The firm has removed the requirement for automatic medical telephone interviews, and it will not be replacing these with additional evidence requirements.

It has increased limits for paramedical screening reports and cotinine levels for clients up to age 41 and 47-51.

In addition, it has reduced general practitioner’s report limits for clients aged 57-60.

Debbie Kennedy, protection director at LV=, said: “Through the pandemic, we’ve constantly reviewed our approach and practices and have made a number of positive changes for consumers, existing policyholders and advisers.

“The need to protect income has never been more relevant, so we must be more flexible in these turbulent times.

“With COVID-19 continuing to impact our everyday lives and place further strain on our NHS, we’re actively seeking to responsibly push the boundaries to make protection easier to access and apply for.

“We expect that this latest change to our non-medical limits will increase our straight through acceptance rates for income protection, with more than 70% of cases accepted with no further evidence required.”