"Insurance Agents Distressed by Flood of Customer Appointment Cancellations Due to 'Corona' (Comprehensive)"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection have brought changes to the insurance sales field. Unlike banks, where sales are branch-centered, insurance sales are conducted through meetings with agents, making it difficult for headquarters to control or manage and inevitably directly affecting sales. In fact, some agents are anxiously worried about disruptions in their sales activities due to customers avoiding contact.

According to the insurance industry on the 6th, insurance companies are closely monitoring how the impact of the novel coronavirus infection spread will manifest. Although no concrete effects have appeared yet, there is a growing atmosphere of difficulties in consultations between agents, who are the core of insurance sales, and customers.

An insurance company official said, "To conduct insurance consultations, meetings with new customers must be arranged, but since people are reluctant to meet, there are difficulties in sales activities," adding, "During morning briefings held at branches, agents are reminded of precautions related to the novel coronavirus, and we are continuously devising ways to provide customer service."

Since agents meet customers individually, it is difficult for headquarters to control or manage them, so they have no choice but to pay more attention to personal hygiene. Agents are required to wear masks, and hand sanitizers are distributed to ensure hygiene management.

At the headquarters level, measures to prevent novel coronavirus infection are also in operation. Hanwha Life has prepared and is guiding behavioral guidelines to prevent infection, such as urging financial planners (FPs) in the sales field to wear masks during sales activities. The headquarters' 63 Building has installed thermal cameras to strictly manage access 24 hours a day.

Kyobo Life has placed hand sanitizers in the office building to help customers and employees prevent novel coronavirus infection and has made mask-wearing mandatory for employees who interact with customers. Thermal imaging detectors are installed and operated in major office buildings nationwide, and eco-friendly disinfectants are used to sterilize entrance doors, door handles, and elevator buttons.

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance is also operating a crisis management committee at headquarters. The customer support center is equipped with disinfectants, masks, hand sanitizers for visitors, and thermometers. Recently, the Gangnam headquarters office was disinfected, and employees were given guidelines to prepare for infection.

Shinhan Life operates an emergency response team composed of the Employee Happiness Center, Customer Service Team, Channel Marketing Team, and various channel business teams. Group training sessions and internal events have been postponed or canceled to eliminate the risk of infection. Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance has notified employees of precautions through the company bulletin board and plans to conduct disinfection work at major owned buildings and leased bases.

Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance has notified all branches nationwide about infection-related precautions and is strengthening disinfection and sterilization of office buildings, training center entrances, door handles, and elevators. It also advises employees to refrain from visiting high-risk countries such as China and Southeast Asia and provides guidelines regarding condolences and memorial visits. Disinfection supplies are distributed to employees who handle customer-facing tasks.

An insurance company official said, "We are asking agents to check for any abnormal signs in customers," adding, "Since sales require meeting people, we are paying even more thorough attention to preventing novel coronavirus infection."

Meanwhile, insurance policies guaranteeing death benefits due to coronavirus infection have also been introduced.

Carrot General Insurance has launched the "Short-term Disease Safety Insurance," which covers risks from diseases including the novel coronavirus infection. It guarantees up to 100 million KRW in death benefits and 20,000 KRW per day in hospitalization consolation money if death or hospitalization occurs within three months of enrollment due to diseases such as the novel coronavirus.

The premium starts at the lowest 8,000 KRW range for a 35-year-old male. Since treatment costs related to the novel coronavirus are fully covered by the government, treatment cost coverage is excluded, but those already enrolled in other indemnity insurance can receive overlapping coverage.

Additionally, Carrot General Insurance plans to donate all settlement profits related to the short-term disease safety insurance after the coverage period ends to infectious disease management organizations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.