Zurich enhances UK protection proposition
Zurich has increased the medical and financial underwriting limits on its protection proposition to help claimants get cover more quickly.
Phil Brown, head of protection and underwriting for Zurich UK Life, said the changes would mean a reduction in the number of medical examinations and reports required and cut the amount of information required.
On life cover, he said there were improvements to the thresholds where medical evidence is needed for applicants age 41 or more or applying for a new policy with Zurich.
For example for a customer aged 45, no medical evidence is needed if the sum assured is below £500,001 and there are no known medical conditions
For critical illness cover the thresholds have been improved for customers aged 36 or more. For example, for a customer aged 43, a doctor’s report will no longer be required for cover over £250,001 and instead the first requirement would be for a nurse screening once the cover applied for exceeds £300,001
He said there would be wider use of nurse screenings in place of a report from the customer’s doctor, to speed up the underwriting process.
The financial questionnaire threshold has also been raised for life cover from £1m to £1.5m.
Mr Brown said: “Our protection proposition is constantly evolving so that we can provide the best value and most comprehensive cover for our customers while streamlining the application process - making it easier for advisers to do business as well and enhancing the customer experience.”