Zurich paid £360m in individual protection claims in 2024 to more than 5,907 claimants, up by 7% from the £336m paid in 2023.
In all the insurer paid £220.2m in life insurance claims to 3,482 claimants, paying 99.8% of claims made.
In addition, £23.5m was paid for 199 terminal illness claims, with a 90% approval rate.
This was up by just over 7% or £16.4m from the combined £227.3m paid in 2023.
Critical illness and children’s cover
A further £109.7m was paid out in 1,352 critical illness claimants with 90% approved. The three main causes of claim were cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions.
This was up almost 7% from the £102.6m in CI claims paid in 2023.
In 2024 there were also 75 children’s cover claims totalling £1.3m with 96% approval. The main cause of claim were cancer, cardiovascular and then other conditions.
Income protection
In all, £4.8m was paid in 395 IP claims which was slightly lower than the £5.3m in 2023, and the insurer approved 95.8% of all IP claims, including those already in payment.
Mental illness, neurological disorders and neurotrauma, and musculoskeletal conditions were the three main reasons for claiming.
And there were 404 multi-fracture claims paid totalling £1.7m, with 96% approved.
Zurich UK head of claims retail protection Claire Curley said: “These figures show that at the moment of truth, we’re here for our customers and their families during challenging times.
“Individual protection remains a vital support for people and can make an enormous difference at what is often the most difficult moment in someone’s life. We’re really proud to be standing by our customers when they need us most.”