Aegon have confirmed that they will be partnering with UnderwriteMe to digitise their Protection offering in 2017.

The deal will see Aegon, working with IT service provider ATOS, upgrade their existing extranet service with UnderwriteMe’s market-leading digital technology*. In addition, Aegon will also join the UnderwriteMe Comparison Service later this year.

The UnderwriteMe Comparison Service provides intermediaries with a unique way to compare “buy now” and estimated prices, and complete applications without ever leaving the site. The impact of underwriting from all partner insurers is visible on one, simple comparison screen.

Commenting on the partnership Phil Jeynes, Head of Sales & Marketing for UnderwriteMe said:

2017 is set to be a huge year for UnderwriteMe. Having established our Underwriting Rules Engine as the market leader and proven our Comparison Service to be a success in both intermediary and direct to consumer environments, we are excited to welcome more insurers onto the platform, the first of which being Aegon; a hugely respected provider, with a fantastic reputation and first class product range. We are delighted they’ve chosen us as their partner.”

Stephen Crosbie, Protection Director at Aegon, commented:

When we looked at improving our digital capability and enhancing the point of sale service we give to intermediaries and customers, UnderwriteMe stood out as the clear choice. The technology they have built is truly superb and we are looking forward to using this to support our clients, as well as joining the UnderwriteMe Comparison Service, giving those selling and buying our cover a true, twenty-first century, “buy now” experience.

The Comparison Service started in August 2015 with the UK’s largest Protection advice firm, LifeSearch, and Cavendish Online launched the first direct to consumer site powered by UnderwriteMe technology early in 2016. Since its launch other Protection specialists, including Assured Futures and Future Proof, confirmed they would be using the system in their businesses. Aegon joins LV=, Royal London, Old Mutual Wealth, The Exeter, Scottish Friendly and Canada Life in partnering with UnderwriteMe’s Comparison Service to date.

*NMG Consulting’s Reinsurance Programme 2016 showed that UnderwriteMe has the largest number of automated underwriting system implementations in the UK and Ireland and attracted the highest satisfaction ratings from clients.