LV= has revealed that two-thirds of female cancer claims relate to breast cancer ahead of October's Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The figures showed that cancer as a whole was the most common reason for a critical illness claim, accounting for nearly three quarters (70%) of all female claims and half (50%) of all claims for males.
Two thirds (65%) of all LV= female cancer claims were for breast cancer with an average age of 45.
In comparison, the second most commonly claimed for conditions for women, heart attack and other heart related conditions, accounted for only 8% of all female claims.
In 2013 breast cancer claims alone accounted for nearly 20% of all the critical illness claims LV= paid out. The average payout for these claims came in at £81,438.
Myles Rix, managing director of protection at LV= said: "As one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime it's no surprise that we see such a high number of claims relating to this illness."
He added that while it was positive that cancer survival rates have significantly improved, it was important that people took out critical illness policies when they were healthy.
Aviva also recently named breast cancer as the 'most common' reason for critical illness claims.
