Zurich pays out 92pc of CI claims

The number of critical illness claims Zurich paid out in the whole of 2011 totalled 796, compared with 787 in total for the full year to December 2010.

Of claims declined during this period, 6.8% were due to the definition of the condition not being met.

Just 1.8% of claims, eight claims, were declined for non-disclosure. This figure has remained constant over the past three years with Zurich.

The largest single claim paid out was for £1.1m.

Cancer remained the most common reason for a claim at 58%, up from 50% in 2010 and 48% in 2009.

This was followed by a heart attack at 9.1% down from 11.9% in 2010 and 12.9% in 2009.

Stroke followed at 5.9% and multiple sclerosis at 3.8%.

These figures follow Bright Grey’s announcement on Monday that it paid out 91% of claims in the last six months of 2011.

Phil Brown, head of protection and Underwriting for Zurich UK Life, said: “It is very positive is that we continue to pay out on a significant level of valid claims, many of those at high value, and that Zurich paid out in 92% of claims in 2011.

“With the number of claims declined for non-disclosure remaining at a constant figure, at around 1%, over a number of years, it is clear that wherever a claim is legitimate Zurich will accept it as swiftly as possible through a process that is straightforward.

“We know that this makes a big difference to customers and their families at a time when they are in need of financial and practical support.”