Royal London has refreshed its Income Protection occupation classes to reflect changing working patterns, including freelancing, gig work and multiple jobs.
The provider said the changes recognise that modern careers no longer follow a straightforward, linear path and are designed to better support individuals whose working lives span a range of roles and arrangements.
Following a review of its proposition, Royal London has improved terms for more than 700 occupations.
It has opened up terms for 545 roles and reduced pricing across 162 occupations, allowing a broader range of professions to access more competitive cover.
However, the review also identified around 70 occupations where risk profiles have increased, resulting in price adjustments for those roles.
As part of the update, Royal London has enhanced total permanent disability (TPD) definitions for 67 occupations, moving them from a working tasks definition to an own occupation definition.
The provider said this is intended to make the claims process clearer and more straightforward.
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Fi Wynn, head of protection proposition at Royal London, said: “As the world of work continues to change, the products designed to support it must too.”
She added: “We’re committed to ensuring that Income Protection remains relevant and accessible for workers navigating today’s dynamic employment landscape.
“Jobs are constantly evolving and in response we’ve expanded access to Income Protection for a variety of job titles that were previously ineligible or where eligibility was unclear.”
Wynn said the changes aim to ensure “greater inclusivity”, allowing more people to protect their income regardless of how their career develops.
Vicky Churcher, executive director at the Income Protection Task Force, said: “The IPTF welcomes developments that seek to broaden access to insurance, particularly for underserved groups such as the self-employed and those with non-traditional career paths.”
She added that clearer cover and updated eligibility criteria can help improve accessibility and engagement with income protection.