VitalityLife has made changes to its underwriting process to reduce the time it takes to receive decisions.
According to the life insurer, the changes will improve the efficiency of the underwriting process and make it simpler to take out a protection policy with the provider.
Vitality has introduced an ‘Evidence Analyser’ as one of two main changes being rolled out this month, which will enable the provider’s nurses to upload blood test results during a screening.
According to Vitality, the Evidence Analyser will interpret the results and provide an underwriting decision within minutes, and without the need for an underwriter’s manual review.
Additionally, the provider has introduced a pre-sales tool to give advisers immediate access to the likely underwriting decision for clients.
Advisers will be able to find out whether a client would be accepted, and whether they would receive a standard- or rated-rate at any time.
Vitality added that the digital tool will require no contact over telephone with underwriters to acquire an underwriting decision.
John Downes, director of underwriting at VitalityLife, said: “By introducing the VitalityLife pre-sales tool for advisers and Evidence Analyser as part of the screening process, we are able to significantly cut down the time it takes to receive an underwriting decision, making the process much more efficient and ultimately giving more time back to advisers.
“Our improved underwriting forms part of our overall approach to making our Life offering simpler and easier for advisers.”
Vitality said it was also committing to making underwriting decisions within a working day, improving access to underwriting with decisions available between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, and ensuring easier access to its underwriters by providing advisers the option to discuss feedback on all cases.
John Nelmes, director of Cavendish Online, said: “The new system is particularly both simple and smooth to use and quickly provides a good indication of Vitality’s underwriting. As a result advisers can feel confident in quoting them to clients.”
chloe.cheung@ft.com
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