A new study has revealed that by not having adequate health insurance protection, many men are putting themselves at risk of future financial hardship if they suffer a critical illness.

The research from an insurance group displayed that 93% of men do not have redundancy cover, 87% do not have private medical protection and 71% do not have life insurance cover.

However, when asked, most men did have knowledge of serious illnesses, such as cancer and stated that they regularly check for moles or lumps.

Mark Jones, head of protection at the health insurance firm said: “The ways in which men are regularly taking risks with both their health and finances could have a devastating effect on those men who will unfortunately suffer from a critical illness.

“We are raising awareness of this issue and urging men to take action now to protect themselves for the future, both in terms of their finances and looking after their health.”