AIG Life paid 91.4% of critical illness claims it received in 2015, up on the previous year, and paid over £15.6m to its customers.

The average age of our claimants was 45 years old and the biggest claim paid was £720,000. Cancer made up the biggest percentage of claims paid at 53% although child claims made up 14% of all claims. Of the claims declined, 4.3% didn’t meet AIG Life’s definition of the condition they were claiming against and 4.3% were declined as a result of misrepresentation.

The top three medical conditions suffered by AIG Life policyholders continue to be cancer, heart attack and stroke, and amounted to 78% of critical illness claims paid.

Commenting on the statistics, John Downes, Head of Claims & Underwriting at AIG Life, said: “We are delighted to support our customers when they need us the most. The percentage paid is in keeping with the maturity of our portfolio. As well as the major causes of claim you would expect to hear of, we also paid claims where people have suffered with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, cardiomyopathy, encephalitis or where someone has been in a coma – outlining the breadth of coverage we offer.”

In addition to critical illness claims paid, 60 customers also accessed AIG Life’s unique Claims Support Fund which pays up to £300 for services that support the person covered or their family while we are processing a valid claim. Most support payments were made to customers to manage the cost of attending hospital appointments. However, AIG Life also supported the purchase of motorised chairs to aid standing/sitting, nutritional advice for a multiple sclerosis claimant and additional rehabilitation following heart surgery.

Continuing, Downes added: “These are the real people stories. These customers need funds often at short notice and we are proud that AIG Life offers this unique support.”

AIG also paid out 90% of life insurance claims received, totalling £19.1m.

To find out more about AIG Life’s critical illness products, please see our product page