When it comes to financial protection, trust is everything. Whether you’re protecting your income, your family, or your business, you need to know that your policy will actually pay out if something goes wrong.
At Red Star Financial Services, we only work with protection providers who consistently prove their reliability – not just in the fine print, but when the worst happens. That’s why Guardian’s recently published 2024 Claims Report caught our attention. It’s a transparent, reassuring document that gives real insight into how they treat their customers in difficult times.
Spoiler alert: they did exceptionally well.
🔍 £21.34 Million Paid in 2024 – A 40% Increase on the Previous Year
Guardian reported that in 2024, they paid out over £21 million in protection claims. That’s an increase of more than 40% compared to their 2023 figures (£15.33 million). The total number of claims also grew significantly — 238 successful claims in 2024, up from 150 the year before.
It’s not just the size of the payouts that impresses us. It’s the consistency and clarity behind them.
✅ Life Cover: 100% of Claims Paid
Guardian paid every single life claim they received in 2024 – a flawless 100% payout rate. This totalled £6.72 million across 50 individual cases, with an average payout of £134,000.
The claimants ranged from 27 to 68 years old, showing how important life cover can be at any stage in life. The majority of claims were for men (72%) – something that often reflects trends in occupation, health and lifestyle rather than underwriting bias.
The causes of death included:
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60% natural causes
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24% cancer
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8% accidents
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8% suicide
This data highlights that unforeseen tragedies can happen to anyone. Life insurance isn’t just about preparing for old age – it’s about protecting your loved ones from life’s unpredictability, at any stage of your journey.
⚡ Payout Planner – Getting Money to Families Faster
One feature that sets Guardian apart is their Payout Planner tool, a unique policy benefit that allows life policyholders to nominate beneficiaries directly within the policy. This enables Guardian to pay the money outside of probate – which is often a major delay for grieving families.
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70% of new life policies included a Payout Planner nomination
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56% of life claims in 2024 were paid using it
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On average, families received their money 4 months faster
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Fastest payout: just 7 days
For families who are already navigating bereavement, eliminating the lengthy probate process can make a world of difference.
This isn’t just a nice-to-have feature — it’s a powerful example of how forward-thinking design can create a better, more compassionate experience for clients.
💥 Critical Illness & Children’s Cover – Strong Payouts and Honest Reporting
Guardian also demonstrated strong performance in critical illness claims. In 2024, they paid:
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92% of adult critical illness claims – £9.07 million
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100% of children’s critical illness claims – £643,000
Not every insurer is this open about the claims they didn’t pay. Guardian is. And that matters.
In cases where a claim wasn’t paid, they’ve published the reasons why – most commonly:
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The policyholder didn’t meet the medical definition of the condition.
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The diagnosis occurred outside the claimable timeframe.
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The illness wasn’t included in the policy’s defined list.
This sort of transparency is exactly what we want to see from providers. It also underlines the importance of expert advice – making sure clients understand exactly what they’re covered for and where any grey areas may exist.
💬 Why This Matters to Our Clients
Protection insurance isn’t just a checkbox – it’s a financial safety net, a future lifeline, and in many cases, a family’s only shield from financial hardship following an unexpected tragedy. That’s why, at Red Star, we don’t just pick providers based on cost. We focus on value, quality, and trustworthiness.
Guardian’s 2024 performance ticks every box:
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High claim acceptance rates
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Transparent reporting
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Innovative features like Payout Planner
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Strong customer support through services like HALO – their post-claim support network
As advisers, this kind of data gives us confidence when recommending Guardian to clients. We know they have your back when it really counts.
🛡️ The Bigger Picture – Your Protection Needs
It’s easy to think “that won’t happen to me.” But as Guardian’s data shows, people make claims every day – and the average claimant in 2024 wasn’t elderly or infirm. They were everyday people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who faced unexpected events.
Whether it’s life cover, critical illness, or income protection, the right policy with the right provider can be the difference between financial stability and deep uncertainty.
👋 How Red Star Can Help
At Red Star Financial Services Ltd, we help individuals, families, and business owners find protection that suits their real needs – and we only recommend insurers we truly trust. Guardian is one of them.
If you’d like a free review of your current cover or need advice on putting protection in place, we’re here to help.
📞 Call us today to speak to one of our experienced advisers.
💻 Or visit: www.redstarfs.com to book your consultation.