A recent private health care study summarised in Irish Pensions magazine found that the main illnesses cited by male claimants were: heart/circulatory system (21 per cent), back pain (19 per cent), and mental illness (13 per cent).

Female claims were similar with mental illness (26 per cent), back pain (19 per cent) and cancer (14 per cent) making up the majority of such claims.

The study, which examined Irish Life's database, attributes a 50 per cent increase in claims over the past four years to higher levels of stress at work and heavily reduced morale in many companies.

The findings were reported to the Society of Actuaries in Ireland.