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."
