Allianz Life Indonesia country manager and president director Joos Louwerier said the service sought to improve customers’ experiences at a time when face-to-face meetings between insurance agents and clients had been limited because of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

“Now, with the support of the OJK, Allianz is even more committed to providing insurance protection through an easy and trusted process by launching a new innovation today: Allianz eAZy Cover,” Joos said.

In a May 29 press release, the OJK announced that it had revised the guidelines for the marketing of investment-linked insurance packages, better known as unit links. The agency allowed unit links to be marketed and purchased online. Direct meetings could be replaced with video calls and in-person signatures with e-signatures. 

About 93 percent of Allianz Life Indonesia’s premiums were dominated by unit links during the first quarter of the year, said chief marketing officer Karin Zulkarnaen. The company noted that the product was in great demand, especially for customers from its bank partners. 

“Actually, digital strategies are not anything new for Allianz,” Allianz Life Indonesia chief of partnership distribution Bianto Surodjo said. “This is part of our long-term strategy.” 

One of the company’s digital initiatives is the eAZy Claim app, which aims to accelerate the processing of health insurance claims. Additionally, the eAZY Med app, made in partnership with online healthcare platform Halodoc, provides clients with teleconsultation services and assists with online medical purchases. 

Growing awareness of health and the need for protection as a result of the upheavals experienced during the pandemic may lead to a growing demand for insurance, Allianz Life Indonesia chief agency officer Ginawati Djuandi noted. 

According to data from research company Nielsen, in the first quarter of this year, 23 percent of Indonesian consumers stated that they were concerned about their health, a significant increase from the 14 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of last year. 

“From those studies, we can see that there is demand for added protection from the Indonesian public,” Ginawati said. 

The OJK press release stated that the recent regulation was issued to maintain the performance and stability of the insurance industry amid a weakened pandemic economy. 

However, the adjustment to the marketing of unit links is only temporary. It was implemented on May 27 and will last until the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted.