The Standard is pleased to announce noteworthy changes
to its underwriting process

I am pleased to announce that we are implementing some noteworthy changes to The Standard's underwriting process.

Today, everyone is looking for simplicity as well as more hours in the day. We hope that by making the underwriting process simpler for you, we are doing our part to make your day just a little better. Please see below for the details of the changes.

Thank you for being part of our family.

Debbie McClellan
Director of Underwriting
Individual Disability Insurance

Effective April 1, 2008

• The Standard will no longer require a full paramedical exam regardless of age or benefit amount.
• Mini-Quick exams will replace the full paramedical exam.
• A new, improved Personal History Interview process will be implemented.
• The TeleApplication process will be retired.

The benefits to you and your customers of discontinued TeleApplications

• Faster turn-around time. We can begin underwriting your customers as soon as your applications are received.
• Your customers no longer have to spend 45 minutes in a telephone interview.
• Since you will now complete the entire application with your customers, you will know your customers' medical histories up front. Because of this, you are best qualified to prepare your customers for any possible modifications. Setting expectations for modified offers up front means less wastage and a higher placement rate.

Last day to submit TeleApp is March 31, 2008.

The Standard will accept TeleApplications through March 31, 2008. After that date, TeleApps will not be accepted or available.

After March 7, 2008

TeleApplications will no longer be available on the IDI website after March 7, 2008. If you would like to obtain a copy of a TeleApp between March 7 and March 31, please contact info@dibroker.com.

More benefits for you

The benefit of replacing the full paramedical exam with a Mini-Quick exam

There are no medical questions! Your customers will no longer have to answer the same medical questions that they have already answered on their applications.The examiner will record the build, pulse and blood pressure readings for your customers and collect any blood or urine specimens. It's quick and simple!

Resource

The article Yes, you can land more sales: Conversations with successful MGAs, form 10015REPRINT includes a discussion about how to prepare your customers for modified offers.
To order copies of the article for your office, please go to www.standard.com/di and choose Marketing Materials.

The benefit of the new Personal History Interview

The new Personal History Interview (PHI) is comprised of only ten questions and takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes to complete.The interviewers are trained in many aspects of medical underwriting.We also have registered nurses on staff in case we have special questions regarding medical histories.We anticipate the average turnaround time will be three days, with a 95% completion rate.

PHI's are required for benefit amounts of $5,001 and over for all ages, and at underwriter discretion. However, while we ask that you prepare your customer for the interview, please do not ask your customer to contact the vendor until our underwriters have completed their initial review of the application. Often, we are able to continue underwriting without a PHI when the application is thoroughly completed.

As always, a fully completed application = Faster turnaround

An application completed in its entirety results in fewer communications between the underwriter, your office and the customer to obtain missing information.This in turn results in fewer amendments and a faster turnaround time.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact info@dibroker.com. As always, we are happy to
assist you.