Abu Dhabi: Health insurance payouts by MetLife across the Gulf increased by approximately 36 per cent over three years, rising from $302 million in 2023 to $410 million in 2025, as more insured individuals accessed medical services ranging from surgical procedures and medicines to laboratory testing, according to the insurer's latest regional claims report.
The figures, which represent medical expenses paid by MetLife under its health insurance policies, highlight changing healthcare needs and the growing importance of preventive screening, early diagnosis and long-term care.
Maria Angeles Amezcua, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MetLife in the Gulf, said the findings reinforce the importance of looking beyond treatment to how health conditions can be prevented, detected earlier and managed more effectively.
Serious illness is not only a concern of later life
The case for early intervention is reinforced by the insurer's critical illness claims data. The average claimant age in 2025 was 48, an age when many people are in the middle of their careers and supporting families rather than approaching retirement.
"One of the most important observations from our regional experience is that serious illnesses are not necessarily conditions associated with later life," Amezcua said.
Women accounted for 66 per cent of cancer-related claims across MetLife's Gulf portfolio in 2025, with breast, thyroid and colorectal cancers the most common.
