China Insurers Get Creative In Selling Insurance Policies
Desiree Sison | | Sep 02, 2014 04:56 AM EDT |
(Photo : Reuters) China insurers have gotten creative in offering their insurance policies to would-be customers
China's insurers have become creative in drumming up business by offering a whole array of quirky insurable policies covering daily concerns, such as a child's tantrums, a recall of infant formula, getting pregnant before the honeymoon, and even the ever-present smog that may ruin your day.
Like Us on Facebook
If your child is a little rowdy and smashes on something after throwing a fit, there is a "naughty child insurance" policy you can take out. If your wife becomes pregnant right before your honeymoon, an insurance policy known as the "Accidental Pregnancy Before Honeymoon" can be had to cover the costs of unexpectedly cancelling a honeymoon.
Burned your tongue while sipping hotpot? Your team lost in the World Cup? All these have matching insurance policies that will give payouts to ease your hurt feelings.
Big insurance companies in China are taking the insurance business to the next level in the wake of stiff competition and to lure more customers in taking out insurance policies in a market where growth has stalled and business rates are around 3 percent or just half of the global average.
Business reports show that premiums in China are less than $278 billion a year, an amount way below the United States' $1.3 trillion and the UK's $330 billion.
Joseph Ngai, who heads the Greater China financial institutions in Hong Kong, said that offering the quirky policies is a way to engage new customers. He said that the policies, though short-term promotions, give the clients insights into the daily concerns, such as marriage and children, of the world's most populous nation.
The world's second largest insurance company, Ping An Insurance Group Co., has paid out to wives who have divorced their husbands. It also offers a sort of investment policy where the couple will be paid out, if they stayed together after a certain period of time.
Ping An also offered an incentive policy last year to couples who will marry in the 10 days leading up to the "Singles' Day" in November 11 this year. The policy, which also included a 12-month membership in an online matchmaking site, sold out in 10 minutes, the local newspapers reported.
Ping An reportedly said that although it still sells "innovative products" to "solve real life problems," it is no longer offering marriage, pregnancy, and singles policies.
Sino Life Group, Ltd., one of the biggest insurers worldwide, also sold "concubine-proof", "red rose", and "rich flower" insurance policies to Chinese married couples.
For children, other insurers offer to pay for recalled infant formula. If the child is quite a handful, one can take out a policy against the child's destructive habits.
The policy covering the mischievous child's tantrums costs 44 yuan ($7.16) and will cover up to 100,000 yuan for 12 months. Chongqing-based Ancheng offers three different versions of the policy with parents of the most mischievous children paying 116 yuan for a 5,000 yuan payout.
During the recently held World Cup in Brazil, some insurance companies offered a policy that allowed customers to pay for protection against hooligans, overdrinking, and "heartbreak" in case the customer's favourite team lost.
The policy did not do well in terms of sales, but the insurers felt happy as people took notice of their company.
©2015 Chinatopix All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission
EDITOR'S PICKS
-
Did the Trump administration just announce plans for a trade war with ‘hostile’ China and Russia?
-
US Senate passes Taiwan travel bill slammed by China
-
As Yan Sihong’s family grieves, here are other Chinese students who went missing abroad. Some have never been found
-
Beijing blasts Western critics who ‘smear China’ with the term sharp power
-
China Envoy Seeks to Defuse Tensions With U.S. as a Trade War Brews
-
Singapore's Deputy PM Provides Bitcoin Vote of Confidence Amid China's Blanket Bans
-
China warns investors over risks in overseas virtual currency trading
-
Chinese government most trustworthy: survey
-
Kashima Antlers On Course For Back-To-Back Titles
MOST POPULAR
LATEST NEWS
Zhou Yongkang: China's Former Security Chief Sentenced to Life in Prison
China's former Chief of the Ministry of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, has been given a life sentence after he was found guilty of abusing his office, bribery and deliberately ... Full Article
TRENDING STORY
-
China Pork Prices Expected to Stabilize As The Supplies Recover
-
Elephone P9000 Smartphone is now on Sale on Amazon India
-
There's a Big Chance Cliffhangers Won't Still Be Resolved When Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Returns
-
Supreme Court Ruled on Samsung vs Apple Dispute for Patent Infringement
-
Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumors and Release Date: What is the Latest?