Aflac

About Aflac

Would you buy insurance from a duck? Aflac counts on it! To soften the financial stresses during periods of disability or illness, Aflac sells supplemental health and life insurance policies,  including coverage for accidents, intensive care, dental, vision, and disability, as well as for specific conditions, primarily cancer. It is a leading supplier – more... of supplemental insurance in the US and is an industry leader in Japan's cancer-insurance market (with 14 million policies in force). Aflac, which is marketed through -- and is an acronym for -- American Family Life Assurance Company, sells policies that pay cash benefits for hospital confinement, emergency treatment, and medical appliances.

Geographic Reach

Despite its US roots, Aflac makes 75% of its insurance sales in Japan, where its policies fill in gaps not covered by the national health insurance system.

Sales & Marketing

In Japan, Aflac primarily sells through an agency system in which a corporation forms a subsidiary to sell Aflac insurance to its employees. In the face of Japan's deregulated life insurance industry, the company has also had a marketing alliance with Dai-ichi Life Insurance, one of the country's largest life insurers, since 2000. Changes in regulations now allow the company to sell through banks and post offices, and it has also opened retail shops where consumers can purchase directly from sales associates.

In the US, Aflac sells mainly through the workplace, with employers deducting premiums from paychecks. Building on its strong brand recognition -- due, largely, to the company's popular TV ads featuring a valiant spokes-duck -- Aflac has invested in its US business by adding more sales associates and expanding its distribution to include insurance brokers.

Financial Analysis

Its reliance on Japan has a downside: The company is vulnerable to currency fluctuations between the dollar and yen. It also faces increased competition due to deregulation of Japan's insurance industry. However, as in the US, Japanese consumers are seeing more health care costs being shifted onto their shoulders, making Aflac's products more attractive.

Strategy

Aflac has created new life insurance products for the Japanese market. In addition to standard life insurance, it has also introduced child endowment products that pay out part of the benefit when the child enters high school, and then functions like an annuity for four years during college.

Aflac paddled, seemingly unperturbed, through the economic recession in its major markets. It is also remaining unruffled by the potential changes in the US health care insurance industry. As it is already familiar with operating in a market with a national health care system, and as it does not pay for any actual health care, it does not expect to see major changes in its products. If anything, the company anticipates a potential increase in demand for its products should the US adopt a more comprehensive major medical health insurance plan.

Mergers & Acquisitions

To build up its US large-group business, in late 2009 Aflac paid $100 million to purchase Continental American Insurance Company. Rebranded as Aflac Group Insurance, the business offers payroll-deducted voluntary group insurance products for large employers.

Ownership

Chairman and CEO Dan Amos holds 9% of the company his father and uncles founded. His son, Paul Amos, serves as the company's president. – less

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