As Canadians coast-to-coast deal with the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, insurers countrywide are stepping up to the plate to offer support and relief packages. From charitable deeds to premium rebates, cash donations and additional customer service, the industry is really shining bright during this time of crisis.
Aviva Canada is one such firm to unveil an extensive pandemic support package for Canadians during COVID-19. On April 02, the insurance giant announced a number of initiatives, including a $500,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross, complimentary roadside assistance for emergency first responders and healthcare professionals, flexible payment options for vulnerable customers, and a pledge of over 90,000 employee volunteer hours through 2020.
Just last week, Aviva Canada went public with another announcement of additional support. The firm revealed a new #StayHome endorsement for auto insurance customers, enabling customers who have either stopped driving entirely or reduced their driving due to the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for premium relief. In an announcement on April 09, Aviva Canada said it would offer around $100 million in premium relief, while also freezing all auto insurance premium increases at renewal.
“We came out with an extensive COVID-19 relief package because, at Aviva, it’s always been core to our values and our DNA to be involved in the community,” said Catherine Brown, Aviva Canada VP of Corporate Social Responsibility. “In this unprecedented time, we really felt it was important to come up with a really well-rounded and robust support package for the community, for our employees, and for Canadians across the country. That was really important to us.”
Aviva Canada has been a long-time partner of the Canadian Red Cross. The $500,000 donation will support the organization’s response and emergency management programs for COVID-19, as well as other disaster response efforts. Funds will go towards relief supplies like cots, blankets, pillows, masks and gloves, as well as the training and deployment of emergency response volunteers, among other things.
Some of Aviva Canada’s own employees are getting involved with the Canadian Red Cross by offering volunteer services. Brown explained: “We’re pledging over 90,000 volunteer hours through 2020. We’re facilitating opportunities that are both virtual or low touch (and respecting social distancing guidelines). We’re looking at different opportunities where there’s a need in the community, for example, delivering meals or groceries to the elderly, donating blood, and walking dogs for the elderly.
“Through the Canadian Red Cross, we’re facilitating a number of volunteering opportunities. One is a program called Missing Maps, where we can help with the mapping of more rural communities for emergency response. There’s also a growing need, especially among communities that are very isolated right now where there’s maybe some mental health issues popping up, of people just wanting to connect with other human beings right now. A long list of people have reached out to the Canadian Red Cross, who are then connecting them to local community resources [including Aviva volunteers] who will talk to them and reassure them through this time. Just being a comforting voice on the other end of the line is an easy thing we can do with our employee base.”
As part of its COVID-19 relief package, Aviva Canada has also introduced flexible payment options for vulnerable customers, as well as complimentary roadside assistance for policy, paramedics, firefighters and healthcare workers, regardless of whether they’re currently Aviva auto insurance customers. Starting April 06, these workers can access the assistance via their broker, agent or by calling Aviva Canada at 1-800-387-4518 for more information.
“We’re wanting to really support those essential workers and frontline health care professionals through this difficult time,” Brown commented. “That’s why we’re offering roadside assistance for all of those frontline healthcare professionals, regardless of if they’re Aviva customers or not. That was really important to us - we wanted to come up with a plan that was more holistic and not just targeting our customer base, while also helping the essential workers that are supporting us all.
“This is a great time for the industry to be creative about how we can give back. I have a lot of belief in the resilience of our community and the strengths of our different businesses. I would challenge any organization to step up during this really trying time and apply what you do as a way to give back. That’s why the roadside assistance makes a ton of sense for us, and working with Canadian Red Cross, who we’ve established a relationship with over a long period of time.”
