Exeter Family Friendly pays 95pc of claims

The most common cause of claim was for muscular and skeletal problems which accounted for 22% of all claims.

The Exeter-based mutual also confirmed that 1.2% of claims received were declined as a result of non-disclosure.

Andy Chapman, chief executive at Exeter Family Friendly, said: “It’s quite simple, paying claims is what we’re about and what we exist for.”

“It is important to the long term success of our industry that we continue to push for an open and transparent approach to claims, this is what consumers demand of us in 2012.

“This isn’t about insurers comparing the odd percent here and the odd percent there, it’s about growing consumer confidence that as an industry, we deliver.”

On the claims declined as a result of non-disclosure, Exeter Family Friendly’s head of intermediary sales, Mike O’Brien, said: “Full disclosure is key to making sure that our customers have no nasty surprises at claim.

“We will continue to work with advisers to ensure we keep non-disclosure to an absolute minimum.”