Discovery Life says nearly two-thirds of the claims it paid to clients under 30 over the past five years related to living benefits, highlighting the financial impact that serious illness and disability can have early in a person’s working life.
According to the insurer, claims paid to clients aged between 18 and 30 totalled R378 million between 2021 and 2025. Of this amount, R235m related to living benefits, including severe illness, disability, and income continuation claims.
The figures suggest that for many younger adults, the greatest financial risk may not be premature death but the loss of earning capacity caused by illness or disability.
Discovery says 62% of the total claims paid to clients under 30 during the period were living benefit claims. In 2025, the youngest life cover claimant was 23 years old, while severe illness and income continuation claims were paid to clients as young as 24.
The insurer’s claims experience also provides insight into the types of events affecting younger policyholders. Discovery says the leading causes of income continuation claims among clients under 30 were musculoskeletal conditions, mental and behavioural disorders, and infections. Cancer was the leading cause of severe illness claims in this age group, followed by nervous system conditions.
For financial advisers, the data reinforces a long-standing planning principle: younger professionals often have relatively few accumulated assets, but significant future earning potential. A serious illness or disability can therefore have substantial long-term financial consequences.
Discovery highlighted several cases that illustrate this risk.
One involved a 26-year-old medical doctor whose career changed dramatically after an accident left him with permanent arm and hand paralysis. Unable to continue practising medicine, he has received more than R6m in living benefits, including income continuation, disability, and severe illness payouts.
In another case, a client diagnosed with a chronic illness at age 30 experienced severe symptoms that affected both his lifestyle and his ability to work. According to Discovery, the client has received disability-related benefits totalling more than R2.7m.
The insurer says these examples demonstrate how living benefits can help policyholders to manage the financial consequences of life-altering health events, including the loss of income and additional medical or lifestyle expenses.
The claims data also highlights the role of income protection cover. Discovery says one in five clients under 30 who claimed under its Income Continuation Benefit is permanently disabled.
Although the figures provide insight into Discovery Life’s claims experience, they do not indicate how common such claims are among younger policyholders because the insurer did not disclose the total number of insured clients in the age group or the proportion who claimed.
Nevertheless, the data challenges the perception that risk cover is primarily relevant later in life. Discovery’s experience suggests that severe illness and disability can affect younger adults earlier than many people expect, with potentially significant consequences for their future earning capacity and financial security.
