The UK protection market is moving fast, driven by new regulations, technology, and changing client expectations. But despite all this progress, underwriting remains one of the biggest sticking points in the advice process. Long turnaround times frustrate clients and can damage trust in both advisers and insurers. So, what’ s causing these delays, and what can advisers do to make things quicker?

Why underwriting takes so long

Underwriting is essential because it ensures risk is assessed properly and premiums are fair. But right now, several issues are slowing things down.

One major problem is medical evidence. GP reports are still a big bottleneck. Even though digital systems exist, not all surgeries use them, and many reports take weeks, or even months, to come back. NHS resource pressures, and the rise of private and virtual consultations add to the challenge, because these often don’ t feed back into GP records.

There’ s also a shortage of skilled underwriters, which exacerbates the problem, creating queues and longer waiting times. On top of that, client disclosures are becoming more complicated; health histories, lifestyle factors, and nonstandard employment arrangements often trigger extra evidence requests, slowing things further.

Finally, the process itself can be fragmented. Manual data entry, inconsistent application formats, and back-andforth communication between brokers and insurers, all add unnecessary delays. In fact, underwriters often spend more time fixing incomplete submissions than actually assessing risk.

Why this matters

Delays don’ t just annoy clients – they can undermine confidence in the advice process. Under Consumer Duty, firms must show they’ re delivering fair value and good outcomes. Long waits can put that at risk. Advisers need to take an active role in reducing these delays to protect both client experience and compliance.

Emma Vaughan

Head of Protection and Health Solutions

4 | Protection Adviser Online