What else can cause delays on my Life Insurance application?

If there are any factors that are considered to put you at an above average risk on your application form, then the Insurance Company’s specialist Underwriters will take a look. If they are satisfied that your application can go ahead without any further information, then the delay will normally be up to two weeks.

In around 1 of 7 cases the Underwriter will decide that more information is required to accurately ascertain your risk. This will usually be related to health issues but your job or hobbies could mean they want more information (for example if your job takes you to a malaria prone country on a frequent basis), in which case you will have to fill out another questionnaire which you will need to complete and return in the post.

If the Underwriter is concerned about your heath, they could write to your Doctor for information, ask you to have a quick ‘mini-medical’, or to undergo a full medical. The insurance company will pay for a medical report. 1 in 10 applicants have to supply extra medical information - so don’t be alarmed if it happens to you.

However, medical reports slow down applications, so you should expect a delay of between 6 and 8 weeks.