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Underwriting is the process insurers use to decide whether they can offer you life insurance, what kind of cover they can provide, and on what terms.
It’s based on the information you share in your application, including your health, lifestyle and job. The outcome affects both the policy and the price.
Working with a protection insurance broker can help make this process easier to understand.
From preparing your application to managing follow-ups, a protection advisor can guide you through each stage and explain what different providers may be looking for.
Why Insurers Use Underwriting
Insurers use underwriting to assess risk. When someone applies for life insurance, the insurer looks at the chances of them making a claim.
If the risk appears low, they’re more likely to offer standard cover with no extra conditions.
If there’s more to consider, such as a medical condition or high-risk job, they may ask more questions, apply exclusions, or increase the premium.
This is how insurers keep policies sustainable and fair. Each application is assessed individually, and the outcome reflects your personal circumstances.
A protection advisor understands how insurers interpret different situations and can explain whether something in your history is likely to affect your application.
What Can Influence the Underwriting Outcome?
There are several areas that tend to influence the outcome.
Your medical history is usually one of the most important, particularly if you’ve been diagnosed with something recently or have a condition that requires ongoing care.
Lifestyle choices also play a role, such as whether you smoke, your weight and overall health.
Your job may affect the result too, especially if it involves physical risk or exposure to hazardous environments.
Insurers also take hobbies into account, particularly if they’re considered high risk, like mountaineering or offshore work.
In some cases, the insurer may need to follow up with your GP or request a medical exam. This usually depends on the details you’ve shared and the level of cover you’re applying for.
When you speak to a protection advisor, we’ll help you prepare for this and talk through what’s likely to be flagged.
How Long Does Underwriting Take?
Some applications are approved straight away, especially if there are no medical concerns. Others may take longer if extra details are required. For example, if the insurer needs a GP report, the timing can depend on how quickly your surgery responds.
Your protection advisor will keep everything moving and stay in touch with both you and the insurer. If something’s holding things up, we’ll let you know and explain what’s needed.
What If the Insurer Can’t Offer Standard Terms?
Sometimes the insurer may offer cover, but with a higher premium or with exclusions based on specific risks. These are known as rated terms.
It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, just that the insurer has adjusted the offer based on the information you provided.
If they decline the application altogether, that’s not the end of the road. Different insurers have different approaches, and being turned down by one doesn’t mean you’ll be declined by another.
Your protection advisor will already know which providers tend to be more flexible and can often adjust the approach to suit your circumstances.
How a Protection Advisor Supports You Through Underwriting
We’ll begin by going through the kinds of questions you’ll be asked and helping you understand how your answers might affect the outcome.
This means you’re going into the application with a clear idea of what to expect. Once everything’s submitted, we stay on top of the process and speak to the insurer for you.
If they need anything further, such as a GP report or clarification, we’ll explain what’s happening and why.
If your application doesn’t come back with the result you hoped for, we can look at other providers and adjust the approach without starting over.
We already understand your case and know how to move forward. While underwriting might seem like the most complicated part of getting insured, having the right support can make it straightforward.
You’ll never be left chasing updates or trying to decode what the insurer means. We’re here to make the whole process as smooth and transparent as possible.
