Legal & General paid £347m in claims across its group risk products in 2024, slightly below its total from 2023.
For group income protection (GIP) L&G paid 3,542 claims in 2024, with nearly £87m in benefits paid out. The average payout per claim in 2024 was £24,544, from from around £21,000 in 2023.
And the number of assessments supporting employees covered by group income protection, provided by its in-house team of multidisciplinary vocational clinical specialists increased from 4,129 in 2023 to 4,226 in 2024.
Cancer represented the top reason for claim, with 306 claimants and an average payout of £29,731.
L&G enabled 31% of individuals absent due to cancer to successfully return to work within the deferred period – and 36% within the first year of absence.
Mental health represented the next highest reason for claim, with 175 claimants and an average payout of £22,575.
Here, L&G supported 89% of individuals to successfully be able to return to work within the deferred period – and 91% within the first year of absence.
For group critical illness cover, £28m was paid out to 326 individuals, with an average payout of £85,745.
Within this figure, £358,750 was paid for claims for children, who are covered as standard when their parent is also covered as an employee.
Almost 1,300 claims were paid out on group life policies, with payments totalling £232m.
The average payout was £180,835.
Other support
The insurer noted almost 600 vocational rehabilitation assessments or treatments were provided by its specialist multidisciplinary partners, spanning psychiatry, physiotherapy, pain and fatigue, cancer and neurological.
It also reported a 20% increase in interactions with prevention-focused health and wellbeing support services, providing assistance across all group protection products, from 150,000 in 2023, to 188,000 in 2024.
It added that three-quarters (74%) of insured members were able to successfully be able to return to work within the deferred period and 78% returned to work within the first year of absence.
Working direct with clients
Vanessa Sallows, group protection claims and governance director – retail, L&G (pictured) said the insurer was developing its group income protection proposition by working “direct to client, post-sale and with the intermediary’s permission”.
“The goal is to help employers ensure prevention services are understood and used; suspected long-term absentees are being referred early for support; HR and line managers know that bespoke help is at hand for them too, from our vocational clinical specialists; outcomes are monitored, measured, managed and linked back to business goals, wherever possible,” she said.
“The claim will always represent the foundation of our business, affording essential peace of mind. And we’re proud to report today’s claims outcomes.
“But, when it comes to group income protection, the proposition has evolved in line with employer, employee and societal needs.
”It’s about early intervention, proactive claims management, care pathways, vocational rehabilitation and a return to work, where possible.
“It’s up to us – as an entire industry – to embrace and demonstrate this.”