Aviva has released previously unseen figures from its critical illness (CI), income protection (IP) and private medical insurance (PMI) claims statistics.
The data, released ahead of World Cancer day on 4 February, shows 66%) of critical illness claims are for cancer.
Diagnosis and medical treatments for cancer account for around a fifth of the cost of all claims on PMI policies.
In 2012 the insurer paid out more than £77 million to almost 1,000 critical illness customers diagnosed with cancer.
Over the same period, Aviva also paid claims to 157 individual income protection customers with cancer, with an average monthly benefit of £914 per month.
Similarly, more than £69m was paid out to cover the cost of cancer diagnosis and treatment for over 7,000 PMI customers in 2012, equating to an average treatment cost of £9,857 per customer.
The two most common cancers claimed for under PMI are breast and prostate, accounting for 44% of all cancer claims.
Craig Colton, protection director for Aviva says: "Sadly we know that the number of people with cancer is rising in the UK, with now more than 330,000 people being diagnosed each year.
"Fortunately the outlook is improving with survival rates doubling over the last 40 years.
The top ten cancers claimed for under Aviva's CI cover are:
1. Breast
2. Gastro-intestinal (e.g. bowel, stomach cancers)
3. Skin
4. Haematological (e.g. leukaemia, blood cancers)
5. Gynaecological (e.g. ovarian, cervical cancers)
6. Prostate
7. Testicular
8. Thyroid
9. Head and neck
10. Kidney
The average age of CI claimants for cancers is 46 for men and 44 for women.
