Underwriting: The Year in Review & Where We’re Headed Next

What an extraordinary year it has been for life underwriting.  We've experienced rapid and remarkable changes on a number of fronts — some positive and helpful, others more challenging — and all either accelerated by, or initiated because of, the COVID-19 pandemic. We've seen the expansion of technological enhancements and automation of the underwriting process, helping get cases approved more quickly and with less hassle for our applicants.  Conversely, we continue to see COVID-related underwriting restrictions that sometimes affect our ability to get coverage issued, especially wit...

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COVID-19 Vaccines Are Here! Isn't It Time to Open Up Underwriting?!?

This is a question a number of carriers are being asked today.  Roughly a year ago with the onset of the pandemic a majority of carriers introduced underwriting restrictions to deal with COVID's potential impact on various age groups, and especially those age 65 and older with comorbid health conditions (see COVID-19! What Have You Done to Underwriting?). Since then carriers have learned a lot about COVID and its effect on mortality.  Discussions with several carriers indicate that their mortality impact is mostly in the 75 and up age groups and with insureds whose policies have been...

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