Eddie Efekoha emphasizes claims payment as CHI indemnifies journalist

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI) Plc said that it will continue to accord higher priority to claims payment as part of strategies to emphasis the relevance of insurance among Nigerians.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company Mr. Eddie Efekoha who stated this in Lagos said that it is important that insurance companies give greater attention to the payment of genuine claims.

This came on the heels of the resolve of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to initiate a system which will enable it rate insurance companies based on their capacity to pay admitted claims.

Mr. Eddie Efekoha’s emphasis on claims payment came on the heels of his revelation that CHI has paid accident claims of a journalist who is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents(NAIPCO) who was involved in an incident recently.

It would be recalled that CHI had in October last year renewed the Group Personal Accident Insurance cover worth N24 million Sum Assured given for free to insurance journalists in the country.

The journalist who was involved in the accident (names withheld) was crossing the road when a motorcycle riding against traffic hit her from behind which led to her been admitted in the hospital.

With the insurance covered under the Group Personal  Accident policy issued to NAIPCO, CHI stepped in to pay the hospital bills of the member while the victim  has been discharged from the hospital and she now in good health.

This gesture, according to the company, is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, to ensure that journalists who are exposed to danger and hazard in the discharge of their civic duties are adequately protected.

Mr. Eddie Efekoha said this gesture was to show the kind of values and respect his insurance firm has for journalism, believing, journalists, who are the shapers of the society, and by extension, the insurance industry, must be protected.

Journalism, he said, is a risky profession, hence, the need to adequately provide insurance for those covering the insurance industry.

Applauding the initiative, the chairman of NAIPCO Mr. Chuks Udo Okonta,  thanked the insurance firm on the claims it paid stating that it is a testimony that insurance works and that insurers are actually paying genuine claims.

He applauded the insurer for its prompt response to the claim request, pointing out that, the company was cooperative throughout the claim processing.

Okonta also noted that similar claim was paid to a member who was involved in an accident in the past.

The Group Personal Accident Insurance covers death, permanent disability and medical expenses.

The policy, now in its 10th years, has been running since 2012, and is renewed annually by the company. The cover, was renewed on the 1st of October, 2021 and it is due to expire on 30th of September, 2022.

The policy cover all members of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents   just as the company has promised to continue to renew the coverage for the journalists every year.