Friends Prov boosts group IP offering

A quicker underwriting process and increased free cover limits are two of a number of upgrades Friends Provident has made to its group income protection (GIP) offering.

The firm has introduced OneTouch underwriting, which promises policyholders will never have to be underwritten again for the life of their plan regardless of changes to benefits.

Friends says combining OneTouch with its tele-interview process, staffed by qualified nurses, has reduced the average processing time to half an hour.

Additionally, the insurer has increased standard maximum benefits from £250,000 to £300,000 and the standard maximum free cover limit from £100,000 to £120,000.

It says its actively at-work requirements have also been relaxed, meaning more members can be covered if they return to work and making it easier to transfer a scheme.

"It will save intermediaries time and enable employers to set up their GIP scheme in a quick, simple and hassle-free way," Declan White, Friends' head of group risk says.

OneTouch underwriting is available for all unit rate schemes and single premium covered cases with more than 20 members. For those not covered, forward underwriting limits have been improved with increases of up to 10% in any year allowed.