Aviva has reduced the number of doctor reports requested for life insurance applications by 60%.
The provider says this has been achieved by using nurses and underwriters to capture extra medical information.
It is placing the emphasis on underwriters to make faster and better decisions, which are often not helped by collecting doctors' reports.
The initiative's benefits include:
• Customers are getting cover quicker, due to reduced application time;
• Advisers spend less time on administration;
• Saves money on doctor reports;
• Reduces demands on GPs.
Whilst Aviva will continue to need doctors reports for some applicants to offer the fairest and most competitive terms, these initiatives will keep these to an absolute minimum.
Richard Verdin, protection director, at Aviva, says: "One of the main delays experienced when setting up life insurance policies is gaining evidence from a customer's doctor, which in a large number of cases doesn't even change the underwriting decision.
"This can be slow, due to the level of other work GP's have, and providing this information understandably can be less of a priority to a GP."
