Royal London has added ‘Underwrite Later; an option for life cover on its Business Menu and Relevant Life Plans, allowing cover to be offered while medical evidence is being obtained.

Eligible customers will have the option to get cover straightaway on life cover plans up to £3.5m, while Royal London requests medical evidence and completes the underwriting assessment.

Plans can stay in force for up to six months whilst evidence remains outstanding.

Royal London estimates 93% of Business Menu and Relevant Life Plan applications will be eligible to be placed on risk immediately following the launch of Underwrite Later, up from around 50% of applications that previously got an immediate decision.

The option will be available to advisers online if Royal London can’t offer terms straight away and the client meets the eligibility criteria. Once all evidence has been received, the application will be assessed as normal to make a final decision.

Craig Paterson, chief underwriter at Royal London, said: “Our new approach to the underwriting journey gives advisers and their clients greater flexibility and relieves uncertainty over the availability of face to face medicals. The Underwrite Later option improves the customer experience and provides them with the reassurance that they’re covered straight away.”