Bright Grey paid 90pc of CI claims

The youngest claimant was 23 years old and a third of claimants were 40 years old or under.

Some 61% of critical illness claims were for cancer, followed by heart attack 10% and stroke 9%.

Roger Edwards, proposition director at Bright Grey, said: “Critical illness can happen to anyone at any time as the age of our youngest claimant shows. But while a financial payout is essential to help people to continue to make ends meet, practical and emotional help is also required.

“That’s why Bright Grey’s menu plan also includes its helping hand service available to plan owners and their immediate family. Many claimants consider the emotional support they received through the service meant as much to them as their financial payout.”

All customers are offered support by RED ARC nurses at the time of their claim and the value of that support is rated so highly that nine out of 10 people who were contacted used the service.