DORSET’S LV= has paid out more than £19million in Covid claims since the pandemic began two years ago – including 1,400 involving a death.

The figures were made up of life insurance, critical illness and income protection claims to the mutual organisation, headquartered at County Gates.

LV= said it paid its first Covid-related claim on March 16, 2020, and since then has paid nearly 2,000 pandemic-related claims. The 1,400 claims related to a death totalled £18m, with the youngest policy holder aged just 32 and the average age 64.

Anna Rogers, head of underwriting and Claims at LV=, said: “As we pass the second anniversary of the initial COVID-19 lockdown on March 23, 2020, our claims experience demonstrates the far reaching impact the pandemic has had on our policyholders and families across the UK.

“Not only have people been affected directly by the virus, millions are still dealing with the impact of lockdowns, such as coping with isolation and financial worries.

“At LV=, we strongly believe that contemporary protection insurance is not only about paying claims; it’s about supporting customers from day one, when they are at their most vulnerable and providing emotional and practical support when they need it.”

The protection business – which is not related to the general insurance business based at the same offices – paid out more than £427,000 in 550 claims from people with a personal sick pay or income protection policy.

The top occupations to claim were nurses, care assistants, carpenters, warehouse and factory workers.

LV= said it was supporting several income protection claimants through the effects of long-Covid.

More than 300 members have been supported through the LV= payment break option, which gives payment breaks for up to three months to members in financial distress. Policy holders are still able to claim during the payment break.

In April 2021, LV= became the first major insurer to remove pandemic underwriting restrictions for protection policies, as the Covid death rate improved amid the vaccination programme.