The trend: COVID-19-related deaths have dropped significantly since their peak in 2021, per ABC News, but the virus remains the 10th leading cause of death in the US, according to the CDC. With waning immunity from vaccines and prior infections, mortality from the virus isn’t expected to decline much further—posing ongoing profitability challenges for life insurers.
How we got here: COVID-19’s lasting health effects on consumers—highlighted by a health economist in Money Control—are compounding the issue. These include:
- Potential long-term health complications from the virus, such as heart and lung issues.