Insurance Claims Show a Rise in Post-COVID-19 Diabetes in Young People

December 22, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Manulife Insurance, one of Canada's largest private health insurers has reported an increase in 46% in In younger people claiming diabetes-related benefits. Their data show that people under the age of 44 now account for 19% of diabetes claims vs. only 13% in 2019. They cannot break down the data to show what percentage of the increase is due to Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

This information supports a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that found those under 18 who were infected with COVID-19 were ‘more likely to have a new diagnosis of diabetes more than 30 days after infection than those without COVID-19”.

Manulife reports:

Key findings:

·      Canadians (18-34) on long-term disability for mental illness have increased 22% since 2019

·      Canadians (18-34) submitting claims for mental health reasons has increased 27% since 2021

·      Canadians under the age of 44, made up 19% of workers who submitted diabetes claims in 2022, up from 13% in 2019

 

TORONTO - New health insights from Manulife show younger Canadian workers are going on sick leave for mental health issues more frequently, and growing numbers are seeking treatment for diabetes.

“We’re seeing concerning trends among young Canadians, particularly in cases of mental illness and diabetes,” says Ashesh Desai, Head of Group Benefits for Manulife Canada. “To help employers, we’re giving them new insights into their benefit plans, so they have better data to design their future employee health programs. Companies can use these insights to ensure their benefits are structured adequately to support employees’ increasing needs. Equally important, we’re very focused on deploying digital experiences that help our customers leverage their benefit plans, and get the right care, at the right time.”

According to Manulife Group Benefits claims data, the number of Canadian employees between ages 18 and 34 going on long-term disability for mental illness has increased by 22% since 2019. Overall, the number of workers in this age group submitting claims for mental health reasons, including therapy, medication, and disability, is up 27% in just the past year.

The CDC found that 

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with worsening of diabetes symptoms, and persons with diabetes are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection might also induce newly diagnosed diabetes.

 

And  

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people with diabetes, who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19.* Increases in the number of type 1 diabetes diagnoses (1,2) and increased frequency and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the time of diabetes diagnosis (3) have been reported in European pediatric populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What does this mean?

If you or a younger family member in your household had COVID-19 or develops COVID-19 your doctor or healthcare providers should be aware and should be monitoring the individual in the near and long term for symptoms of diabetes.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.