In 2020, Sun Life released its annual high-cost claims and injectable drug trends analysis during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June of that year, the report identified 10 members with stop-loss claims related to COVID-19, along with an in-patient stay that ranged from 3 to 35 days and the highest cost example surpassing $190,000. What a difference two years makes. Sun Life's latest report saw a 354% increase in the number of COVID-19 claims from 2020 to 2021—specifically, 107 claims to 486 claims. Total spend also rose from $30.4M to $114.0M, although the average cost for treatment went from $283.7K to $231.2K over the same period, amounting to an 18% decrease. Even so, COVID-19 landed ("somewhat ironically," the study stated) at number 19 on Sun Life's top 20 list of high-cost claim conditions over four years. This is significant, as every other condition on the list has amassed four years worth of claims to COVID's two, underlining the severity of the pandemic. Sun Life also joins the swelling chorus of voices sounding the alarm over the impact of the pandemic on mental health. "Since 2020, we have seen significant growth in mental health related claims, and the same general increase is true on a national scale," the report asserts. The number of members with a mental health claim rose 21% over the year's time, and total spend went up 22%. Average cost, however, only increased by a few hundred dollars. The top four mental health-related conditions that increased since 2019 were: depressive disorders, sleep/wake disorders, alcohol-related and opioid-related disorders. All four, Sun Life believes, were exacerbated by the pandemic. Here are some other insights from the report: • Stop-loss reimbursements for Sun Life's top 10 conditions amounted to $3.50B. • 21% of employers had a member with over $1 million in claims during the 2017-2020 benefit period. • Although hemophilia/bleeding landed at #15 on Sun Life's 4-year ranking and at #16 for the year 2021, it accounted for the year's highest cost-claim, at $6.23M. See our slideshow above for Sun Life's top 10 high-cost claim conditions, and click here to read the full report.