Friends Life has re-launched its group protection proposition which integrates the previous Bupa Health Assurance and Friends Provident offerings.
The new proposition hosts a full product range including group life, group income protection and group critical illness.
It also includes a flexible benefit option supported by a range of services such as an employer and employee assistance programme from Workplace Options, Best Doctors second medical opinion service and a 24-hour seven-days-a-week health information service provided by Bupa HealthLine.
The provider currently has 6,000 group schemes with more than 600,000 customers in force.
These schemes will be given the choice to switch to the new offering at rate review, but can also maintain their present situation if preferred.
Declan White, group protection marketing manager at Friends Life, told COVER he felt the launch was a strong proposition with several enhancements on previous products.
"We've looked at both products and enhanced our offering to the market," he said.
"That will be, for example, improved terms and condition on group income protection such as free cover levels and limited payment terms and also Bupa Healthline available across all products.
"From today all quotations will be on the new proposition," he added.
Steve Payne, managing director of protection at Friends Life, added: "Protection is central to Friends Life's strategy, and today we are announcing the successful integration and relaunch of our group protection business.
"We have a significant market presence, and a strong new suite of group protection products to support all of our partners effectively."
