Guardian and Medical Screening Solutions have launched a remote screening service pilot scheme, starting today.

The firms say that this will allow Guardian to provide protection to clients in a time when a ban on face-to-face contact is leaving many people uninsured.

The scheme will see clients undertake a digital video assessment and send in medical results garnered using a customer kit pack containing various tests, including blood testing apparatus.

MMS managing director Jonathan Benton concedes that not every test is possible to perform in this way, but that, “the pilot will give us the chance to assess the customer experience, learn what works well, and from there we can see how this can become a bigger part of the industry’s screening offer.”

Guardian head of technical underwriting Caroline Froude comments: “Where we need a particular test, for example, a cholesterol test, we’ll be able to request this as normal through MSS’ remote screening and they’ll provide us with the results we need to underwrite.

“It may take a little longer than previously, but we expect the pilot will allow us to underwrite more applications and support those advisers who continue to write business up to our non-medical limits.”