Cancer remains the main cause of claims for life insurance and serious illness cover claims, according to the Irish Life company.

It accounted for 44% of life assurance claims and 58% of specified illness cover claims to Irish Life in 2013.

Heart-related conditions accounted for 16% of life insurance claims and 22% of illness cover claims.

Breast and prostate cancer were the main types of cancer claims made to Irish Life in 2013.

Breast cancer accounted for over 50% of all specified illness cover claims to the company last year.

Prostate cancer represented 34% of specified illness cover claims for men.

Cancer accounted for more than half of life insurance claims for women and 41% for men.

Under serious illness policies, insurance companies pay out a cash sum for certain specified conditions.

According to Irish Life, these sums can be as high as six figures in some cases of serious illness cover.