Aegon UK has today published claims data which shows an increase in the value of life protection and critical illness (CI) claims paid in 2013.
Aegon paid 93.18% of CI claims, an increase of just over 2% since 2012.
The amount paid for CI claims increased by 37% from £24.3m in 2012 to £33.2m in 2013.
Of the CI claims declined in 2013, more than half (56%) were due to the definition not being met and the remainder (44%) were due to misrepresentation.
Five illnesses - cancer, heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis and benign brain tumour - represented almost 90% of CI claims.
However, cancer accounted for 62% of CI claims in 2013, followed by heart attacks (12%) and strokes (8%). The average age at claim for CI was 48 years old.
Meanwhile the value Aegon UK paid out for life claims increased by 25% from £43.8m in 2012 to £54.9m in 2013, while 94% of life claims paid in 2013.
This remained broadly in line with 2012 figures which were 94.1%, Aegon UK said.
Of the life claims that were declined in 2013, 93% were declined due to misrepresentation and 7% were due to the definition not being met.
Cancer continued to be the most common cause of death in a life claim (43%), followed by cardiovascular (24%) conditions.
Dougy Grant, protection director at Aegon UK (pictured) said: "The research we carried out last year highlighted one of the key barriers to people buying protection was their lack of trust in providers to pay claims. Our claims figures continue to be strong and consistent.
"We continue to work closely with advisers and their clients to minimise the occurrences of misrepresentation and continue to streamline the process of paying claims through our tele-claims service which was launched in 2009."
Aegon UK said the figures were compiled using ABI guidance for calculating claims statistics.
