Guardian reduced average underwriting times to less than one day in the first half of 2026, down from three days in 2025, according to H1 data for 2026 which also shows that cases requiring medical evidence are now underwritten in an average of less than one-and-a-half days.
Alongside this, the challenger brand increased its instant decision rate at the start of the year by 5% across its entire protection range. This includes a just over 14% increase in instant decisions for income protection and a 2% rise for life protection, driven by targeted underwriting rule changes and deepening expertise through new underwriting hires. Consequently, around 75% of applicants now receive an immediate decision at application.
Series of enhancements
Guardian added it has also introduced a series of enhancements designed to reduce friction in the application process and increase the number of customers receiving instant decisions.
This includes updated underwriting rules for mental health disclosures, reflecting the growing number of people affected by conditions such as anxiety and moderate depression.
Under a revised approach, 97% of applicants received an instant decision on their life cover in June 2026 compared with 87% in June 2025. Of those applicants in June 2026, 90% were offered standard terms.
Instant decisions
Caroline Froude, head of underwriting strategy and development at Guardian, said: “We’re really encouraged to see more customers receiving instant decisions when they apply for cover with us. Improving the underwriting journey is a key priority, and these results show the progress we’re making. Even cases requiring underwriting are processed in just 1.5 days and in many cases, less.
“Our aim is always to offer fair and consistent outcomes. As conditions such as mental health affect more people, our products and underwriting approach need to evolve so we can support more applicants.
“We’re already working on similar improvements for other common disclosures, such as cholesterol, to ensure the process remains fast, simple and tailored to each customer.”
Service improvements
The provider also highlighted continued investment in its underwriting capability, increasing team headcount by 35% following significant recruitment towards the end of 2025, with further hires planned throughout the rest of 2026.
This has coincided with service standards across Guardian’s wider support teams continuing to improve, with latest data showing adviser calls are now answered in an average of just 52 seconds.
Make or break
Chloe Davies, head of protection distribution and provider relationships at L&C Mortgages, added: “Underwriting speed can make or break the customer take up of a protection recommendation.
“When clients have to wait weeks for a decision, they often lose momentum or reconsider altogether.
“Improvements that increase the number of instant decisions and reduce delays make a real difference because they help advisers secure cover for customers quickly and keep the process straightforward.”
