Aegon UK has revealed that 86% of its child critical illness (CI) claims are for cancer in a bid to raise awareness.
The insurer has shared its claims information on child critical illness for the first time to promote International Childhood Cancer Day on Saturday 15 February.
Of all the CI claims for children received by Aegon in 2013, 86% were for cancer.
Meanwhile two-fifths (39%) of these claims were for malignant brain tumours, 28% were for leukaemia and the remainder were for other forms of cancer.
John Wilkinson, protection director at Aegon UK, said: "Sadly our claims have included all ages from a child of one to a teenager of 16. While money cannot compensate for the suffering it enables the family to concentrate more on supporting their child.
"Without the additional money trips to hospital with expensive parking, taking time off work and organising childcare for other children are a financial burden which just adds to the stress of the situation."
The insurer said that people often forget to consider the length of treatment, the need to take regular time off work, expensive parking at hospitals, travel costs and buying snacks and food in hospital.
Wilkinson continued: "The value of a CI policy that extends to children cannot be underestimated and most CI providers offer some level of cover for children. Recognising the importance of this we improved our CI policy definitions for children in January."
Aegon's CI policy now includes two children's definitions - children's death benefit (£5,000) and children's critical illness protection - which is the lower of 50 per cent of the benefit amount or £25,000 and applicable to children up to age 18 or 21 if in full time education.
