Scottish Provident paid out £90 million to critical illness policyholders last year.

During 91% of all critical illness claims were paid, with 2% of claims declined for non-disclosure.

The average pay out was £82,000, with the largest at just over £945,000.

Cancer remained the top reason for making a critical illness claim, accounting for over half of all claims. A total of 33 different types of cancer were claimed for and a third of all cancer claims were for breast cancer.

Jennifer Gilchrist, senior product development manager, Scottish Provident said: “With breast cancer accounting for a third of our cancer claims