The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has received and upheld fewer income protection-related complaints in the second quarter of its financial year than the previous quarter.
However, it received and upheld more private medical insurance (PMI) grievances over the same period, mirroring the trend from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published last month.
Overall health and protection insurance complaints accounted for less than 3% of the new caseload at the FOS.
The latest data for the 2022-23 financial year reveals there were 156 new income protection (IP) cases in the second quarter of the year, 70 of which were referred to the ombudsman for a decision with 17% upheld.
This compared to 171 new cases in the first quarter of the year, 72 of which were referred and 19% upheld.
Across the same period in the private medical or dental category, there were 354 new cases, 123 referred for a decision and 15% upheld, compared with 307 new cases, 87 referred and 10% upheld earlier in the year.
The same percentage (11%) of complaints were upheld in the critical illness category with 118 new cases and 21 referred in Q2, compared with 94 new cases and 17 referred in the first quarter of the year.
There was also a decline in complaints upheld in term assurance cases, with 12% upheld in Q2, compared with 15% in Q1, with 195 new cases and 83 referred and 237 new cases and 42 referred respectively in Q2 and Q1.
Finally, in the whole of life assurance non-reviewable category, there were 118 new cases, 28 referred and 16% upheld in Q2, compared with 98 new cases, 20 referred and 18% upheld in Q1.
For whole of life assurance reviewable, there were 145 new cases, 55 referred and 19% upheld in the second quarter of the year, compared with 127 new cases, 40 referred and 21% upheld in the first quarter of the year.
Overall, the service received 38,470 new complaints in Q2, up from 35,029 new complaints in Q1, with current accounts, credit cards and motor insurance accounting for the most complained about products.