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<\/a>Craig Parker<\/strong>, General Manager of risk-specialist licensee Affinia, has called on advisers to step up and advocate for their clients at claim time.<\/p>\n Mr Parker said the proportion of disability and income protection insurance claims had been steadily increasing over the past decade, and with it the demand for support services for clients lodging these claims.<\/p>\n \u201cAdvisers are spending more of their time now than ever managing claims on behalf of their clients for \u2018living\u2019 insurance. The recent reporting by all major life insurance companies of large increases in claims on disability and income protection rather than traditional end of life insurance demonstrates the opportunity advisers can bring to consumers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He also pointed to figures from Affinia\u2019s partner, TAL, which show that this trend is likely to continue, with the take-up of \u2018living\u2019 insurance cover at an all-time high.<\/p>\n \u201cDisability cover and income protection over the past decade have become more popular as consumers consider the impact of not being able to work again. Trauma\/critical illness cover in more recent years is also being taken up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe result is that the ratio of living to death benefits now sits at an historic high at 2.5:1.\u201d<\/p>\n The increased involvement of lawyers in claims is worrying<\/p><\/blockquote>\n But he warned that advisers who did not provide claims support services could be doing themselves, and their clients, a disservice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe increased involvement of lawyers in claims is worrying because this is a role advisers should be performing on behalf of their clients. The involvement of a lawyer will not influence the decision of an insurer. Claims advocacy is the role of the adviser.<\/p>\n \u201cThe legal profession may not have the same intimate knowledge of a client\u2019s (and their family\u2019s) personal and financial situation as the adviser does. Nor do they hold the same strong relationship with insurance companies or the understanding of the intricacies of each specific product a client may have.<\/p>\n