Skandia announces G-day strategy with tele-interviewing

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Skandia has announced its gender-neutral pipeline plans including the launch of tele-underwriting.

The strategy involves improved pricing, a new online application and changes to the underwriting process with tele-interviewing.

The changes are planned to come into effect on 5 November 2012 and gender-neutral rates will apply. Gender -specific applications must be received before 3 December to ensure they make it through the pipeline.

Skandia has also offered a Price Promise meaning that all gender-specific cases in the pipeline on 3 December will be offered the lower of the gender neutral and the gender specific price.

All cases remaining on gender-specific rates must be issued before 21 December.

Ian Jefferies, head of protection at Skandia, said: "We do not think advisers will have any problems with the dates we have set. For 60% of our pricing points the gender-neutral price will be lower anyway.

""It is important that customers and advisers have certainty about the prices that will be applied to their policies and not have a New Year pipeline hang-over."

Adviser will also be able to submit business with Skandia online for clients to be tele-interviewed.

The process will be provided by Medicals Direct and will mean a trained professional asking the medical questions directly in a quick telephone interview.

Skandia said it will aim to shorten and speed up applications and remove the risk of non-disclosure.

Skandia is further increasing its non-medical and financial underwriting limit; any necessary further medical assessments will be done by nurse screening and with fewer General Practitioners' reports.

Jefferies said: "With the tele-interviewing there will only be a very short online application process so it will be easier and faster."

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