Recent changes to insurer underwriting restrictions and limits

 

The pandemic restrictions have begun to be eased over the last few months as the vaccine roll-out has been ramped up, so we’ve seen insurers gradually update and remove some of the stricter underwriting terms first imposed last year when COVID-19 struck. In many cases this has involved re-introducing some of the highest possible ratings, to enable terms to be offered to clients with chronic and more serious medical conditions. Alongside those changes, several insurers have also reviewed and updated their general non-medical underwriting limits, to increase the levels at which medical evidence is automatically requested. In this ‘7 things you should read’ we’ve pulled together some of our recent insights on the easing of COVID underwriting restrictions and non-medical limits.

 

Contents:

• Aviva remove underwriting restrictions as pandemic eases
• Royal London remove underwriting restrictions as pandemic eases
• Legal & General remove majority of Covid underwriting restrictions
• Scottish Widows take a refreshing new approach to loosening underwriting restrictions
• What are the details of AIG’s easing of COVID underwriting restrictions?
• LV= increase life insurance non-medical underwriting limits
• How do The Exeter’s new income first non-medical underwriting limits compare?

 

Aviva remove underwriting restrictions as pandemic eases

Back in May, Aviva announced that they will be easing their underwriting stance in two areas, due to “progress now being made with the vaccination programme and declining COVID-19 infections in the UK”. The changes mainly affected those with chronic medical conditions, who will now hopefully find it slightly easier to obtain terms.

To read more click here

 

Royal London remove underwriting restrictions as pandemic eases

Royal London announced at the end of May that they would be removing the bulk of their underwriting restrictions, imposed last year in response to COVID-19, “due to the improving picture in the UK and the progress of the vaccination programme”. The changes apply across their core life, critical illness and income protection products and mostly affect those with chronic conditions or serious medical disclosures, who should now find it easier to obtain cover.

To read more click here

 

Legal & General remove majority of Covid underwriting restrictions

Legal & General announced in June that they were removing the majority of their temporary underwriting restrictions, imposed as a result of COVID-19, the latest insurer to announce such a move. The most significant change for advisers will have been the removal of all maximum rating restrictions, which previously had meant that clients with more serious medical disclosures may have been postponed cover where the underwriting decision resulted in a rating. 

To read more click here

 

Scottish Widows take a refreshing new approach to loosening underwriting restrictions

Scottish Widows became the latest insurer to loosen restrictions on underwriting in June but became the first insurer to announce a dual approach depending on whether the client has been fully vaccinated. Their new process will affect only those in the ‘high risk’ or ‘clinically vulnerable’ groups.

To read more click here

 

What are the details of AIG’s easing of COVID underwriting restrictions?

AIG announced at the end of June that they’d removed the majority of their underwriting restrictions imposed like many insurers in response to the pandemic last year. We looked in more detail at what these changes meant, what types of clients they might affect and what final restrictions remain in place.

To read more click here

 

LV= increase life insurance non-medical underwriting limits

In a welcome move that should help improve access to cover and make the application process a little easier, LV= announced at the beginning of July an increase to the non-medical underwriting limits on their Life Insurance products. The new limits will apply to their Flexible Protection Plan, Relevant Life Cover, Gift Inter-Vivos and Family Income Benefit life products.

To read more click here

 

How do The Exeter’s new income first non-medical underwriting limits compare?

We covered in detail recently the launch of The Exeter’s new Income First product, which replaced their previous Pure Protection Plus and Income One Plus plans and offers a number of new and unique features. As well as the product changes, The Exeter have also updated and improved their non-medical underwriting limits, which we took a closer look at in this insight and compared to the rest of the market.

To read more click here 

 

 

Look out for future “Everything you need to know” articles where each week we will cover a different topic and provide you with the information you need to know to discuss the topics with your clients. 

 

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