This was up on the same period last year. The number of critical illness claims paid out in January-June 2011 was 515, compared with 787 in total for the full year to December 2010.
Of the total, 89% of claims were upheld. Of claims declined during this period - the first for which Zurich has announced six-month figures - 9.6% were due to the definition of the condition not being met.
And only 1% - 6 claims - was turned down as a result of non disclosure, a figure that has remained constant.
Phil Brown, head of protection and underwriting for Zurich UK Life, said: “The good news is that we have paid out more claims in the year to June 2011 than in the same period last year, and that those claims have been of a higher total value.
“It is also good to note that the number of claims declined for non-disclosure have remained constant, at 1%, year on year.
"It demonstrates that wherever a claim is legitimate we will accept it as swiftly as possible, making a huge difference to our customers and their families at a time of great need and often in the face of serious illness.”
Cancer remains the most common condition accounting for half of total critical illness claims paid during the first six months of 2011, as it was for the previous year.
This was followed by heart attack, making up 10 % of claims, followed by stroke (5%) multiple sclerosis (4 %).
Brown added: "The fact that so many claims are being paid underlines the great value of the critical illness product and what a difference it can make to people’s lives when they need it most.”
Zurich is now committed to publishing both six-monthly and annual critical illness claims figures in the future.
