Psychiatric conditions dominate Aviva’s IP claims

by Gill Montia

Story link: Psychiatric conditions dominate Aviva’s IP claims

Aviva’s income protection (IP) cover provided payments totalling over £29.5 million in 2011, with psychiatric conditions topping the list of claims by volume.

More than one in four IP claims (28%) involved psychiatric conditions – moderate depression was the most common (28%), followed by anxiety (15%) and stress (12%).

Orthopaedic conditions took second place (21%) and neurological disorders (18%) made up the top three.

Last year, the average age for the start of a claim was “surprisingly low”, according to Aviva, at 45 for men and 43 for women.

The figures also show that nearly half of the insurer’s individual IP customers currently receiving benefit have been in claim for over 10 years.

Aviva UK Health head of income protection, Will Kentish, comments: “As the Government’s changes in Employment Support Allowance take effect, we’d encourage people to consider how they can ensure a regular income for as long as they would need, if they were prevented or restricted from working due to illness or injury.”

Aviva paid over 91% of IP claims in 2011.