declined claims

Bupa has revealed that 2% of critical illness claims were declined due to non-disclosure between January and September 2009, compared to 8.6% in the same period in 2008.

The provider, which is now five years old, paid out £7.5m in benefits to customers between 01/01/09 and 31/10/09.

Standard Life cut the number of critical illness claims declined in 2006 by more than half compared to 2005, following improved questions and additional warnings on forms, claims the insurer.

Buying protection insurance through a financial adviser does not reduce the risk of claims being declined by insurers, according to research from Prudential.