Royal Liver has launched the UK's first online family income benefit plan as part of its flagship Progress service.
The plan allows intermediaries to utilise straight through processing facilities for online quotes and applications and potentially place business on risk within minutes through The Exchange's portal.
Up until now, family income benefit has only been available in paper form and the move to 'eonly' processing is in keeping with Royal Liver's Progress protection service, which itself is only available electronically.
New underwriting rules will also permit advisers to get more applicants on risk more quickly due to the higher benefit levels allowed before a medical is requested.
Since Progress was launched in October 2004, only 2% of cases have required a medical.
"Traditonal paper-based methods can be costly and inefficient.
By adding family income benefit to our menu- based service we are speeding up the new business process for this type of plan," said Andy Milburn, IFA marketing manager at Royal Liver.
The Liverpool-based provider also announced improvements to their online underwriting processes which it claims will allow clients to take out more cover with less administration.
Advisers have the opportunity to suggest a different calculation method, if they think it is justified, as the insurer attempts to develop a more flexible approach to underwriting.
Royal Liver has also adapted its online HIV questions to avoid asking intrusive questions about sexual orientation and conform with the latest guidance from the Association of British Insurers.
"In addition to the previous removal of automatic GP report limits, the improvements we have made to progressive underwriting will help advisers get even more business on risk as the assessment is based on higher quality underwriting questions and less red tape," said Debbie Smith, chief under writer at Royal Liver.
