Zurich has announced that its critical illness claims paid rate remained unchanged last year.
The provider declined 9% of claims made, with 1% due to non-disclosure and 8% by the condition not meeting the definition, matching totals for 2008.
However, the number of claims paid rose to 814 (an increase of 68 or 9%) from the previous year, and means that figure has climbed 28% from 584 in 2005.
The amount paid out also increased 6.5%, with £62.3m in 2009 compared to £58.5m in 2008.
Cancer remains the most common condition accounting for 48 % of total critical illness claims paid in 2009, followed by heart attack while stroke has replaced multiple sclerosis as the third most frequent.
Phil Brown, underwriting and claims director at Zurich UK Life, said: "We are committed to supporting our customers in their hour of need by making their claims experience as smooth as possible.
"The fact that the number of claims paid continues to rise should help improve consumer confidence in the industry as well as raising awareness of the benefits of having some form of mortgage or family protection in place," he added.
