Friends Provident has introduced a number of upgrades to its group income protection (GIP) product. It now offers a quicker underwriting process and increased free cover limits.
OneTouch underwriting means that policyholders will never have to be underwritten again for the life of their plan, regardless of changes to benefits. The firm says that combining OneTouch with its tele-interview process, which is staffed by qualified nurses, has reduced the average processing time to half an hour.
Further, the insurer has increased standard maximum benefits from £250,000 to £300,000 and the standard maximum free cover limit from £100,000 to £120,000. It has also relaxed its actively at-work requirements which means more members can be covered if they return to work and it will be easier to transfer a scheme.
Declan White, Friends' head of group risk, said: "It will save intermediaries time and enable employers to set up their GIP scheme in a quick, simple and hassle-free way."




