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The protection specialist will now provide £5m of life cover, compared with the £2m previously available, and has also increased the level of critical illness cover available from £500,000 to £1m.

The changes, which will take effect from 28 July 2008, are part of an overall investment in the insurer's systems and processes that Roger Edwards, product director of Bright Grey, said would speed up the underwriting process for larger cases and help customers get cover more quickly.

The protection arm of the Royal London group has also introduced a dedicated team of senior dealing exclusively with large cases.

Mr Edwards said this would provide greater support for intermediaries, ensuring submissions were dealt with quickly and efficiently.

He said: "Following the successful introduction of our reinsurer independent underwriting system, interactive quote and apply these enhancements reflect and build upon market trends, such as the requirement for greater levels of cover from individuals as well as businesses."

Mr Edwards also said Bright Grey had extended the time customers have to return their confirmation form, from 30 days to 60, to ensure they have adequate time to check the information that is submitted.

Matt Morris, policy adviser for protection intermediary Lifesearch, said he thought all the changes were positive but the extended time for returning information could raise the issue of ongoing duty of disclosure.

This is where clients are responsible for informing providers if their health has changed between submitting information and being put on risk, which Legal & General abolished this last year.

Mr Morris said: "If that is an extra month to send back the form then is an extra month for the client's health to change so I would be interested to see what Bright Grey's policy is on this."