COVID-19: Statement from the life and health insurance industry
News Release
Release Date: 03/13/2020 Staff Reference: Kevin Dorse(Toronto, March 13, 2020) – Canada’s life and health insurers empathize with and are committed to supporting employers and individual Canadians who are taking steps to protect themselves and contain and control the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. CLHIA and our member companies have been in regular communication with governments.
Our member companies provide important products and services that can help those who may be affected. Travel insurance helps individuals who have to cancel trips, or receive medical care outside Canada due to unforeseen events. Extended health coverage helps people afford prescription medications, and short-term disability coverage can help employers provide partial wage replacement while people are sick and self-isolating, or sick and in medical quarantine.
We encourage customers who think they may be affected to contact their employer as soon as possible to discuss the support available to them. We also encourage employers to contact their insurer with any questions they may have.
WHO SHOULD YOU TALK TO FOR MORE INFORMATION?
If you need information about your workplace travel, extended health or short-term disability coverage, contact your employer or human resources department.
If you need your insurer’s contact information, visit https://www.olhi.ca/for-insurers/member-list/
If you need more information about COVID-19 and public health, visit www.canada.ca/COVID19
About the CLHIA
The CLHIA is a voluntary association whose member companies account for 99 per cent of Canada's life and health insurance business. The industry provides a wide range of financial security products such as life insurance, annuities (including RRSPs, RRIFs and pensions) and supplementary health insurance to almost 29 million Canadians. It also holds over $850 billion in assets in Canada and employs more than 156,000 Canadians.
For more information:
Kevin Dorse
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs
(613) 691-6001 / kdorse@clhia.ca
