Why the jump in non-COVID deaths?

In November of last year, Pioneer warned about an “Impending Tsunami in Mortality from Traditional Diseases.”  We asked:

“did public health officials create such a climate of fear around COVID that they neglected to encourage people to visit their physicians and receive regular screenings from chronic conditions?”

The Pioneer report seems prescient, as the Wall Street Journal reported on February 23rd that life insurers had seen “a jump” in non-COVID death claims.

Life insurers think the deferral of medical treatment during the pandemic contributed to an increase in death-benefit claims not directly tied to Covid-19 https://t.co/tp4Xy22x2o

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 23, 2022

Actuaries for the life insurers speculated that the rise in non-COVID deaths were tied to

“delays in medical care as a result of lockdowns in 2020…and people’s fears of seeking out treatment.”

The Journal then editorialized that,

“it was as if the leaders of government health bureaucracies all forgot there were plenty of ways to die other than Covid infection.”

The Lockdown Reckoning https://t.co/gVClbU8a29 via @WSJOpinion

— James Freeman (@FreemanWSJ) February 23, 2022

Browse Our Healthcare Content:

Case of the Missing State Reports

0 Comments

/

February 8, 2012

The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) plays…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/vanishing_magician.gif 1166 750 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2012-02-08 17:39:252012-12-04 17:28:11Case of the Missing State Reports

BCBSF of MA and Health Affairs Spinning the MA Reform

0 Comments

/

January 27, 2012

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts (BCBSF)…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2012-01-27 16:02:062012-12-04 17:28:11BCBSF of MA and Health Affairs Spinning the MA Reform

Are We Fighting Health Care Costs or Health Care Spending?

0 Comments

/

January 13, 2012

Liberal blogger Matt Yglesias over at Slate recently made…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/healthcare_costs.jpeg 333 500 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2012-01-13 12:59:272012-12-04 17:28:14Are We Fighting Health Care Costs or Health Care Spending?

A Deeper Dive into the Mass Health Reform Waiver & Why it Matters to the Future of the ACA

1 Comment

/

January 4, 2012

On December 20th, Governor Deval Patrick, and the entire Massachusetts…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/CommCare-Waiver-Cuts.png 309 449 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2012-01-04 18:13:122012-12-04 17:28:15A Deeper Dive into the Mass Health Reform Waiver & Why it Matters to the Future of the ACA

Will 2012 be the year of the e-patient?

0 Comments

/

January 3, 2012

Dave deBronkart gave an interesting talk at a TED conference…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2012-01-03 11:45:192012-12-04 17:28:21Will 2012 be the year of the e-patient?

Mass and Feds Cut a Deal on Medicaid Waiver

0 Comments

/

December 20, 2011

This afternoon the Patrick Administration announced a new deal…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/money_in_hand.jpg 362 504 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2011-12-20 18:41:072012-12-04 17:28:25Mass and Feds Cut a Deal on Medicaid Waiver

What will 2012 Look Like for Health Care?

0 Comments

/

December 20, 2011

I was recently asked by a reporter for some trends that I expect…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/crystal-ball.jpg 300 400 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2011-12-20 18:26:442012-12-04 17:28:26What will 2012 Look Like for Health Care?

Will Mass Set up a Basic Health Plan under ACA?

2 Comments

/

December 8, 2011

The Connector held its annual retreat this past weekend, and…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/JUMPCLIFF.gif 350 350 Joshua Archambault https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Joshua Archambault2011-12-08 13:44:442012-12-04 17:28:26Will Mass Set up a Basic Health Plan under ACA?