Zurich increased the percentage of critical illness claims paid out in the first half of the 2013 compared to the same period last year.

94% of customer claims were successful with payments paid to the value of £34.5 million. This compares to 90% for the same period in 2012 worth £32.7m.

Between January and June 2013, Zurich paid out to 409 customers compared to 411 for the same period in 2012. 5% of claims were declined because the definition of the applicant’s condition was not met – compared to 7.5% during H1 2012. 0.7% of claims were declined for non-disclosure of medical information compared to 1.5% last year.

The largest claim paid out over the period was for £1 million. The top 4 reasons for claims were cancer (60%), heart attack (11%), stroke (10%) and multiple sclerosis (6%).

Rhys Dudding, European chief claims officer at Zurich, said: “We are incredibly proud of these statistics which show even more valid claims have been paid out to our customers. Work across the industry, with advisers and our customers, to simplify claims and stress the importance of sharing as much information as possible when buying a policy, is paying off – with fewer claims being declined.

“The difference that these payments make to our customers’ lives often mean their being able to focus on their recovery while their finances are taken care of -instead of the burden of financial worries brought about through being seriously ill.

“The chance of developing a critical illness before the age of 65 is around one in five – so we cannot stress enough the importance of putting the right financial protection in place.”