The sixth edition of the Insurers for Society 2020 contest featured 15 valuable and socially significant projects submitted by insurance companies. With this strong focus on public needs, the insurance community marked its professional holiday.
In his address, Konstantin Velev, Chair of the Management Board of ABZ, stated:
“We should proudly acknowledge the social engagement of the entire insurance community, which became particularly visible during the challenges posed by COVID-19. Insurers reached out to society with numerous charitable acts in support of the most affected, the most vulnerable, and most importantly – in support of the healthcare sector, which found itself on the front lines of the battle against the pandemic. But insurers have always been attuned to public needs. Our traditional ‘Insurers for Society’ contest and the outstanding projects featured this year are a powerful testament to that.”
The Insurers for Society contest is organized by ABZ and the Bulgarian Association of Insurance Brokers, and the winners are selected through a vote by the insurance companies and brokers who are members of the two associations.
The insurance community awarded first place to the initiative by DZI – free insurance coverage for frontline healthcare workers during the fight against COVID-19 and the digitalization of key processes for its clients.
At the onset of the national state of emergency, DZI focused on those who did not have the privilege of working from home – the frontline medical professionals. That’s why the company decided to offer free insurance coverage to healthcare workers and other staff in hospitals treating coronavirus patients in Sofia. A total of 1,116 medical professionals were insured, and as of today, 31 claims have been paid out, totaling BGN 40,000. In addition, 70 employees from DZI’s Eastern Claims Center donated their food vouchers, contributing BGN 8,684 to the Bulgarian Food Bank at a time when food support was desperately needed. During the state of emergency, DZI also offered clients alternative ways to access its services. In March and April, the company rapidly launched a fully remote and digital claims-handling process for its “Home Comfort” and “Business Comfort” property insurance products, significantly reducing processing times and eliminating the need for paper submissions or office visits.
Second place in the contest was awarded to the initiative of Generali Insurance AD – The Human Safety Net.
The initiative aims to support children and families in vulnerable situations. Based on the idea that people helping people can drive lasting change and positive impact, the program is implemented in Bulgaria in partnership with the For Our Children Foundation.
In the first half of 2020, The Human Safety Net, in collaboration with the Foundation, supported 37 families and their children. Twenty-seven children were placed in 25 foster families, 53 families completed adoption training programs, and 70 children with developmental difficulties received assistance. Additionally, 25 foster families were supported and consulted. The initiative also contributed to the opening of the Foundation’s new Development Day Center for children and/or youth with disabilities through donations and volunteer work by employees of Generali Insurance.
Third place was awarded to the project by UNIQA AD – “500 Free Medical Consultations via the MedUNIQA App.”
During the state of emergency, routine and preventive medical checkups were suspended, and many people were afraid to visit hospitals and medical centers. Through its online medical consultation platform MedUNIQA, UNIQA AD provided 500 free online medical consultations to anyone in need, with no restrictions, fully covered by the company. The goal of the project was to ensure that individuals with health concerns could receive timely medical advice without neglecting their general health. At the same time, the project helped follow social distancing recommendations and avoided placing either the user or the consultant at risk of infection.
