The rising impact of ADHD on insurance
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Nov 2025
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is no longer just a childhood diagnosis, according to a blog on Swiss Re’s website.
With growing awareness and evolving diagnostic practices, insurers are now navigating a surge in both childhood and adult ADHD disclosures, says the blog. This has far-reaching implications for underwriting, risk assessment, and claims management.
Childhood ADHD, affecting approximately 5% globally, presents with overt hyperactivity and behavioral challenges that often trigger early intervention. However, subtle presentations, particularly in girls, remain underdiagnosed until adulthood. In contrast, adult ADHD estimated at 3% prevalence globally, often manifests as inattentiveness, executive dysfunction, and comorbid mental health conditions, frequently diagnosed retrospectively or following life stressors.
As private diagnoses become more common and prevalence figures rise, the pressure mounts for insurers.
For insurers, the landscape is shifting rapidly:
- Underwriting is complicated by variable symptom trajectories, diagnostic inconsistencies, and the absence of clear application questions for neurodevelopmental conditions. The same diagnosis can imply vastly different risk depending on age, life context, and comorbidities.
- Claims risk increases when functional impairments from ADHD are masked by years of coping strategies that unravel during significant life transitions.
- Portfolio Risk - rising diagnosis rates, especially via private channels, could shift portfolio risk.
The blog outlines the changes insurers might need to consider in dealing with the impact of ADHD: