Exeter Family Friendly has upgraded its range of income protection plans with a GP helpline, private prescription service and automatic medical evidence limits.
The 24/7 GP helpline is designed to give new and existing policyholders more convenient access to primary care, as is the private prescription service, which may be offered following the GP consultation; providing doorstep delivery of medication.
The third improvement, automatic medical evidence limits, mean Exeter Family will not require automatic medical evidence for customers under the age of 42, regardless of monthly benefit, on any of their plans.
Simon Philp, distribution and marketing director at the mutual, stated that the benefit of these additions are simple but significant.
“Our members won’t have to wait the days or sometimes weeks it can take to see their GP, they can simply pick up the phone and talk to an expert at their convenience. They can also choose to have a prescription delivered to their door, saving a trip to the doctors and the hassle that comes with it.”
He commented that for years, advisers have voiced their frustration that income protection is too slow and cumbersome to process. “Over the last year, we have made a number of important steps, including the integration of UnderwriteMe which provides 6 in 10 customers with an instant decision, to prove that with Exeter Family, this isn’t the case.”
Yesterday, FTAdviser revealed that the Association of British Insurers is lobbying for legislative changes to the way welfare is delivered to boost the provision of income protection through the workplace, as efforts continue to halt a slide in sales of what is seen as a critical financial planning product.
Helen White, head of protection at the ABI, said in general the trade body is looking for “some kind of legislative action from the next government or a future government that will lead to reforms in the welfare system and will make greater use of income protection insurance through the workplace part of that solution”.
peter.walker@ft.com
