Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study

I am pleased to share that our research paper titled "Waiting Period from Diagnosis for Mortgage Insurance Issued to Cancer Survivors" has been published in the European Actuarial Journal.

Here’s a concise overview of the findings:

A testimonial by Massart (2018) highlights the obstacles cancer survivors face when trying to obtain mortgage insurance to secure home loans. Data from national registries indicate that the increased risk of mortality associated with certain cancers diminishes significantly after a specific waiting period.

In light of insurance regulations enacted in France and more recently in Belgium, which establish a right to be forgotten for cancer survivors, this study seeks to identify the appropriate waiting period after which standard insurance premium rates can be applied. The research suggests that a waiting period commencing from the date of diagnosis— as documented in national databases— is preferable to one that begins after the completion of treatment. This approach aims to minimize conflicts when claims are made, as diagnosis dates are reliably recorded, particularly in the Belgian Cancer Registry.

Section 1.1: Methodology

The study analyzes data from 28,994 cases of melanoma and thyroid cancer cataloged by the Belgian Cancer Registry. To assess the waiting period length, we employed widely recognized biostatistical methods, including relative survival models and time-to-cure metrics. For instance, it was determined that a waiting period of four years post-diagnosis is adequate for 30-year-old thyroid cancer patients, which aligns closely with the three-year period stipulated by Belgian law starting after treatment concludes.

Chapter 2: Insights from the Research

Here is a video that provides an overview of our research and the conclusions drawn in the paper:

The findings from this paper also facilitated a presentation organized by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa).

This research was conducted in collaboration with my PhD supervisors, Catherine Legrand and Michel Denuit, alongside Geert Silversmit from the Belgian Cancer Registry.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope the insights from this study will be beneficial for your own research endeavors.

As always, feel free to leave any questions or comments regarding the topics addressed in this paper, as it may foster a valuable discussion for other readers.

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