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“
A
major new survey of Australian insurance policies shows tobacco’s
massive toll in deaths, disability and disease – and on insurance
premiums and payouts. The
study just released by the Investment and Financial Services
Association and KPMG Actuaries, based on over 8 million lives insured
and 16,000 claims totalling more than $2b, shows: ·
Females
smokers are almost two and a half times as likely (248%) as non-smoking
females to be the
subject of life insurance claims; ·
Males
who smoke are 75% more likely to be a subject of death claims than
non-smoking males; ·
Trauma
cover claims are 41% more likely from smoking than non-smoking, and
25% more likely from smoking than non-smoking females. Commenting
on the survey findings, Associate Professor Matthew Peters, Chairman
of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) “We’re all going to die, but smokers are dying much earlier. “This
is not a function of old age – the mortality and disability
disparity between smokers and non-smokers is seen at all ages but the
gap widens dramatically even from the age of 30. “This
survey shows that even though women smoke less than men, far more
female smokers are dying early than male smokers. “This
confirms the urgency of action by the Australian government to
implement the recommendations of the Preventative Health Taskforce,
including raising tobacco tax, boosting quit campaigns and ending all
forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Adds
ASH Chief Executive Anne Jones: “We welcome the news that the
insurance industry will now take extra steps to better inform smokers
about the benefits of quitting – including paying lower premiums. “These
results no doubt underestimate the full tobacco toll - because poorer
people have higher smoking rates but are less likely to be insured.” * See IFSA/KPMG media release
at www.ifsa.com.au/media%20releases/2009_1214_KPMGifsaLifePRfinal.pdf Comment: Media
info:
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Page last updated 14/12/09 |
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