Scepticism seems to be part and parcel of our current society and it is not necessarily without reason. We regularly read about big corporations refusing to pay their clients because of legal loop holes and expensive lawyers paid to find them. Businesses have two goals the first is to make money and the second is to keep it; such knowledge has led many consumers to be weary of purchasing various forms of insurance, life insurance is no exception.

After calculating the various risks associated with you and your person a life insurance provider will quote you a premium that they feel correlates with their calculations. Their calculations are based on mountains of statistical data that has been aggregated over the years and includes a number of hypothesising features. The problem with data is that it is basically a collation of numbers, it doesn't allow for human behaviour, ignorance or the simple elements that surround us. This could be why between 2000 and 2007 Scottish Widows insurance group paid out a gobsmacking £150 million to over 4,540 customers who fell victim to a critical illness.

Such news has a number of implications, on the one hand it highlights the increase in numbers of individuals suffering from critical illnesses, while at the same time it highlights that insurers are honouring their side of the agreement. In the event that you do contract a critical illness the last thing you want to worry about is how you are going to afford the necessary care or how you and your family are going to fare without your financial contribution. Rather you will want to focus all your active energy on getting better and remaining positive in the face of such life altering news.

These are but a few of the reasons why sourcing the best life insurance cover for you and your loved ones is of potent importance. The data provided by Scottish Widows may be reflective of the whole life insurance sector. This should provide a sense of comfort for those that have previously refrained from obtaining life insurance based on the belief that in the event of a claim the insurer will simply find a legal loop hole to opt out of paying them the sum agreed.

In the year of 2007 alone, nearly £30 million was paid out on just under 850 critical illness claims, this goes to show just how vital necessary cover is for you and your family and that death is not the only aspect of life you need to prepare for. In the UK the majority of critical illnesses, a massive ninety five percent of claims fell into only five categories, the top being cancer, followed by heart related illnesses and finally strokes.

Individuals that have suffered from a stroke will testify to not only its immediate impact but also the lasting elements of the event, this can manifest itself in a number of ways. For some its limited mobility, for others it is memory loss, while others find it difficult to articulate thoughts and sentiments. These are the aspects of illness that go untold and make it difficult if not impossible for many sufferers to return to work after treatment.

Knowledge is proclaimed to be power, maybe this is why Scottish Widows chose to publicise their data and the implications of the information found within the numbers. Now that individuals know the hard hitting impact critical illness can have on their lives and that of their dependants and loved ones, they will not only ruminate on the benefits of life insurance but actually take the necessary steps to purchasing such protection.