Aegon blames crunch for jump in IP claims for stress

The insurer says it saw a 12% jump in claims for stress and depression-related conditions last year compared with 2007. "We can see a number of trends in our figures and the results show a rise in claims in these areas," Aegon claims manager Helen Morris says. "It could be that this increase is linked to the current financial climate." Aegon says it paid 93% of IP claims in 2008, with non-disclosure the reason for all declined claims. It announces it has launched a website - Understanding Claims - for advisers and consumers to help avoid non-disclosure. The site (click here) features ...