Aviva paid out more than £140m in critical illness (CI) and life insurance claims during the first half of the year.
The insurer says it paid 744 CI claims - 89% of those received - totalling almost £60m and a further £82m to the families of relatives who had died or been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The average CI payout was £80,429.
The number of claims declined for non-disclosure of medical facts at the policy's outset was 2%, the same as the full year 2008, while the number declined due to the definition not being met was 9%.
"Critical illness and life policies are the type of policy nobody wishes to need to claim against, yet evidence shows these are vitally important policies that can support families and secure their financial well-being during the worst of times," Aviva chief underwriter Michael Whyte says.
"We are proud that we can make a difference to these families when they need it most, removing financial worries so that they can focus on what is most important to them."
