Aegon- improved individual protection claims data in 2010

Aegon UK has published individual protection claims data showing 95% of life claims and 91% of critical illness claims were paid in 2010.

These figures are up from 92% and 88% respectively in 2009.

During 2010 the number of claims made increased by 5% for life and 13% for critical illness business.

Of the critical illness claims declined in 2010, 46% were due to deliberate non-disclosure, where the customer had failed to disclose important information, and 54% were due to the definition of the critical illness not being met.

Cancer continued to be the most common reason for a claim on life and critical illness, at 52% and 61% respectively.

Aegon attributed the high claims data in part to the ABI claims guidelines introduced in January 2008, saying they have "resulted in a considerable improvement in the number of successful claims across the industry."

Matt Rann, head of underwriting and claims at Aegon said: "The improvements made to our procedures in handling claims, together with the ABI changes, have led to far fewer claims being declined and we are hugely encouraged by this.

"We expect this trend of more successful claims to continue at AEGON. As our book of business matures, more claims start to arrive on older policies where the risk of non-disclosure is reduced.

The insurer added it was looking at improving the claims experience in the event that customers have to make a claim.