlam’s claims data paints a sobering picture: cancer now accounts for more than half (54%) of all severe illness claims, with prostate cancer in men doubling and breast cancer in women rising by 33% in just one year. Cardiovascular conditions aren’t far behind, responsible for 20% of all death claims and 17% of disability claims.

For Dr Marion Morkel, Sanlam’s Chief Medical Officer, this is a wake-up call. “The trend is clear. Lifestyle diseases especially cancer and cardiovascular issues are the two biggest threats to South Africans’ lives right now.”

She points to a delayed knock-on effect from the Covid-19 years, when many skipped annual check-ups and screenings. “We’re now seeing the consequences,” she adds.

The gender divide and the overlooked younger generation

Interestingly, while disability claims are dominated by men (60%), women accounted for 61% of income protection claims, with 20% related to pregnancy and childbirth.

But what may shock many is the age profile of claimants: 24% of all living benefit claims came from people under 35. According to Rhoderic Nel, CEO of Sanlam Risk and Savings, “It’s a sobering reminder that life-changing illness can strike at any age. Being financially and medically prepared is not something to delay.”

South Africa’s silent killers: High blood pressure and stress

The data also confirms what many in public health have feared: South Africa’s hypertension crisis is feeding the rise in strokes, especially among women under 50. Add that to our high-stress, high-carb lifestyles, and the result is predictable but preventable.

Musculoskeletal disorders are also on the rise, particularly in women a trend possibly linked to sedentary work habits, ergonomic stress, or even underdiagnosed autoimmune conditions.

What can we do?

Dr Morkel urges South Africans to “know your numbers” blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and BMI—and to start annual screenings from your 30s, not just your 50s.

“There’s this myth that you’re fine until you’re old. That myth is costing lives,” she says.

And as the Sanlam data shows, 99% of death claims were paid, with the highest single payout hitting R36.2 million a stark reminder of the financial realities that follow illness and loss.

Social media reaction: A mixture of shock and reflection

On social media, the release of Sanlam’s figures sparked intense debate. “Why are so many young people getting sick?” one X (formerly Twitter) user asked. Another replied, “We don’t go for check-ups. We wait until something’s wrong.”

Some pointed fingers at medical aid affordability, while others reflected on workplace pressures, food quality, and lack of awareness about preventive healthcare. A few even praised Sanlam’s transparency in releasing the data-urging other insurers to do the same.

It’s time to act

This isn’t just about insurance claims, it’s about changing how we think about our health. South Africa is facing a slow-moving but deadly epidemic of preventable illness. And if we want to change that, the time to start is now with a blood pressure check, a scan, a talk with a doctor, or a little more attention to how we live.

Because the next big payout could be yours or someone you love.

{Source: The Citizen}

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